Posted inNew Mexico State Gov.

New Mexico lawmakers call for commission to probe alleged Epstein crimes at Zorro Ranch 

New Mexicans may soon learn more about the alleged crimes of Jeffrey Epstein, even as efforts to get additional information about the disgraced financier and convicted sex abuser have stalled at the federal level.  On Thursday, state lawmakers presented a proposal to the Courts, Corrections and Justice Interim Committee to create a commission to probe […]

Posted inSandoval County

Aztec state senator joins gubernatorial race, focuses on education, rural New Mexico

Sen. Steve Lainier (R-Aztec) on Thursday became the second Republican to officially declare his candidacy for governor.  Lanier, a retired educator and coach, and a first-term state senator from Aztec, announced his candidacy in a press release posted on Facebook.  “As someone who spent my life serving this community – in the classroom, on the […]

Posted inSandoval County

Governor calls special session to extend food benefits amid federal shutdown

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Thursday she will call the New Mexico Legislature into special session Monday to extend state-funded food benefits as a federal government shutdown continues, according to a statement from the governor’s office. The one-day session comes 10 days after Lujan Grisham released $30 million in emergency state funds to provide benefits […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County

White trails in polls and money—but says 65% of Albuquerque voted for change

Editor’s note: As the dust settled on Tuesday night’s election, City Desk reached out to both mayoral candidates headed to the Dec. 9 runoff election to ask how they plan to forge a path to a majority following a deeply divisive general election. Today, we share responses from Darren White. On Friday, we will include […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County

Trump nominates former New Mexico Rep. Steve Pearce to lead Bureau of Land Management

President Donald Trump on Wednesday nominated former New Mexico Congressman and former Republican Party Chair Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management, selecting a longtime public lands critic to oversee 245 million acres of federal property. Pearce, 78, who last held public office in 2018, has opposed expanding national monuments and has advocated […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County

And then there were two: Keller, White head to December runoff for mayor

Mayor Tim Keller and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White are headed to a December runoff after no candidate secured the majority needed to win outright Tuesday. Keller led at 36% and White at 31% with a majority of votes counted at 10 p.m. Since Albuquerque adopted its current mayoral system in the mid-1970s, no […]

Posted inEducation, Housing & Homelessness, Sandoval County

Union-backed candidates win 2 of 4 APS board seats, shifting board balance

Teacher union-backed candidates won two of four Albuquerque Public Schools board races Tuesday, with Rebecca Betzen defeating board president Danielle Gonzales and Warigia Bowman winning in District 6. Business-backed candidates held onto seats in Districts 5 and 7, capping the most expensive school board election in district history. The results shift the balance of power […]

Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Sandoval County

Lewis wins re-elect, dampening Dem plans for council pickup

City Councilor Dan Lewis held his District 5 seat Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Athenea Allen in a contest Democrats had hoped would help flip control of the council’s conservative majority. With all 687 precincts partially reporting in District 5, Dan Lewis led with 5,869 votes, or 53%. Athenea Allen had 5,143 votes, or 47%. Lewis, […]