NM.news Archives

Democrat Juan de Jesus Sanchez III, left, and Republican Michael Perry are facing off in the Nov. 3 election to become New Mexico commissioner of public lands overseeing the State Land Office. (Source NM file and courtesy photos)

New Mexico Election 2026: Commissioner of public lands

by Source New Mexico October 6, 2026October 7, 2026

By Patrick Lohmann, Source New Mexico — This November, New Mexicans will elect a new leader to the office that manages millions of acres of state lands at a time of record-high oil and gas prices, increased corporate interest in data centers and uranium extraction, and ongoing environmental threats posed by wildfire and drought. Republican […]

ABQ RIDE’s five electric buses sit among other buses at the Ken Sanchez Transit Facility in Albuquerque. The electric buses have not been in service since December because of mechanical problems and difficulty obtaining parts. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales for the Paper

City Desk ABQ

Five electric buses, zero passengers: ABQ electric buses not used since last December

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s first electric buses were supposed to be the start of a shift toward cleaner public transportation. Four years later, all five are still in the city’s fleet but have not carried passengers since December because of mechanical problems and difficulty getting parts. The city rolled out the fleet […]

A blue recycling bin sits at the curb in Albuquerque. Starting Sept. 28, some city households will have their recycling collected every other week as part of a new pilot program. (Jesse Jones)

NM.news

City’s recycling test could mean fewer pickups for some residents

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For some Burqueños, trash day will soon mean one less bin to take to the curb each week. The city is starting a pilot program that will switch blue recycling bin pickup from weekly to every other week. Starting today, the city’s Solid Waste Management Department will test the […]

A flamenco dancer in a black dress performs on stage.

Get Out!: Our picks of the best things to do in ABQ this weekend

Fall is finally in the air. The monsoons have returned, the hot air balloons are getting ready to fly at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, and Albuquerque is bustling with seasonal activities. Among the highlights of this special two-week calendar are the traditional Japanese Fall festival Aki Matsuri, a culmination to the annual Fiesta Flamenca […]

City Desk ABQ

Six months of lawsuits left Albuquerque with a $4.38 million tab

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Mayor Tim Keller sent two overdue quarterly litigation reports to the City Council last month, revealing $4.38 million in lawsuit settlements over six months, including a case in which a police SWAT operation burned down a family’s home and killed a teenage boy hiding inside. At its Sept. 21 […]

Planning Director Alan Varela speaks Wednesday at a press conference downtown about an apartment complex where tenants banded together and asked the city to step in. (Jesse Jones)

City Desk ABQ

Fed up Albuquerque renters put new city protections to the test

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For more than a year, City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn has pushed for stronger renter protections, one city ordinance at a time. In June, two of her measures became law: the Rental Unit Habitability Enforcement Ordinance and a resolution requiring the city to prioritize safety violations. Now those protections are […]

NM.news

Big tax breaks in Bernalillo County now come with big strings attached

by Jesse Jones September 22, 2026September 22, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Bernalillo County is looking to make businesses seeking tax breaks from residents give more back through public benefits for taxpayers who fund it. In a first for Bernalillo County, commissioners approved a $1.2 billion industrial revenue bond for DESRI, a renewable energy developer, to build a 400-megawatt solar and […]

City Desk ABQ

‘Is the City the Grinch?’ Councilor slams decision to cancel Luminaria Bus Tour

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — For 70 years, Burqueños have celebrated Christmas Eve aboard the Luminaria Bus Tour, riding city buses through the Old Town and Huning Castle neighborhoods to see glowing luminarias and neighbors gathered around bonfires. Now, the city has ended the tradition, saying the tour is no longer cost-effective. At Monday’s […]

A firefighter works to contain a wildfire. New Mexico is seeking more than $61 million from FEMA for National Guard flood control and debris removal tied to the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire. (Source: U.S. Forest Service)

New Mexico wants FEMA to pay for years of wildfire recovery costs

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Years after the largest wildfire in New Mexico history, the National Guard is still helping northern New Mexico communities respond to flooding across the burn scar. Now, the state wants FEMA to pay millions for that work. The New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management sued the […]

The seal of the Albuquerque City Council

City Desk ABQ

Council Preview: City Council faces decisions on shelter and multiple appeals

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque city councilors on Monday will address development projects, city spending and the future of a controversial overnight shelter during a meeting that also includes a slate of routine appointments and contract approvals. During the Sept. 21 meeting, councilors are expected to formally adopt findings from the last meeting’s […]