■ Local Government Archives - Page 4 of 151

Shelter beds are seen inside Gateway West in Albuquerque. The city allocated $2 million in opioid settlement funds to launch a treatment navigation and assessment program through the Gateway system. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/City Desk ABQ.

Albuquerque approves millions in opioid settlement funds: Here’s where the money is going

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For Duke City residents facing addiction and students struggling with mental health, getting connected to treatment can be a critical step toward recovery. Newly approved city funding will expand access to addiction treatment navigation, sobering beds and school counseling for Albuquerque residents and students. The Albuquerque City Council unanimously […]

The Luxe has its zoning. The Rio Rancho City Council voted 5-1 Thursday to rezone a Lomas Encantadas corner and a slice of neighborhood park for 55 apartments and two small shops. Fourteen residents had lined up to ask councilors to kill it.

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Last call for The Luxe: City Council gets the final word Thursday on Lomas Encantadas apartments

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — The fight over The Luxe hits its final round Thursday. The Rio Rancho City Council will decide whether a 55-unit apartment complex, along with part of a neighborhood park, can rise at the corner of Camino Encantadas and Camino Venada NE. The council meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 […]

Pictured is the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, where Dr. Rebecca Fastle previously managed medical operations before stepping into her new countywide healthcare role. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/City Desk Abq

■ Local Government

MDC health care transition could cost millions. Commissioners weigh next steps

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Thousands of people booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center each year depend on medical care and addiction treatment behind bars. Bernalillo County plans to take over those services in 2027 when its current contract ends next summer. Commissioners will consider using $30 million in county reserves to help fund […]

The seal of the Albuquerque City Council

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Albuquerque City Council picks up where last meeting left off

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Tonight’s Albuquerque City Council meeting will feel like a continuation of the last one, with councilors revisiting a controversial zoning appeal fee proposal and other issues they left unresolved at the Oct. 5 meeting. Councilors postponed the zoning proposal and ran out of time to consider another item on […]

■ Local Government

Get involved: The week ahead in public meetings

Monday, October 19 Roswell Infrastructure Committee Agenda, 2 p.m., City Hall, 425 N. Richardson Ave., upstairs in the Mike Mathews Conference Room. Other options: Watch live online at https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/929161493, or hear the audio of the meeting by phone at (571) 317-3122. If prompted, use access code 929-161-493. Roswell Museum Board of Trustees, 4 p.m., City […]

New Mexico's overdose crisis just got a new villain, according to the governor: the federal agency that's supposed to be fighting it.

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Bernalillo County approves emergency powers to fight fentanyl crisis

By Jesse Jones, The Paper, — Bernalillo County is moving to cut red tape so it can get emergency medical care to the streets faster, overhaul jail detox programs and crack down on fentanyl trafficking. Commissioners approved an emergency declaration Wednesday that grants emergency authority to the county manager and asks the state for additional […]

Community members fill the Bernalillo County Commission chambers during an Oct. 14 hearing on an appeal challenging approval of the proposed Albuquerque Islamic Center on Second Street NW. Commissioners voted 4-1 to deny the appeal and uphold the project's conditional-use approval. Courtesy of the Albuquerque Islamic Center.

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North Valley mosque appeal fails; traffic questions remain

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — North Valley residents who challenged plans for a proposed mosque lost their appeal Wednesday evening when Bernalillo County commissioners denied the appeal and upheld conditional-use approval for the Albuquerque Islamic Center on Second Street. Residents raised concerns about traffic and the area’s rural character. During its Oct. 14 zoning […]

■ Local Government, City Desk ABQ

Bernalillo County plans expanded fentanyl response as commissioners weigh emergency declaration

by Jesse Jones October 14, 2026October 14, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — About six people a week died from opioid-related causes in Bernalillo County last year. Now, county commissioners are considering an emergency declaration to help fund a more robust response, including expanded street medicine and addiction treatment, real-time overdose tracking and a new sheriff’s operation targeting drug traffickers. Bernalillo County […]

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Disenchanted: Zoning board backs The Luxe despite neighbor outcry, sending fight to City Council

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Lomas Encantadas neighbors brought the crowd, but the developer got the votes. Rio Rancho’s Planning and Zoning Board voted 4-1 Tuesday to recommend The Luxe, a 55-unit apartment complex on the corner of Camino Encantadas and Camino Venada NE. Speaker after speaker had urged the board to reject it. The […]

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Edgewood appoints former APD commander to fill commission vacancy

by Kevin Hendricks October 14, 2026October 14, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Route 66 Independent — Following a three-month vacancy left by former Commissioner Mike Rariden, the town of Edgewood restored its full Town Commission after commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday night to appoint Doug West to the open District 5 seat. West, a retired Albuquerque Police Department commander and vice chair of the […]