A month after the final ballots were cast, a state-ordered recount conducted in December has confirmed that Estancia Mayor Nathan M. Dial was unseated by a challenger in the Nov. 3 election. Senaida Anaya, the chief deputy clerk in Torrance County, told New Mexico Political Report that her office completed the recount on Thursday and […]
Communities
Posted inWestside Albuquerque
Sandoval County campaign wins Top Hat marketing award for camel event
InPress Public Relations has won the New Mexico Hospitality Association’s Top Hat award for Most Innovative Campaign, recognizing its marketing efforts for the Camels at Coronado event held in April at Coronado Historic Site. The award was presented in November at the Albuquerque Sheraton Uptown during the association’s annual Top Hat Awards ceremony. The event […]
Posted inLocal Gov., Town of Bernalillo
Bernalillo economic development sales tax up for final approval
A possible economic development sales tax returns to the Bernalillo Town Council Monday evening. Councilors are being asked to place a quarter-percent local increase to the gross receipts tax rate on the ballot for the March 3 local election. That means someone buying $100 worth of applicable goods would pay an extra 25 cents on […]
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Where are all the government employees?
Triple Spaced Again Merilee Dannemann is a longtime New Mexico journalist. She has written freelance for many local newsrooms and served as the Taos correspondent for the Albuquerque Journal. Find her online at triplespacedagain.com DOGE, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, has been disbanded as of late November. What a relief. DOGE was supposed to […]
Posted inNew Mexico State Gov.
New Mexico energy secretary resigns
Melanie A. Kenderdine, A Sandia Park native, resigned Dec. 4 as secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department for personal reasons, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced. Deputy Cabinet Secretary Erin Taylor will serve as acting secretary, according to the governor’s office. “Melanie brought national energy expertise to New Mexico, and I’m […]
Posted inEnergy, Pueblos
Utility asks New Mexico for ‘zero emission’ status for gas-fired power plant
This article was originally published by Capital & Main. By Jerry Redfern The Southwestern Public Service Company has asked the state of New Mexico to grant exceptions to the state’s Energy Transition Act for two proposed gas-fired power plants, including one exception that would see approximately one-third of the energy produced at one plant qualify as a “zero-carbon […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Sen. Heinrich continues to call for updates on expired ICE detention facility contract
By Lauren Lifke A detention facility in Estancia for Immigration and Customs Enforcement is still operating without a contract after its contract expired in October. Torrance County Manager Jordan Barela told The Independent that the county had an intergovernmental agreement with ICE that expired Oct. 31. The facility has since been operating without a new […]
Posted inEdgewood, Housing & Homelessness
Edgewood nonprofit announces series of free holiday events
Edgewood Connected, a local nonprofit organization, will host a series of free community events throughout December, including ice skating, a first responders benefit lunch and visits with Santa Claus. The events kick off Saturday with an ice skating event from 3 to 9 p.m. hosted by Rich Ford. The free event will provide skates, food […]
Posted inWestside Albuquerque
Sandoval County to implement fire station in Cuba
By Lauren Lifke As the Sandoval County Fire Rescue prepares for the holiday fire and wildfire season, staffing is looking promising as the department plans to open a new fire station in the Cuba area. Structure fires tend to pick up during the holiday season, according to SCFR Deputy Chief of Fire Operations Sean Kissane. […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Rio Rancho student earns scholarship for lab animal rescue business plan
A Rio Rancho student who plans to create a business rescuing and rehoming laboratory animals has won a $5,000 scholarship from U.S. Eagle Federal Credit Union. Hannah Aranda is earning dual degrees in biology and psychology at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in preclinical neuroscience and […]