Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

Wildfire risk rises as Western states dry out amid ongoing heat wave baking most of the US

Authorities in Western states warned of the rising risk of wildfires as hot conditions and low humidity dry out the landscape amid a protracted heat wave that is expected to bake much of the U.S. again Thursday.

California’s top fire official said Wednesday that so far this year the state has responded to more than 3,500 wildfires that have scorched nearly 325 square miles (842 square kilometers) of vegetation โ€” five times the average burned through July 10 in each of the past five years.

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, Westside Albuquerque

Increasing homelessness has Westsiders looking for answers

Those experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque often naturally congregate near areas where food, clothing, transit, medical care and addiction services are available. Two of the most highly trafficked areas are in Downtown and across the cityโ€™s International District. But on the cityโ€™s Westside, the stretch of Coors Boulevard from Central Avenue to I-40, has emerged as […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

City, county partner to improve access to social services

Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque are collaborating on an initiative they say will improve access to food, housing and behavioral health services.  The city and county are partnering with the software company Unite Us to offer a โ€œsecure and efficient way to connect residents to the services they need,โ€ according to a Bernalillo […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Statewide News

Defense attorney says ‘Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting’ at trial openings

By MORGAN LEE and ANDREW DALTON SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) โ€” A defense attorney told jurors Wednesday that the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was an โ€œunspeakable tragedyโ€ but that โ€œ Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting.โ€ Baldwin’s lawyer Alex Spiro emphasized in his opening statement in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

New housing program offers quicker permits โ€” without the additional fee

Those building new housing projects now have access to the Planning Departmentโ€™s โ€œFast Housingโ€ tool online to quickly find areas of town that qualify for expedited permits without additional fees. The Planning Department provides an optional, fee-based program called “FasTrax” โ€” $1,000 minimum โ€” to accelerate the plan review process and ensure completion by specific […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Edgewood, Local Government, Uncategorized

Commissioner Advocates For Keeping Carnuel Ramp Open

A New Mexico Department of Transportation plan to close a freeway ramp near Carnuel has residents of some East Mountains communities concerned. Department officials said in a public meeting in June that the bridge, which crosses the Tijeras Arroyo, is in poor condition. The NMDOT proposes to permanently remove the westbound off-ramp, and route traffic […]