For the last 17 years, Diane McDermott has worked at the Civilian Police Oversight Agency, a civilian run organization whose mission is to investigate complaints the public makes against members of the Albuquerque Police Department. As of last week, she’s officially in charge. McDermott, who has been the interim director at CPOA—with a slight intermission—since […]
+News
Hazy air report greets Air Quality Control board members
Ever wonder where the haze that hangs over the metropolitan area comes from? Sulfur dioxide particles are partially to blame, according to the 2022 annual regional report on sulfur dioxide emissions presented to the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board this week. What? The largest source of sulfur dioxide is fossil fuel emissions from […]
The 72 bills that reached the governor’s desk and those that didn’t
Austin Fisher/Source New Mexico New Mexico lawmakers introduced a total of 658 bills this session, nearly 10 times more than they ended up actually voting to pass onto the governor. By the time the Legislature finished the budget-focused 30-day session on Thursday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had signed three bills: House Bill 1, House Bill 141 and House Bill […]
Community Briefs
Homeschool Track and Field Interest Meeting Have a homeschooled kid or two interested in participating in the track and field season? Stop by the Wildlife West Nature Park on Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. to learn all about the 2024 homeschool track and field season. Children from the ages of 3 to […]
Community Briefs
Homeschool Track and Field Interest Meeting Have a homeschooled kid or two interested in participating in the track and field season? Stop by the Wildlife West Nature Park on Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. to learn all about the 2024 homeschool track and field season. Children from the ages of 3 to […]
New Trails and Energy Upgrades Planned for the East Mts
Bernalillo County is planning multiple sustainability projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address climate pollution and improve traffic safety and walking and biking trails. Two of these projects will be focused in the East Mountains and the South Valley in Albuquerque and will include a pedestrian and bicycle safety action plan, stormwater infrastructure and energy […]
Despite Odds, Owner of Olive Tree Pharmacy Opens New Rio Rancho Location
In just seven short years, Ndidiamaka Okpareke has gone from having $80 in her account when she started Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy in Rio Rancho to opening her own, 6,000-square-foot building. The new site on Wellspring Avenue near Unser Boulevard is set to open at the end of March, Okpareke said, just down the street […]
A better way to govern
One of the most important bills this legislative session has tiptoed through the House with scant publicity and no controversy. House Bill 232, to create the Infrastructure Planning and Development Division within the Department of Finance and Administration, sounds a dry and bureaucratic, but it could transform the state’s dysfunctional capital outlay system. Communities need […]
Sandoval County Deputy Tased During Arrest
Sandoval County Sheriff’s Officers were dispatched to a residence on the 600 block of Fountain Ct. in Rio Rancho February 9 to serve a domestic violence order of protection for the removal of Fabricio Portillo from the home. The encounter resulted in Sgt. Luke Osborn being accidentally tasered by his own stun gun. According to […]
Plenty of bills would have improved public health
There is no question it is difficult to follow bills and bill action in the Legislature. For frequent users, the Secretary of State website (nmlegis.gov) is very friendly and does a timely job of updating bill status throughout the session. For first-time users it is easy to learn. According to the Legislative Council librarian, there […]

