With smiles and surveys, volunteers count city’s homeless

Car trunks were packed with goodie bags filled with granola bars, gummy bears, crackers and bottles of water as teams of volunteers carpooled to different areas of the city this week. On day and night shifts, they walked sidewalks, cul-de-sacs, alleys, bike trails, arroyos and busy intersections. They looked under bridges, scanned perimeters of vacant […]

Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, State Government #nmgov

Gov. says Google will use satellites and sensors to help New Mexico cities find leaky pipes. Here’s how.

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press | ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is teaming up with Google to hunt for leaky water pipes using satellite imagery as the drought-stricken state prepares for a future in which growing demand puts more pressure on already dwindling drinking water supplies. State officials made the announcement Tuesday as […]

What do you think of the city’s Rail Trail idea? The city wants to know.

The City’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency (MRA) published the public comment draft of the comprehensive report “Advancing Inclusive Growth through the Albuquerque Rail Trail,” with the idea of creating a more inclusive and vibrant urban environment in Albuquerque. Now the City is asking the community to read the report and give feedback via a survey at cabq.gov/railtrailequity. […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, State Government #nmgov

Pretrial detention bill favored by the gov won’t move forward

By Robert Knott/ Santa Fe New Mexican A “tougher on crime” bill championed by the governor that supporters say would address the perception of violent criminals moving through a judicial revolving door went through something of a revolving door itself Monday. Members of the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committed voted 5-4 to table Senate […]

Texts show APD Chief, Mayor Keller discuss plan to “hammer the unhoused”

Amid growing public pressure to address homeless encampments across the city, Mayor Tim Keller invited Police Chief Harold Medina to help develop a two-month plan with “like five moves in two months on the chess baord (sic)” to respond to the growing crisis. “Yes let’s plan we hammer the unhoused but be prepared for the […]

Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Gov.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputy arrested after allegedly pointing gun at two people  

Two Albuquerque residents were startled as they waited for a friend at a Circle K on Wednesday when—over the loud-speaker of a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office truck—they were ordered to leave.  “Get the fuck outta here,” they reported hearing. “Get the fuck outta here, or I’m going to take your fucking soul.”  That’s what police […]

Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico Statewide News

Heinrich, Luján join legislation reaffirming US support for two-state Israel-Palestine solution

New Mexico’s two U.S. Senators, Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján, both Democrats, will join a group of 49 senators pushing to reaffirm longstanding U.S. policy in support of a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The group will file an amendment to upcoming legislation funding national security priorities. “A long term two-state solution remains crucial for […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, State Government #nmgov

Lawmakers want attorney general to create new task force on missing and murdered Indigenous people

By Bella Davis/NM In Depth Five New Mexico lawmakers want the state attorney general to establish a task force focused on missing and murdered Indigenous people.  They’ve made the request via Senate Joint Memorial 2, which they introduced this week. The memorial puts on display the disagreement some lawmakers have with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s quiet shuttering last year of […]