Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety

‘There was no real security.’ Witness describes scene at convention center graduation shooting 

A mother is recovering after being shot by her stepson during a graduation ceremony for Southwest Secondary Learning Center, at the Albuquerque Convention Center, on Wednesday, according to court documents.  Cristian Joshua Bencomo, 21, was taken into custody directly following the incident and is charged with aggravated battery of a household member, use of a […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness

International District has become an urban ‘pharmacy desert’

Not that long ago there were three large commercial pharmacies located within the boundaries of Albuquerque’s International District — Walmart, CVS and Walgreens — including a small independent one, Phil’s Pills. Today, only Phil’s Pills remains. The effect for residents seeking to fill prescriptions has become a problem with potentially dire consequences. “For some folks, […]

Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety

Another officer — the 9th — put on leave amidst internal investigation of DWI unit

The Albuquerque Police Department has expanded its internal investigation into corruption in the DWI unit to yet another officer — bringing the total to nine. Matthew Trahan was put on leave Wednesday, APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos confirmed. He said Trahan was hired in 2006 and served in the DWI unit from 2014 to 2016. Of […]

Heading Home will no longer run Westside shelter; city hasn’t found new operator

The embattled Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) took another hit this month after the city was unable to find an operator to run it starting July 1. Two organizations applied for a $4.1 million annual contract, but officials said their proposals were “unsatisfactory, incomplete and ineligible.” Operator Albuquerque Heading Home, whose current three-year contract expires […]

Council moves Westside mixed-use development forward

Albuquerque city councilors rejected an appeal from neighborhood groups opposed to a Westside development, paving the way for the mixed-use project to move forward. Tierra West LLC is planning townhouses, office space, a cannabis retailer and a restaurant at Coors Boulevard and 7 Bar Loop Road. Representatives of the Bosque del Acres Neighborhood Association have […]

A Westside roundabout is on the way

Get ready to go round and round at one Westside intersection Albuquerque city workers will begin installing a roundabout at Tierra Pintada Boulevard and Mirehaven Parkway in the Tierra Oeste neighborhood on the city’s far Westside. Construction is expected to last through the rest of the year. “This is a major project that will bring […]

City councilors seek to reverse immigrant friendly policy

Councilors Brook Bassan and Renée Grout are co-sponsoring a bill that would reverse the city’s Immigrant Friendly Policy to allow police to contact federal authorities if an undocumented immigrant is charged with certain violent crimes or drug offenses. The bill to amend the current policy, introduced at the Albuquerque City Council meeting Monday night, was […]

Posted inAlbuquerque

Low-income homeowners to get help with heating and cooling upgrades

Albuquerque has received a grant that city officials say will help improve the health and finances of low-income homeowners. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department awarded the city $1.7 million to expand its retrofitting efforts in improving work energy efficiency. Through the Community Energy Efficiency project, income-qualified homeowners will receive free energy […]