Registered New Mexico voters can now request an absentee ballot for the 2024 General Election by visiting the New Mexico Voter Information Portal NMVote.org. “Every vote counts,” said Sandoval County Clerk Anne Brady-Romero said. “We are here to help our voters cast their ballots securely and efficiently, and in a manner that is most comfortable […]
Communities
Tan Pants Bandit Arrested
A man dubbed the “Tan Pants Bandit” has been arrested by the FBI. On Aug. 1, the FBI confirmed Joaquin Ricardo Molinar, who earned the moniker for wearing tan pants while allegedly robbing six banks in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, was arrested. The Tan Pants Bandit — also known at one time as the grey […]
Beauty Remains
Heading east from Albuquerque on I-40 through the Tijeras Canyon, then turning south through the Estancia Basin to the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument leads to one of the most gorgeous drives in New Mexico. The Abó site — the remains of a large pueblo and a Spanish Franciscan mission — is a quick stop […]
NM kids could get hundreds of thousands if trust fund pilot program takes off
Leslie Moreno-Roacho didn’t go to college. She wanted to study nursing, but her family’s finances meant that goal stayed out of reach. Her 1-year-old son, Zaiden, could have a better chance of making it into higher education. Zaiden is one of the first 15 children selected for Baby Bonds, a new initiative aimed at giving […]
Are more taxes the answer to homelessness?
If you’ve watched a presidential debate or engaged in just about any topic on social media, this event won’t feel familiar — it’s designed to be highly-structured and civilized. The topic is Albuquerque’s unhoused, specifically: Are additional tax dollars needed to provide housing for those experiencing homelessness? The national nonprofit Braver Angels is hosting the […]
Teachers union secures new contract so fine arts teachers get paid for extra work
Fine arts teachers in Albuquerque Public Schools will see their incomes climb after a new union contract mandates they get paid for leading band camps and other activities outside of scheduled hours — something they had previously done without compensation. The district’s Board of Education approved the contract Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Albuquerque Teachers […]
PHOTOS: Superintendent, students celebrate first day of school
School’s back in session for Albuquerque students. City Desk ABQ was there as Superintendent Gabriella Durán Blakey visited Jefferson Middle School as students were getting dropped off Wednesday morning. It’s Blakey’s first year leading the district and she checked in with several schools as students arrived for the first day.
Councilor said she never thought colleagues would try to ‘take away pay from workers’ during push to update min. wage law
When a city councilor who represents some of the most impoverished areas of the city recently tried to update the city’s minimum wage law, she inadvertently created an opportunity for one of her colleagues to lower the city’s minimum wage for tipped employees. Councilor Nichole Rogers in an interview with City Desk ABQ said she […]
PHOTOS: Officers, neighbors gather for National Night Out
Officers, deputies and city leaders fanned out across Albuquerque Tuesday night to meet with residents for National Night Out. The annual event is billed as an opportunity for neighbors to socialize, meet one another and “join fellow citizens in our community’s fight against crime.” City Desk ABQ visited Forest Park, west of Downtown, where a […]
Commissioners to Take Up Funding for Carnuel Water Improvement System
Carnuel residents could see more relief from their water woes when Bernalillo County commissioners return from their summer break. District 5 Commissioner Eric Olivas said he will introduce at the board’s Aug. 13 meeting a resolution authorizing $2 million for an application to the New Mexico Water Trust Board, which provides funding to help local […]