Local Gov.
Posted inBernalillo County, Local Gov.

Propane truck continues to burn after crash in East Mountains

by tunruhenos

Michael Hodock/The Independent Multiple law enforcement agencies and emergency personnel are still working to clear the road after a truck carrying propane rolled over on N.M. 217 at milepost 3.  On Friday morning, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies and New Mexico State Police officers arrived at the scene to find an overturned propane truck actively leaking […]

A push for more duplexes in ABQ

by Elise Kaplan

Albuquerque residents would have more opportunities to live in duplex housing under a proposed zoning amendment before the city’s land use, planning and zoning (LUPZ) committee this week.  The change would allow duplexes, which were once allowed under city zoning, to be constructed from existing single-family homes located in certain areas of the metro. Supporters […]

Younger and stronger: Addicted teens as young as 11 are getting turned away but more help is coming 

by tunruhenos

Youth experiencing addiction will soon have a safe place to detox in Albuquerque. The new detox center has space to house six clients, who can stay there for up to 14 days, or longer if medically necessary.  In February, Serenity Mesa, a transitional living service for youth in Bernalillo County, received $3.5 million in funding […]

Gateway sobering center gets $4.2M from feds

by tunruhenos

The Gateway Center is moving toward its goal of offering medical sobering services in Albuquerque.  The site near the VA Medical Center hosted U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra highlighted the $4.2 million in federal aid appropriated for the project. Luján, Becerra and Mayor Tim Keller toured […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, Local Gov.

Volunteers needed to safely pick up syringes and needles

by tunruhenos

Bernalillo County is seeking volunteers to assist in safely picking up and disposing of syringes and needles at community events around the Albuquerque metro area.  The Bernalillo County Health Equity Council and the Department of Behavioral Health Services joined forces to collect and properly dispose of used syringes and needles. Syringes and needles, known as […]

No-Confidence vote goes nowhere, again

by Elise Kaplan

The City Council also heard from the Albuquerque Police Department about its findings in the investigation into Chief Harold Medina’s crash. Read our coverage of that discussion here. It was a no vote for a vote of no confidence leveled against the Albuquerque Police Chief at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. Councilor Louie Sanchez sponsored the […]

APD finds Chief Medina’s crash was not preventable and not criminal

by Elise Kaplan

The Albuquerque Police Department’s Fleet Crash Review Board and its Fatal Crash Unit have reviewed the chief’s actions leading up to him running a red light and crashing into another vehicle while fleeing the sound of gunfire.  They determined the crash was not preventable and he should not be criminally charged, members of APD told […]

Posted inBernalillo County, Local Gov.

County seeking consultant for opioid settlement funding

by Elise Kaplan

Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque — along with global health organization Vital Strategies — are seeking a short-term consultant to help plan how to spend  millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds.  The money was awarded as part of litigation brought by states and local political subdivisions against pharmaceutical distributors that inflicted damages […]