Andrea Ortiz knew while in the police academy that she wanted to be a homicide investigator. She said her drive toward that goal began with “Quincy,” “CHiPs” and “Charlie’s Angels,” which she enjoyed watching on TV. But after 25 years in law enforcement, including APD’s homicide and crime scene units, Ortiz retired last fall and […]
Congress & Federal Gov.
Posted inLocal Government
WHAT TO EXPECT: Competing county manager selection processes dominate commission agenda
In other county business, commissioners are set to: HOW TO PARTICIPATE Bernalillo County meetings are conducted at 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is at 5 p.m. on April 9 at the Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers at 415 Silver Ave SW VIRTUAL: GOV-TV or online at the county’s […]
Posted inLocal Government
Propane truck continues to burn after crash in East Mountains
Michael Hodock/The Independent Multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency personnel are still working to clear the road after a truck carrying propane rolled over on N.M. 217 at milepost 3. On Friday morning, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies and New Mexico State Police officers arrived at the scene to find an overturned propane truck actively leaking […]
Posted inLocal Government
Commissioners duel over how to pick the next county leader
On the table at Tuesday’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting are two choices for how to go about picking the next county manager, as Julie Morgas-Baca will retire at the end of June. Last time At the March 19 meeting, Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada proposed a selection process that would include securing a professional recruitment firm […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Democratic presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson coming to Albuquerque
A Democratic presidential candidate is coming to Albuquerque this week, but it’s not the one you might think. Marianne Williamson will speak at the Unity Spiritual Center Albuquerque on Candelaria Road near Eubank Boulevard NE on Saturday. On Friday, she will speak at Unity Santa Fe. Williamson, who is frequently described as a “self-help author” […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government
A push for more duplexes in ABQ
Albuquerque residents would have more opportunities to live in duplex housing under a proposed zoning amendment before the city’s land use, planning and zoning (LUPZ) committee this week. The change would allow duplexes, which were once allowed under city zoning, to be constructed from existing single-family homes located in certain areas of the metro. Supporters […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
A partial eclipse of the heart
Students from St. Mary’s Catholic School gathered at the Main Library Downtown for an eclipse viewing party on Monday. Public libraries around the city passed out solar glasses and offered trivia and snacks for the event. Albuquerque is not in the path of the total eclipse, but the sun was approximately 70% obscured. The eclipse […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
A law to stem organized shoplifting has been in place 10 months. Is it working?
In early January, a security guard working at Marshalls in Northeast Albuquerque called an Albuquerque Police Department detective to report she had been working on a case against a “prolific shoplifter” for more than two months and there was a chance to arrest him.
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
2023’s most prolific felony shoplifting cases
This article is part of a three-part package on shoplifting. Read about what’s happening in the Southwest Area Command here and what’s happened since a law was passed to target organized retail crime here. Store: Albertsons Market, two locationsSuspects: Demetrius Antonnie Bailey, 41Dates: Feb. 13 to Sept. 19Number of incidents: 12Charges: Organized retail crime, one […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Southwest Albuquerque command sees positive outcome in shoplifting reports from retailers
This article is part of a three-part package on shoplifting. Read about what’s happened since a law was passed to target organized retail crime here and about some of the most brazen thefts here. At a recent community policing meeting in Southwest Albuquerque, Cmdr. Rene Barraza told the gathered crowd that the department has noted […]