Two Albuquerque mayoral candidates excluded from KOAT’s televised debate are getting their turn to weigh in. With Election Day three weeks away, City Desk ABQ invited Mayling Armijo and Eddie Varela to answer the same questions voters heard on TV, covering issues like crime, homelessness and immigration. Armijo and Varela were left off the Oct. […]
Category: Albuquerque
Posted inAlbuquerque
Albuquerque Sunport becomes latest airport to reject partisan shutdown video
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Sunport won’t air a Department of Homeland Security video featuring Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown. “The Trump Administration asked airports to play a political TSA video, but our airports aren’t the place for partisan messages,” Keller said in a Facebook post. […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
GOP mega-donor backs Dem. for mayor, and other surprises from new campaign reports for mayor
The last major campaign finance reports from the city’s mayoral candidates contain at least one big surprise donation that could point to a change in momentum for one candidate. City Councilor Louie Sanchez, a Democrat, accepted the maximum donation allowed from a company owned by Harvey Yates, former State Republican Party Chairman and one of […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
How to watch the only televised mayoral debate in ABQ
Albuquerque voters can watch the only scheduled televised mayoral debate Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 7 p.m. on KOAT Channel 7, KOAT.com or the Very Local App. The debate will feature four of the six candidates — Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez, former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez and former Sheriff Darren White. KOAT anchors […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
AFR responds to overnight fire at Hinkle Fun Center
Albuquerque firefighters responded around 2 a.m. to reports of smoke and fire at the Hinkle Fun Center near Indian School Rd. and Tramway Blvd. in the northeast part of the city. Fire officials report that they found heavy smoke coming from at least one building and brought the fire under control in about 25 minutes. […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Keller promised to “freeze fees… for everyone” but what that means depends on who you ask
During Mayor Tim Keller’s State of the City address in August, he announced a plan to freeze city fees for everything from business licenses to BioPark admissions. It came as a surprise to his own staff and city councilors who, by law, must set fees in the city. Months later, all of those fees still […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
The tragic death of Jayvon Givan and a family’s year without answers
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 […]
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Community questions prompt APD to revisit investigation into Black teen found hanging last year
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina announced Tuesday that his department will seek an outside review of APD’s investigation into the death of Jayvon Givan, a young Black man found hanging from a chain outside a closed business a year ago on Albuquerque’s Westside. Social media posts — many incorrectly claiming Givan was found hanging from […]
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 […]