Editor’s note: This is the second in a series examining a lack of pharmacies plaguing Albuquerque’s International District. The first story, “International District has become an urban ‘pharmacy desert,’” can be accessed here. Grabbing a prescription is likely taken a bit for granted by the average Albuquerque resident. There are pharmacy choices, it seems, at […]
Albuquerque
After nine years of court oversight, Albuquerque Police now in full compliance with reforms
ASSOCIATED PRESS The Albuquerque Police Department is now in full compliance with reforms ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice and that paves the way for the end of nine years of court oversight, authorities said Monday. The assessment came from an independent monitoring team hired by the city in 2015. The DOJ released findings […]
‘To see the smiles on the kids’ faces was more than worth it’
There are goals, and there are goals. Jonathon Brannon’s first-grade students at Matheson Park Elementary School have met theirs and will have the opportunity to watch the local professional soccer team score a few. Midfielder/Defender Harry Swartz of New Mexico United appeared at the school Monday afternoon to present kids with tickets to the June […]
Council approves a more equitable new food ordinance
Albuquerque city councilors have approved a new food ordinance, updating a law that has been in place for up to five decades. City staff said the current food sanitation ordinance dates back to 2010, and some rules were adopted as far back as 1974. The new ordinance replaces the previous ordinances with a unified set […]
Land acquisitions and more money for UNMH top commission agenda
Some big buck property expenditures are on the table for Bernalillo County commissioners to debate at their May 15 meeting. Also up for consideration is an amended resolution to establish a process for hiring a county manager, extending a tax to support the University of New Mexico Hospital and increasing money for public art. Tax […]
Anatomy of an encampment
A private dirt lot located one block north of East Central Avenue in Albuquerque’s International District recently saw a swell of activity from an illegal encampment. About 50 people experiencing homelessness were living on the site that functioned as a makeshift community. There was considerable trash on the street and reports of burglary, vandalism, public […]
City Council committee listens to budget concerns from residents
Housing, community safety services, Explora and funding for disc golf topped the list of public comments at a meeting of city leaders to hear city budget concerns. What’s COW? The Albuquerque City Council’s Committee of the Whole (COW) met Thursday to hear resident input on the mayor’s proposed $1.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2025. […]
Who sued the city and how much did they settle for?
In the fall of 2023 — from October through December — the city paid out more than $3 million in settlements for various lawsuits. Residents sued after they tripped and fell on sidewalks, for discrimination and for civil rights violations. Two people were in crashes with solid waste employees and two were in crashes with […]
‘There was no real security.’ Witness describes scene at convention center graduation shooting
A mother is recovering after being shot by her stepson during a graduation ceremony for Southwest Secondary Learning Center, at the Albuquerque Convention Center, on Wednesday, according to court documents. Cristian Joshua Bencomo, 21, was taken into custody directly following the incident and is charged with aggravated battery of a household member, use of a […]
International District has become an urban ‘pharmacy desert’
Not that long ago there were three large commercial pharmacies located within the boundaries of Albuquerque’s International District — Walmart, CVS and Walgreens — including a small independent one, Phil’s Pills. Today, only Phil’s Pills remains. The effect for residents seeking to fill prescriptions has become a problem with potentially dire consequences. “For some folks, […]