Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque

Top U.S. drug agency a notable holdout in Biden’s push to loosen federal marijuana restrictions

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and JIM MUSTIAN / Associated Press In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor “bubble,” chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the “Marijuana Meeting”: Nobody could take notes. Over the next half hour, she […]

Posted inPueblos, Westside Albuquerque

The Hot Ticket Seat

By Tierna Unruh-Enos / The Paper. In Senate District 9, four candidates are looking to replace the current-sitting Democratic state Senator Brenda McKenna. Democrats Heather Balas and Cindy Nava filed to run, as did Republicans Frida “Susana” Vasquez and Audrey Trujillo. District 9 encompasses two counties and part of the Sandia Pueblo. The district spans […]

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

New endangered listing for rare lizard could slow oil and gas drilling in New Mexico and West Texas

By SCOTT SONNER / Associated Press Federal wildlife officials declared a rare lizard in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas an endangered species Friday, citing future energy development, sand mining and climate change as the biggest threats to its survival in one of the world’s most lucrative oil and natural gas basins. “We have determined […]

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Federal agency takes control of investigation of fiery train derailment in New Mexico

ASSOCIATED PRESS The Federal Railroad Administration is now leading the investigation of last month’s fiery train derailment in New Mexico. National Transportation Safety Board officials said Thursday that the FRA will determine the probable cause of the April 26 derailment. NTSB investigators have examined the track and derailed tank cars and will focus on the […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Judge considers dismissing indictment against Alec Baldwin in fatal shooting of cinematographer

By MORGAN LEE / Associated Press A New Mexico judge is considering Alec Baldwin’s request to dismiss a grand jury indictment against him at a virtual court hearing Friday. The indictment in January charged Baldwin with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on Oct. 21, 2021, at a movie ranch on […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

A Lakota student’s feather plume was cut off her cap during commencement at Farmington High School

ASSOCIATED PRESS A Lakota student’s traditional feather plume was cut off her graduation cap during her high school commencement ceremony this week in northwestern New Mexico. It was during the national anthem Monday night when Farmington High School faculty members approached the student, Genesis White Bull, and confiscated her cap, the Tri-City Record reported. The top […]

Posted inPueblos, Westside Albuquerque

Battle for the Westside

By Andy Lyman / The Paper. It wouldn’t be primary election season without barbs, jabs and accusations within one political party.  That’s the case in one state Senate district on the Westside.  The triangular-shaped Senate District 26 hugs a southern section of the Bosque and stretches west to Atrisco Vista Boulevard. The district’s Democratic incumbent […]