Thousands flood Civic Plaza to protest ICE operations

Thousands of immigrant rights activists gathered at Civic Plaza Friday afternoon as part of a coordinated national protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations following recent fatal shootings during federal enforcement actions. The demonstration, which drew roughly 5,000 people by mid-afternoon, was part of the National Shutdown movement that called for participants across the country […]

Sick of ICE? Skip work, school and shopping for national protest in ABQ

Immigrant rights activists plan to gather at Civic Plaza Friday afternoon as part of a coordinated national protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations following recent fatal shootings during federal enforcement actions. The demonstration, scheduled for 2 p.m., is part of the National Shutdown movement calling for participants across the country to skip work, school […]

Here’s how you can shape the search for Albuquerque’s next police chief

Mayor Tim Keller launched a search for Albuquerque’s next police chief Wednesday with an online survey and scheduled community forums, seeking public input before evaluating candidates to lead the more than 950-officer department. The city hired Public Sector Search & Consulting Inc. to conduct the nationwide search. The firm has managed police chief searches in […]

Driving I-25 at night? Expect major detours this week

Overnight closures are coming to a busy stretch of Interstate 25 and Montgomery Boulevard as crews move forward on a bridge-widening project in Albuquerque. Construction crews will set beams over I-25 for two nights starting Jan. 27, requiring full overnight closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., according to project information. Northbound and southbound I-25 […]

Foothills residents challenge $35M power project as county decides Tuesday

Bernalillo County commissioners will decide Tuesday whether to uphold a controversial $35 million Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) substation approval. Several resident groups appealed the Planning Commission’s December decision. The appeals are among six scheduled for a special 1 p.m. zoning meeting Tuesday. Groups, including the Sandia Heights and High Desert homeowner associations, […]

Will Albuquerque strengthen renter protections?

Albuquerque City Councilors are set to vote Wednesday on a rental protections ordinance that would give the city authority to enforce state renter laws and on funding to help 92 households stay in their homes. Housing dominates the agenda, with final action expected on the Rental Practices Ordinance, O‑25‑102, which would codify state protections while allowing […]

Metro crime-fighting tools highlighted as federal funding package clears Congress

A package of federal appropriations bills that cleared both houses of Congress this week contains hundreds of millions of dollars for New Mexico, with a heavy emphasis on public safety in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján issued news releases Friday detailing the legislation, which now heads to President […]

Albuquerque’s Gateway Center hits a turning point in homelessness response

The City of Albuquerque announced Tuesday that the Gateway Center reached full capacity for the first time since its late-2025 expansion, placing nearly 200 people on a path toward stable housing through intensive support services. The Gibson location now serves 192 residents — 100 women and 92 men — who commit to behavioral intervention and […]

Albuquerque’s nightly outreach hits record as winter temperatures plunge

Albuquerque Community Safety transported a record 1,230 people experiencing homelessness to shelter in December, helping protect lives during extreme winter temperatures. The total is the highest since the service relaunched in November 2025, a 136% increase from the previous month and a 92% jump from December 2024. The surge reflects rising community need and an […]

ABQ’s new interim police chief follows a familiar path. Will it lead to the same destination?

Cecily Barker, named Albuquerque’s first woman interim police chief on New Year’s Eve, follows a familiar pattern: Her two predecessors served as interim chief for about six months before being permanently appointed. The pattern is clear: Michael Geier served 6.5 months as interim chief before the City Council confirmed him 9-0 in June 2018. Harold […]