New Mexico’s emergency declaration for the Española area prioritizes immediate, flexible support for overwhelmed local law enforcement rather than deploying additional state personnel, according to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office. The $750,000 in emergency funding authorized under Executive Order 2025-358 Wednesday will directly support Rio Arriba County, Española and Pueblo police departments through overtime pay […]
Category: Communities
Posted inNew Mexico, NM State Gov.
Governor declares emergency in Española area amid crime surge
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency Wednesday for Rio Arriba County, the city of Española and surrounding Pueblo communities in response to what officials describe as an overwhelming surge in violent crime and drug trafficking that has strained local law enforcement resources. The emergency declaration, issued through Executive Order 2025-358, […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
ACLU on National Guard deployments in D.C. and Albuquerque: ‘Political Theater Won’t Make Us Safer’
The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico is speaking out against the use of military forces for civilian law enforcement, criticizing both President Trump’s recent deployment of National Guard troops to Washington D.C. and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s ongoing use of Guard personnel in Albuquerque. “In our country, a simple, foundational principle is that […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Failed New Mexico House candidate sentenced to 80 Years for role in shootings at local Democrats’ homes
A failed Republican legislative candidate was sentenced to 80 years in federal prison on Wednesday for hiring gunmen to shoot at the homes of four Democratic elected officials in the Albuquerque area following his 2022 election defeat. A U.S. District Judge handed down the sentence to Solomon Peña, 41, during an 11 a.m. hearing in […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Heinrich hosts roundtable on federal energy legislation’s impact on New Mexico
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, held a roundtable discussion on Friday to examine the potential effects of federal energy legislation on New Mexico’s utility costs and employment. The roundtable included representatives from Western Resource Advocates, the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project, the New Mexico Renewable […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Neighborhood groups clash with City Hall over voluntary zoning changes in Albuquerque
Albuquerque property owners could soon choose to increase housing density on their lots under a proposed resolution heading to committee review this week. Resolution 25-167, the Opt-In Zoning Ordinance, sponsored by City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn for Mayor Tim Keller, would let property owners choose to rezone for higher-density or mixed-use development. The measure goes before […]
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Less than 90 days until election day, challengers post weak fundraising numbers in bid to oust Keller
Donations large and small from family members, real estate developers and cannabis companies helped the leading challengers to incumbent Mayor Tim Keller raise a combined $170,000 in just under 30 days, but all of that effort was dwarfed by Keller’s single contribution: a $733,000 contribution from the city’s public financing account. Candidates for all city […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Rep. Stansbury warns of healthcare cuts, praises state response at packed town hall
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury hosted a town hall meeting inside a packed commission chambers at the Sandoval County Administration Building Monday afternoon. Stansbury kept the large crowd waiting for about half an hour because of transportation issues, but entered to a thunderous ovation from most of the people in attendance. Over 200 people showed up […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Governor, Albuquerque mayor blast Trump’s ‘executive overreach’ in D.C. National Guard deployment
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s deployment of 800 National Guard troops to Washington D.C., calling it “executive overreach” that contrasts starkly with their state-local collaboration on public safety. The rebuke from the state’s and Albuquerque’s top elected officials comes as the city has seen […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
Tiguex Park gets major makeover with new outdoor science exhibits
Tiguex Park is being transformed into New Mexico’s first outdoor science classroom through a groundbreaking partnership between Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum of Albuquerque and the city’s Parks & Recreation Department. Nine permanent educational installations focusing on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) concepts began installation this week and will be completed by […]