Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers is demanding answers after learning that Jayvon Givan’s family wasn’t told of his death for more than a year, even though police ruled it a suicide. Givan, a 28-year-old homeless Black man from Kansas City, Missouri, was found dead Sept. 17, 2024 outside a Westside business closed for renovations. His […]
Author Archives: Jesse Jones
Jesse Jones is a reporter covering local government and news for nm.news
Posted inPolitics & Elections
KOAT debate excludes two mayoral candidates, sparks controversy
A televised mayoral debate next Wednesday will spotlight just four of six active candidates for mayor of Albuquerque, but Mayling Armijo is pushing to be included, arguing voters deserve to hear from all six contenders — including the race’s only woman — while more than a third of voters remain undecided. The Oct. 15 debate […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Cracked under pressure: Why does it take months for the City to fix cracks in your street?
Albuquerque’s streets are cracking under pressure — literally. The city faces a backlog of 1,000 crack sealing requests from residents across the Duke City, despite spending $1.4 million on contractors this year. At the Oct. 6 City Council meeting, Department of Municipal Development (DMD) Director Jennifer Turner said road repair requests have surged across all […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
What happens if the mayor’s election goes to a runoff? How much will it cost?
If Burque’s crowded mayoral race goes to a runoff election in December, the city has set aside $750,000 to cover the cost, though county officials warn costs will “significantly exceed” previous elections, potentially requiring City Council approval for additional funding. The Bernalillo County Clerk’s office has not set a final price tag for a possible […]
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Council to review Keller’s 2026 legislative priorities, new housing project on Monday
By Jesse Jones — Albuquerque City Councilors are expected to review Mayor Tim Keller’s 2026 legislative priorities Monday, Oct. 6, including public safety measures and housing policies the administration wants state lawmakers to address when the session begins in January. The meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Vincent E. Griego Chambers, One Civic Plaza […]
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“A tunnel to Rio Rancho” or more bridges? Mayoral candidates pitch plans for Westside traffic woes
Should Albuquerque tunnel under the Rio Grande or build new bridges across it? Mayoral hopefuls Eddie Varela and Darren White pitched big ideas to ease Westside traffic during a recent candidate forum hosted by business leaders. The exchange came at a mayoral forum Tuesday, Sept. 30, hosted by business leaders with the National Association of […]
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City will pay to air Keller speech on TV, again
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Friday afternoon with comments and clarification on the timeline for the ad purchases provided by a spokesperson Friday after the original story was published. The city had not responded to our questions on the day before publication. The City of Albuquerque is paying to rebroadcast Mayor Tim Keller’s […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Will the government shutdown affect Balloon Fiesta? We asked. Here’s what we found.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors are flying into Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta, just as a federal government shutdown puts Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers on the job without pay. Starting Saturday, Oct. 4, those screeners will handle the airport’s busiest week of the year. So far, federal and local officials said the shutdown hasn’t […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Albuquerque mayoral candidates debate crime, homelessness at NAIOP forum
Six Albuquerque mayoral hopefuls clashed over crime, homelessness and housing Tuesday, Sept. 30, at a business forum, laying out starkly different visions for a city struggling with safety concerns and stalled growth. The forum at Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown, hosted by the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) New Mexico chapter and 13 business […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
United Stadium moving forward — quietly
After years of delays, New Mexico United’s stadium at Balloon Fiesta Park moved closer to reality. Monday, Sept. 29, Mayor Tim Keller announced construction will begin this winter with a 2028 opening target — though officials stayed silent on a Court of Appeals case challenging the project filed just six weeks ago. The announcement, made […]