On Jan. 28, 2023, a 53-year-old woman was staying at the Westside Emergency Housing Center with her husband when she died. According to an incident report, Gina Kirwin’s husband told staff that she was not breathing and when they went to check on her she was already cold to the touch. Kirwin’s husband told police […]
Category: Communities
Posted inAlbuquerque, Housing & Homelessness
How many homeless die in Albuquerque each year? It’s complicated.
Although it’s hard to get an exact count, advocates say more people experiencing homelessness are dying each year. Neil Greene, a fellow at the University of New Mexico’s Center on Alcohol, Substance Use, and Addictions and a scholar of homelessness, researched the issue for City Desk ABQ — using Office of the Medical Investigator records […]
Posted inPlacitas
Placitas Star Party Rescheduled For May 4
The Placitas Community Library has rescheduled its popular spring star party, after canceling the March date due to cloudy weather. The new date is Saturday, May 4. The star party will begin at 6 p.m. with solar viewing. At 7 p.m., The Albuquerque Astronomical Society (TAAS) Star Master Tom Grzybowski will give a presentation on […]
Posted inCommunity Content, Sandoval County
First Responder Spotlight: Lt. Manuel Terrazas
First Responder Spotlight is a monthly column submitted by the Sandoval County Optimist Club. Manuel Terrazas is the Lieutenant responsible for his crew operations for the Town of Bernalillo Fire Department. He has been with the department for 12 years as a career firefighter/EMT and served as a volunteer for a year before that. Terrazas came to […]
Posted inSandoval County
County Fire Departments Gear Up for Wildfire Season
Sandoval County Fire and Rescue completed training exercises in April to prepare for the busy wildfire season. These include the annual wildland training, which is required for all firefighters throughout Sandoval County and the surrounding areas, and the special Rope Rescue Technician training taught by the Rio Grande Basin Heavy Technical Rescue team. The team […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Placitas
Judith Gordon Plays Piano With Friends
Pianist Judith Gordon explores diverse repertory with a wide range of solo artists and ensembles. At her upcoming April 21 Placitas Artists Series concert, she will play piano among five friends: Jesse Tatum, flute; David Felberg & Elizabeth Young, violins; Margot Schwartz, viola; and Felix Fan, cello. Gordon calls the presentation a “Sonic Kaleidoscope of […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Commissioners accused of violating the Open Meetings Act
Did Bernalillo County Commissioners violate state law? The Foundation for Open Government (FOG) — an advocate for transparency in government — has asked the New Mexico Department of Justice to investigate whether the Bernalillo County Commission violated the Open Meetings Act by engaging in a rolling quorum before it met this week. A rolling quorum […]
Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Gov.
Former corrections officer shot himself outside MDC on Tuesday
The man who shot himself outside of the Metropolitan Detention Center on Tuesday was a former corrections officer, according to a county spokesperson. He was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where he later died. Candace Hopkins, a spokesperson for the county jail, said the man worked for MDC “for several different stints […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Education
New Superintendent achieves life goal and sets some for students
Dr. Gabriella Durán Blakey has found what she intends to be her last job. “There’s a lot of work ahead, and there’s nothing I have as a goal other than the work that I am committed to doing here in Albuquerque,” Blakey said. “So it’s the last stop.” A product of Albuquerque Public Schools, she […]
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City hunts for Westside shelter operator
The city is searching for someone to take on a complex assignment: staff and operate the Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) for hundreds of people experiencing homelessness. The facility is located about 20 miles west of Downtown near the Double Eagle II Airport. Its remote location is typically accessed through shuttle services departing from pickup […]