On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that it would take an act of Congress, not a Trump-era regulatory rule, to ban bump stocks for firearms. Monday afternoon, New Mexico’s U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, joined by Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), announced that they had organized nearly two dozen […]
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Voters to decide whether City should lower threshold to win an election
After four hours of discussion Monday night, city councilors finally voted on a series of proposed changes to the city charter, including how many votes a candidate needs to win an election. The meeting — the last until Aug. 5 — wrapped up after 1 a.m. Three of the four amendments were approved and will […]
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Zoning to increase duplexes, overnight shelters fails at City Council
A push to reform the city’s zoning laws to allow more duplex construction has failed for a second year. An amendment to the city’s codes would have greenlighted conversions of existing single-family homes into duplexes in areas designated as urban centers, main street areas and those near mass transit. A measure to allow for new […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy & Workers, Congress & Federal Gov., Local Gov., Westside Albuquerque
PNM seeks rate increase
This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Hannah Grover Customers of New Mexico’s largest electric utility may pay more for energy in the future. The Public Service Company of New […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
County manager finalists to meet community
Bernalillo County residents are invited to meet the final candidates for county manager Tuesday evening. Marcos Gonzales, Joseph Lessard and Cindy Chavez are vying to replace County Manager Julie Morgas Baca, who is retiring June 30. HOW TO PARTICIPATE – CANDIDATE FORUM WHEN: 5 p.m. June 18WHERE: Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers in BernalilloCounty@Alvarado Square, 415 […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Hot town, summer in the city: APD expands resources Downtown
The Albuquerque Police Department will start increasing its presence Downtown this summer with specialty units, including horse mounted, tactical and traffic officers and those who are assigned to the Targeted Enforcement Active Monitoring (TEAMS) overtime program. According to APD, at the beginning of summer, they noticed an increase in people gathering Downtown. Officers since then […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Study links pollution to low birth weight in New Mexico
The authors of a new study say they have found a link between industrial air pollution in New Mexico and the state’s higher-than-average rates of babies with low birth weight. The study, conducted by a team that includes members from the University of New Mexico, found that the relevant emissions were largely concentrated in the […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
New Mexico Democrats vote against the National Defense Authorization Act due to wedge-issue amendments
This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Susan Dunlap The bill passed by a 217-to-199 vote, on Friday, largely along party lines with Republicans introducing over 300 amendments to the […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Tobacco-like warning label for social media sought by US surgeon general who asks Congress to act
By MICHELLE CHAPMAN The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In a Monday opinion piece in the The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Housing & Homelessness
Rage rooms, escape rooms as addiction treatment
A nonprofit that operates intensive outpatient counseling and a methadone clinic for people experiencing homelessness and those with addiction and mental health disorders is expanding in Albuquerque’s International District. On July 1, State of the Heart Recovery is set to add a barber school and rooms for “experiential experiences” — like an escape room, paint […]