The Paper. — Two Navajo Nation Police officers were injured Friday morning during a shooting in the community of To’hajiilee, sparking a localized shelter-in-place order. The New Mexico State Police confirmed to news outlets they are leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. According to a social media post from the Navajo Police Department, officers […]
Bernalillo County
Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Government
Photos: On his birthday, hundreds honor a life of service for BCSO sergeant
Hundreds gathered Monday, March 2, on what would have been his birthday at the Rio Rancho Events Center to honor Sgt. Michael Barrett Schlattman, a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputy, died in the line of duty on Feb. 23 at age 52. Schlattman joined BCSO in 2012 and was promoted to sergeant in July […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Jobs, Workers & Economy, Local Government
Want a corporate tax handout? BernCo to make corps show community benefit to receive public subsidies
Companies that want tax breaks in Bernalillo County must now show how those corporate subsidies will turn into community benefits for taxpayers who fund them. The Bernalillo County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday approved a first-of-its-kind resolution that requires businesses seeking public subsidies, including Industrial Revenue Bonds, to commit to local hiring, support for […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Jobs, Workers & Economy
What does it cost to live in ABQ today? Living wage increases for singles, now exceeds $100K for families
By Jesse Jones — Even as wages inch upward across Bernalillo County, many residents still earn far less than what experts say it takes to cover basic needs like rent, food and child care. New data from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s annual Living Wage Calculator shows a single adult needs $21.87 per hour to survive in […]
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BernCo Commission OKs data center restrictions
AI data centers wanting to call Bernaillo County home will have to show they can be good neighbors after Commissioners Tuesday approved a resolution placing restrictions on centers that might be built in the county in the future. The legislation, sponsored by Commissioner Eric Olivas, makes the installations responsible for their own electricity and water […]
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Last year, 389 people were denied a gun in Bernalillo County. Then they got a friendly visit from the sheriff.
For most gun buyers in Bernalillo County, a background check is a routine step. But for 389 people last year, that check ended in a denial and a visit from the sheriff’s office. Instead of a raid, these individuals often received a “knock and talk” from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). These visits […]
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Scorecard for subsidies: BernCo looks to tie public subsidies to private company benefits
County commissioners reviewed new economic development policies Tuesday aimed at ensuring businesses receiving public subsidies provide measurable benefits to local communities. The Board of County Commissioners heard findings from a steering committee that conducted five community meetings and a countywide survey over the past year. Commissioner Barbara Baca, who led the initiative, introduced a resolution […]
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County presses pause on AI data center incentive
Following a lengthy debate over water use, renewable energy and local hiring requirements, Bernalillo County commissioners pumped the brakes on a proposed framework for incentivizing AI and data center projects, voting to defer the item until their next meeting rather than approve or reject it outright. Commissioner Eric Olivas, who sponsored the “Holding Data Center […]
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Historic investments and more work ahead: Barbara Baca announces re-election bid for District 1 commissioner
Bernalillo County Commissioner Barbara Baca announced Wednesday she will seek re-election in the June Democratic primary for District 1, which encompasses Albuquerque’s Westside and North Valley. Baca, a lifelong Westside resident and 14th-generation New Mexican, said she is running to continue work on housing, behavioral health and public safety initiatives begun during her first term. […]
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County to weigh strict rules for data center incentives
Bernalillo County commissioners are set to revisit a high-stakes resolution aimed at tightening oversight of large data center and AI infrastructure projects when they meet Tuesday in Albuquerque. The “Holding Data Center Projects Accountable in Our Community” measure, introduced at the Jan. 13 meeting, would condition county incentives on clear community benefits and sustainability standards. Under […]