New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez is among 24 state attorneys general taking the Trump administration to court over its plans to withhold Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in November if the government shutdown continues. A lawsuit, which is also joined by the governors of Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, was filed Tuesday in the […]
Category: Communities
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy
Vandalized store windows? City launches 3rd round of help, but mostly only in select neighborhoods
The City of Albuquerque is once again offering to repair broken windows for businesses that are victim of vandalism — but the offer is good only for business in a handful of neighborhoods. According to program requirements reviewed by City Desk, the city will reimburse owners for 80% of the cost of replacement, up to […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Candidates spend big in final weeks of city elections
With one week left before Albuquerque’s municipal elections, Mayor Tim Keller is spending down his taxpayer-funded warchest as he floods local airwaves with campaign ads and remains ahead of his opponents in last minute spending. An analysis of city campaign finance reports by City Desk found that last Keller shelled out $94,000 for television spots […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, New Mexico, New Mexico, New Mexico Statewide News
State moving to expedite food bank aid amid SNAP benefit suspension, governor says
New Mexico is preparing to quickly distribute millions of dollars to food banks, as federal monthly food assistance benefits are expected to cease in November if the government shutdown continues. Gov. Michelle Lujan Griusham said in a press release on Saturday that her administration is considering every legal and administrative option to address the situation […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
How a city councilor finally located Jayvon Givan’s remains after hitting dead ends with APD
Albuquerque City Councilor Nichole Rogers spent weeks trying to locate the remains of Jayvon Givan, hitting dead ends, until she asked Councilor Joaquín Baca for help. Baca found the remains in “literally five minutes,” Rogers said during the council meeting Monday, Oct. 20. The discovery comes more than two weeks after City Desk reported that […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Letter to the Editor: The bond APS is proposing and what it would pay for
Letter to the EditorDr. Gabriella Durán Blakey is the superintendant of the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) System. The upcoming Nov. 4 election is crucial for Albuquerque Public Schools as voters will elect four board members and decide on a $350 million general obligation bond for APS. Today I’m going to focus on the bond we’re […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
USDA: Emergency funds will not be used for SNAP during shutdown
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says emergency funds won’t be used to provide SNAP payments to states if the shutdown continues into November, as Senate Democrats insisted was possible. In a memo released Friday, the USDA blamed Democrats for the nearly 24-day government shutdown and said that money from the contingency funds cannot be […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Furloughed in Albuquerque? Here’s how to defer your water & other utility bill
The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority is joining other utilities in offering a break to furloughed federal workers, allowing them to defer water bill payments without penalties as the government shutdown enters its fourth week. The Water Authority announced Oct. 21 that it will let furloughed federal employees defer payments without late fees or […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Early voting data reveals which Albuquerque voters are showing up — and who’s staying home
Democrats are leading early voting turnout ahead of Albuquerque’s Nov. 4 municipal election, with 7.3% of registered Democrats casting ballots compared with 6.6% of Republicans, according to Bernalillo County Clerk data. As of Oct. 23, 21,456 Burqueño voters have cast early or absentee ballots since voting began Oct. 7. That includes 12,164 Democrats, 6,492 Republicans, […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov
Heinrich, Luján push back against claims that USDA can’t access funds for SNAP due next month
By Alex Ross — New Mexico Democratic Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan on Thursday disputed claims made by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that they lack the funds to cover the cost of next month’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Heinrich and Lujan were among 45 Democratic Senators who signed […]