Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Education, Local Government

Fall finals after Christmas? APS seeks public input on next school calendars

Rodd Cayton, City Desk ABQ — Albuquerque Public Schools families have an opportunity to help district leaders decide on a potentially radical calendar change. An APS survey now open is part of the district’s efforts to create calendars far enough in advance to help families plan around school dates. The survey offers a pair of […]

Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety

Last year, 389 people were denied a gun in Bernalillo County. Then they got a friendly visit from the sheriff.

For most gun buyers in Bernalillo County, a background check is a routine step. But for 389 people last year, that check ended in a denial and a visit from the sheriff’s office. Instead of a raid, these individuals often received a “knock and talk” from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). These visits […]

Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Courts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg

New NM law sparks ICE showdown: Will this new law change operations at MDC?

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed HB9 into law Thursday, creating a legal firewall between New Mexico local governments and federal immigration agents. While the move marks a major statewide shift, Bernalillo County officials say their facilities are already ahead of the curve. Known as the Immigrant Safety Act, HB 9 bars state and local agencies […]

Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Local Government

Why Albuquerque can’t agree on short-term rentals, even as illegal listings grow

The Albuquerque City Council rejected a proposal Monday night to limit short-term rentals, marking the third time in three years a version of the policy has failed. The 5-4 vote defeated Ordinance O-26-5, which would have required 100-foot buffer zones between rental properties. The measure failed despite last-minute changes to narrow the scope and delay […]

Posted inCity Desk ABQ, Local Government

Short Agenda, big decisions: ABQ Council to weigh rentals, Q&A and budget report

The Albuquerque City Council meets at 5 p.m. Mon. with a short agenda that includes final votes on two key ordinances: one affecting short-term rentals and another on how councilors question Mayor Tim Keller’s administration. The meeting also includes a report on first-quarter finances, which shows revenues $5.1 million above projections. The proposed short-term rental […]

Posted inCity Desk ABQ

BernCo pushes $110 million compromise for $35 million PNM vs neighborhood substation fight

Bernalillo County commissioners unanimously delayed a decision Tuesday on a proposed $35 million Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) substation, directing the utility to study burying transmission lines, with cost estimates reaching up to $110 million. The commission voted to continue the case for 120 days and ordered three analyses: the cost of underground […]

Posted inBernalillo County, City Desk ABQ, Local Government

Scorecard for subsidies: BernCo looks to tie public subsidies to private company benefits

County commissioners reviewed new economic development policies Tuesday aimed at ensuring businesses receiving public subsidies provide measurable benefits to local communities. The Board of County Commissioners heard findings from a steering committee that conducted five community meetings and a countywide survey over the past year. Commissioner Barbara Baca, who led the initiative, introduced a resolution […]

Posted inBernalillo County, City Desk ABQ, Local Government

County presses pause on AI data center incentive

Following a lengthy debate over water use, renewable energy and local hiring requirements, Bernalillo County commissioners pumped the brakes on a proposed framework for incentivizing AI and data center projects, voting to defer the item until their next meeting rather than approve or reject it outright. Commissioner Eric Olivas, who sponsored the “Holding Data Center […]