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 […]
Local Government
Posted inFederal Government & Congress, Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
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 Government
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 inCourts & Justice, Federal Government & Congress, Local Government
Man shoots, injures himself outside county jail
A man shot and injured himself outside the Metropolitan Detention Center Tuesday afternoon, according to a county spokesperson. He has been taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital. “No one else was injured or involved in the incident,” spokesperson Candace Hopkins wrote in a news release. “The Sheriff’s Office has secured the grounds and […]
Posted inFederal Government & Congress, Local Government
Centenarians celebrate centennial with the city
Three centenarians were honored at the city’s Centennial Birthday Celebration Tuesday. The annual event, which is held on the 100th day of the year, took place at the North Valley Senior Center. More than 100 people showed up to celebrate the lives of the active senior citizens, according to Victoria Velarde, city communications coordinator. Entertainers, […]
Posted inLocal Government
WHAT TO EXPECT: Competing county manager selection processes dominate commission agenda
In other county business, commissioners are set to: HOW TO PARTICIPATE Bernalillo County meetings are conducted at 5 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is at 5 p.m. on April 9 at the Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers at 415 Silver Ave SW VIRTUAL: GOV-TV or online at the county’s […]
Posted inLocal Government
Propane truck continues to burn after crash in East Mountains
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 […]
Posted inLocal Government
Commissioners duel over how to pick the next county leader
On the table at Tuesday’s Bernalillo County Commission meeting are two choices for how to go about picking the next county manager, as Julie Morgas-Baca will retire at the end of June. Last time At the March 19 meeting, Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada proposed a selection process that would include securing a professional recruitment firm […]
Posted inFederal Government & Congress, Local Government
A push for more duplexes in ABQ
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 […]
Posted inFederal Government & Congress, Housing & Homelessness, Local Government
Younger and stronger: Addicted teens as young as 11 are getting turned away but more help is coming
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 […]