An Albuquerque City Council committee unanimously approved a measure Thursday supporting continued federal oversight of public lands in the area, timing the vote just ahead of National Public Lands Day. The Land Use, Planning, and Zoning Committee advanced Memorial M-25-5, which expresses the council’s backing for federal stewardship of lands, including the Sandia Ranger District […]
Category: Communities
Posted inAlbuquerque
Exclusive: Pacific Fusion on why they chose ABQ for $1 billion fusion research campus
Pacific Fusion is bringing a $1 billion fusion energy campus to Albuquerque, adding more than 200 permanent high-paying jobs, nearly 1,000 construction jobs, and new momentum for New Mexico’s push to become a national leader in advanced energy technology. The California company’s move, confirmed in an exclusive interview with CityDesk, marks one of the biggest […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque police drone program draws privacy concerns after reporting four arrests in first month
The Albuquerque Police Department’s new drone surveillance program has assisted in four arrests during its first month of operation, but civil liberties advocates are raising concerns about privacy protections and community input in the program’s deployment. The program, which launched in August, has conducted more than 200 flights using drones housed in strategically placed “hives” […]
Posted inNM State Gov.
New Mexico Democratic lawmakers compare ICE to KKK, drawing sharp Republican criticism
New Mexico Democratic lawmakers’ comparisons of federal immigration enforcement to the Ku Klux Klan have drawn sharp criticism from Republican legislators, who say such rhetoric puts law enforcement officers at risk. During this week’s Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee meetings, two Democratic lawmakers made inflammatory comments about Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. On Wednesday, Rep. […]
Posted inNew Mexico
New Mexico AG’s office under fire for immigrant detention oversight
The New Mexico Department of Justice is disputing a recent report that alleges that the state attorney general is not doing enough to police immigrant detention centers. The New Mexico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights claimed in its report, released earlier this month, that the New Mexico Department of Justice is […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Albuquerque cuts public records backlog below 1,000 for first time since 2023
The City of Albuquerque has reduced its backlog of public records requests to fewer than 1,000 for the first time since June 2023, while resolving more than 65% of all requests within 20 days, city officials announced. The improvements come as the city received more than 15,900 requests in fiscal year 2025, a 13% increase […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
City of Albuquerque installing pedestrian fencing on East Central Avenue
The City of Albuquerque is installing new protective fencing along medians on Central Avenue as part of an effort to direct pedestrians to safer crossing locations. The fencing, some of which was installed last week, is designed to guide pedestrians to intersections and new mid-block crossing points rather than allowing crossings at potentially dangerous locations, […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Photo of the day: Mayor Keller takes virtual tour of Albuquerque’s future
Mayor Tim Keller gets a virtual reality glimpse of the future Uptown Connect project during the development’s launch event on Thursday. The innovative mixed-use development promises to link affordable housing with public transportation, employment opportunities, and entertainment in Albuquerque’s Uptown area. Check back tomorrow for a full story on Uptown Connect, a $120 million mixed-use […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Federal judge orders DACA recipient detained by ICE released from New Mexico detention center
A federal judge has ruled that a DACA recipient whose detention has been challenged in court must be released from custody. Late Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson of the U.S. District Court of New Mexico granted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus directing the federal government to immediately release 28-year-old Paulo […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov
New Mexico delegation urges exclusion from Trump administration’s roadless rule rollback
New Mexico’s congressional delegation is demanding the Trump administration exclude the state from efforts to rescind federal protections for roadless areas in national forests, citing economic and safety concerns. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led the effort alongside Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Reps. Melanie […]