By Kevin Hendricks New Mexico’s top prosecutor is taking the U.S. Department of Justice to federal court, accusing the agency of blocking access to unredacted Epstein investigative files the state says it needs to finish a criminal probe of Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch. Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed the complaint Aug. 5 in the U.S. […]
+News
Posted inRio Rancho
Expanding access: How a new state law is bringing a large preschool to Rio Rancho
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. A vacant lot near Rio Rancho’s City Center is one step closer to becoming La Esperanza Preschool, a 200-child facility, after the Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved its site plan on July 28. Planning and Zoning Board Manager Brian Babyak recommended approval of the project, proposed by LEBM2 LLC […]
Posted inNew Mexico State Gov.
Epstein Truth Commission to present interim report Wednesday
By Kevin Hendricks The Survivors’ Truth Commission — formally the House Special Investigatory Committee — meets Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 1 p.m. in State Capitol Room 307 to present an interim report and walk through its mission investigating Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch near Stanley. The revised Aug. 3 agenda calls for member introductions, an overview […]
Posted inRio Rancho
State eyes selling 300 acres near Cleveland Heights for new development
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. More than 300 acres of state trust land near Cleveland Heights could go up for sale with the City of Rio Rancho’s blessing already locked in, months before residents get their say at an Aug. 5 public meeting. The New Mexico State Land Office will gather comments on the proposed […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
City Council cracks down on stolen copper, brass sales
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños whose catalytic converters get stolen or whose streetlights go dark because of stripped copper wiring have a new tool aimed at fighting the market for stolen metal after the City Council voted 8-1 Monday night to toughen the city’s recycling laws. The council approved the Sale of Recycled […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Procedural mutiny: ABQ City Councilors overrule Council President to block tax ballot measure
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Taxpayers in the Duke City will not see a proposed gross receipts tax increase on their November ballots after city councilors used a procedural move to stop the measure before it reached a vote. During the Aug. 3 City Council meeting, Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn used a parliamentary challenge to […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Keeping it cool: A/C conversion part of APS strategy to fight rising temps
By Rodd Cayton It’s hot, and that’s not ideal for learning, Albuquerque Public Schools officials acknowledged Monday. Therefore, the district has been working on a variety of initiatives to keep kids cool. “We are overstaffed for the beginning of the year in terms of having all hands on deck to address any work orders,” Antonio […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho teen pleads guilty to murder in 2024 shooting
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. A Rio Rancho teenager pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of an Albuquerque homeowner who stepped outside to stop his truck from being stolen. According to Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman, the teen and several co-defendants were stealing […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Building tomorrow: Bernalillo to host community conversation on early childhood
By Rodd Cayton Area state legislators will be in Bernalillo tomorrow to discuss ways to improve New Mexico’s supply of childcare. State Sen. Cindy Nava will headline the program at 4 p.m. Aug. 5 at the El Zócalo Event Center, 264 S. Camino Del Pueblo. Growing Up New Mexico, an early childhood partnership, the New Mexico […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News
AG Torrez escalates fight with DOJ over unseized fentanyl shipments
By Kevin Hendricks New Mexico’s attorney general says he’ll take the U.S. Department of Justice to federal court if it doesn’t hand over records tied to his fentanyl investigation by Aug. 17 — records DOJ says his office never had a legal right to request in the first place. The renewed demand Attorney General Raúl […]