Bernalillo County officials and members of the public gathered Thursday morning to recognize 222 deceased residents as part of its unclaimed indigent cremation program — the highest number since the initiative began in 2012. A ceremony was held at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque where each person’s name was read. Urns containing ashes from cremations […]
■ Local Government
Posted in■ Local Government
Safety takes a front seat at the ABQ Balloon Fiesta
The 52nd Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta will have a safety focus, both on the ground and in the air, an event spokesperson said Wednesday. “Balloon Fiesta aims to create a secure and enjoyable environment where everyone can experience the magic of the flying events without concerns for their well-being,” Tom Garrity said. “To ensure a […]
Posted in■ Federal Government & Congress, ■ Local Government
ABQ city councilors set to debate campaign finance changes
The next mayoral and City Council election is not until next year, but Albuquerque city councilors are already debating how much public money some council candidates should receive for campaigning. During the council’s Sept. 16 meeting, Councilor Joaquín Baca introduced a proposal to “clean up” campaign finance sections of the city’s charter. Council candidates currently […]
Posted in■ Local Government
City, county agree on jail fixes
Bernalillo County’s jail system continues to work out reforms spurred by a long-running lawsuit. During their Tuesday meeting, Bernalillo County Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Albuquerque to continue joint operations at the Medical and Mental Health Triage Facility, Prisoner Transport Unit and Resource Reentry Center. Under the agreement, arrestees will undergo […]
Posted in■ Local Government
County commission OKs solar bonds
A major economic development push by Bernalillo County commissioners Tuesday brought hundreds of new local jobs closer to being a reality. The board unanimously agreed to issue up to $942 million in taxable industrial revenue bonds for a proposed solar cell manufacturing plant in the Mesa del Sol industrial development area. The 834,000-square-foot Apollo plant […]
Posted in■ Federal Government & Congress, ■ Housing & Homelessness, ■ Local Government, ■ Statewide News
Transient bookings at MDC on the rise
The number of inmates at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) who are classified as transient is on the rise — a trend that’s concerning to advocates who work with those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque. The MDC is run by Bernalillo County and is the largest county jail in the state. It has an average inmate […]
Posted in■ Local Government
Mobile hygiene units pique county interest
Bernalillo County officials plan to further study the idea of starting a mobile hygiene program after county commissioners responded positively to a presentation at Tuesday’s meeting, although there are no immediate plans to roll it out yet. Jamie Duvall of consulting firm Apex Evaluation discussed research findings her company gathered on behalf of the county’s […]
Posted in■ Courts & Justice, ■ Federal Government & Congress, ■ Local Government, ■ Statewide News
MDC officer accused of illegal relationship with inmate released
A former Metropolitan Detention Center corrections officer who is accused of having an illegal relationship with an inmate was released from custody Monday after a court hearing. The former officer, Chevonne Culbreath, was arrested Sept. 17 and charged with criminal sexual penetration and trying to illegally bring contraband into the jail after an inmate reportedly […]
Posted in■ Local Government
What is a bond anyway?
Just as individuals and families use savings and take on debt to make large purchases, so do local, state and federal governments. While a family buying a new vehicle or a home might look for a car loan or mortgage, governments have a variety of debt-financing options available, each with their own rules and benefits. […]
Posted in■ Federal Government & Congress, ■ Local Government
Councilor aims to curb inappropriate social media posts from official accounts
An Albuquerque city councilor is looking to enforce new social media rules for city employees after posts from the Albuquerque Police Department’s (APD) official social media account caught the council’s attention for the second time in as many years. At a meeting Sept. 5, councilors confronted Mayor Tim Keller’s administration about posts one councilor called […]