Local Gov.

City faces new lawsuits from asbestos mishandling at Gateway

by Elise Kaplan

The city’s ongoing headache brought on by asbestos issues at Albuquerque’s Gateway Center at Gibson Health Hub continued this week. Three new lawsuits were filed against the city in relation to its mishandling of the cancer-causing material during construction at the 572,000-square-foot center.  Located at 5400 Gibson Blvd. SE, the center offers overnight beds and […]

Posted inBernalillo County, Education, Local Gov., Westside

New APS program to offer courses in drones, sustainable farming, clean energy

by Patrick Davis

Students in four Westside schools could soon be learning to fly drones and build a more sustainable future for the rest of us. Beginning next year, four schools in the Rio Grande High School feeder group – Los Padillas Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Polk Middle School, and Rio Grande High School – will begin offering […]

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

Bernalillo County plans to increase staffing at juvenile jail following Christmas Day disturbance

by Elise Kaplan

In the wake of a “large disturbance” at the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center — a juvenile detention center — on Christmas, the county has developed a plan to boost staffing, training, morale and emergency planning.  The plan also includes hiring a director by April 1, since the previous director, Michael Ferstl, retired last week. […]

Posted inBernalillo County, Housing & Homelessness, Local Gov.

County closer to spending millions in opioid funds

by Elise Kaplan

The latest round of opioid settlement funds — $18 million — has made its way to Bernalillo County. Payments total $22.6 million so far. The funds come from historic settlements between states and companies like Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and others due to their alleged involvement in the opioid epidemic. According to the New […]

Like Clean Air?

by tunruhenos

Haze is that dirty looking veil in the air that hangs over the metropolitan area. Sulfur dioxide particles are partially to blame for that haziness, according to a 2022 annual regional report on sulfur dioxide emissions in the area. As part of the compliance, each state must release, and get public comment, on a draft […]

Posted inLocal Gov.

North Fourth Street goes on a diet

by Elise Kaplan

North Fourth Street between Ortega and Alameda will soon be on a road diet.  Bernalillo County will host a public meeting on Tuesday to gather input on a road diet reconstruction project along historic Fourth Street in the North Valley. The proposed construction will reduce the traveling lanes to one lane in each direction with […]

How many stay in Albuquerque shelters every night?

by tunruhenos

Albuquerque’s efforts to end homelessness isn’t a one person or one department affair.  The project involves those in city departments, outside agencies, nonprofits, emergency shelters, day shelters, street outreach, housing, volunteerism and public policy work. It’s a tree with multiple roots and branches that can be confusing for a public eager for straightforward information. The […]

ABQ’s street lights are not purple on purpose

by Elise Kaplan

Residents of Albuquerque have noticed certain street lights appear purple when the sun goes down. While this has raised concerns, the city says they are being replaced.  “It is a manufacturer defect in the lights and the manufacturer is aware of the issue,” said Dan Mayfield, a spokesperson for Albuquerque’s Municipal Development Department. More than […]

Broad and burdensome: City paid over $1.4 M in Public Records Act lawsuits over last year and a half

by tunruhenos

Just before the pandemic, Christopher Michael Sanchez was killed on Feb. 21 at a local bar and police ruled his death was a justifiable homicide. Eight months later, his father requested — through the Inspection of Public Records Act — all videos and records relating to his son’s death.  By 2023, however, the city still […]