Did Bernalillo County Commissioners violate state law? The Foundation for Open Government (FOG) — an advocate for transparency in government — has asked the New Mexico Department of Justice to investigate whether the Bernalillo County Commission violated the Open Meetings Act by engaging in a rolling quorum before it met this week. A rolling quorum […]
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Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Biden admin will require thousands more gun dealers to run background checks on buyers
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands more firearms dealers across the United States will have to run background checks on buyers at gun shows or other places outside brick-and-mortar stores, according to a Biden administration rule that will soon go into effect. The rule aims to close a […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Gov.
Former corrections officer shot himself outside MDC on Tuesday
The man who shot himself outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Tuesday was a former corrections officer, according to a county spokesperson. He was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he later died. Candace Hopkins, a spokesperson for the county jail, said the man worked for MDC “for several different stints […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
Senator co-sponsors legislation to protect NM communities from “forever chemicals”
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich announced today that he has co-sponsored new legislation called the Healthy H2O Act to protect New Mexico communities from dangerous contaminants like PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.” This directly follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s announcement of the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard that will reduce Americans’ […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
New Superintendent achieves life goal and sets some for students
Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey has found what she intends to be her last job. “There’s a lot of work ahead, and there’s nothing I have as a goal other than the work that I am committed to doing here in Albuquerque,” Blakey said. “So it’s the last stop.” A product of Albuquerque Public Schools, she […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News, Westside Albuquerque
U.S. Senate spending panel calls for extending pay boost for Forest Service firefighters
JACOB FISCHLER /Source New Mexico Members of a U.S. Senate Appropriations subcommittee said at a hearing Wednesday they were focused on keeping pay for wildland firefighters at the higher level set in a 2021 law and urged Forest Service Chief Randy Moore to focus on ways to maintain a healthy timber industry. Senate Interior-Environment Subcommittee Chair […]
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City hunts for Westside shelter operator
The city is searching for someone to take on a complex assignment: staff and operate the Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) for hundreds of people experiencing homelessness. The facility is located about 20 miles west of Downtown near the Double Eagle II Airport. Its remote location is typically accessed through shuttle services departing from pickup […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Dust up at the Bernalillo County Commission meeting
This story has been updated to include a statement from Commissioner Walt Benson that was provided after deadline. Drama dominated the Bernalillo County Commission meeting Tuesday night after one commissioner — Steven Michael Quezada — left the governing table in a huff. In doing so, a couple of pieces of legislation he had introduced, including […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Suspect arrested in deadly fight outside homeless services provider
Albuquerque police have arrested a man suspected of severely beating another man during a fight in front of a homeless services provider Downtown in late February. The victim, Mark Lavine, died a couple weeks later. Jose Gracia, 54, was arrested Wednesday. He is charged with an open count of murder. Both he and Lavine were […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News
Biden administration sets first-ever limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water
By MICHAEL PHILLIS Associated Press The Biden administration on Wednesday finalized strict limits on certain so-called “forever chemicals” in drinking water that will require utilities to reduce them to the lowest level they can be reliably measured. Officials say this will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers. […]