Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety, Uncategorized

Timeline: The investigation into corruption in APD’s DWI unit

Since news broke that several members of the Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI unit were being investigated for allegations that they worked with a local attorney to make DWI cases go away, City Desk ABQ has been tracking each development in the case. The federal investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed, but the […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government

Albuquerque City Council approves $1.4 billion budget

Budget bumps, popsicles and postponed charter changes dominated the lengthy Albuquerque City Council meeting May 20. In the end, a $1.4 billion budget was approved for fiscal year 2025.  Budget Ups and Downs A big chunk of the five-plus hour meeting was spent working out the dollar details.  After a couple of hours of discussion […]

Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Pueblos, Westside Albuquerque

As early voting expands, more than 27,000 New Mexicans cast their votes in primaries

By Danielle Prokop / Source NM May is basically early voting month in the lead-up to the 2024 primary Election Day on Tuesday, June 4. More sites statewide are open for voters to cast ballots early in the New Mexico primary elections, and will continue to be open until Saturday, June 1. Polls will reopen […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Local Government

Lawsuit: City leaders attempted to use Risk Management as a โ€˜slush fundโ€™

A former city manager within the Risk Management Division filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque on May 17 citing intimidation, false accusations and disregard for workplace safety laws concerning asbestos at the Gateway Center.  The lawsuit was filed by Jeanette Chavez, an official within Risk Management who was one of the first […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.

Two seats open on APS audit committee

Albuquerque Public Schools is looking for two community members to serve on the districtโ€™s audit committee. They will serve alongside board members, the superintendent and the districtโ€™s chief financial officer. One of the community representatives must have experience in accounting or financial matters. The other seat is for the parent of a student currently attending […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque

Top U.S. drug agency a notable holdout in Biden’s push to loosen federal marijuana restrictions

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and JIM MUSTIAN / Associated Press In an isolated part of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration headquarters known as the 12th-floor โ€œbubble,โ€ chief Anne Milgram made an unusual request of top deputies summoned in March for what she called the โ€œMarijuana Meetingโ€: Nobody could take notes. Over the next half hour, she […]

Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque

New endangered listing for rare lizard could slow oil and gas drilling in New Mexico and West Texas

By SCOTT SONNER / Associated Press Federal wildlife officials declared a rare lizard in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas an endangered species Friday, citing future energy development, sand mining and climate change as the biggest threats to its survival in one of the worldโ€™s most lucrative oil and natural gas basins. โ€œWe have determined […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Pueblos

Controversial former sheriff, undersheriff set sights on Roundhouse

Two of Bernalillo Countyโ€™s former top cops are seeking seats at the Roundhouse in November, despite being named in a federal indictment as key players in a gunrunning scheme that allowed gun store owners to buy illegal weapons.  Manny Gonzales, a former Democrat and former Bernalillo County Sheriff, is running in the primaries for a […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness, Local Government

Officials who flagged asbestos dangers at Gateway Center told to stay home, given sick leave as city fined by state

At least two senior officials who raised concerns about the cityโ€™s mishandling of asbestos exposure during the construction of the Gibson Health Hub were threatened with reassignment and then quietly placed on sick leave. Both officials were made unavailable to answer questions from the city council and others about the administrationโ€™s actions that resulted in […]