A fallen aspen tree that downed a power line sparked New Mexico’s largest wildfire in state history in 2011, burning 156,000 acres in the Las Conchas Fire. Now, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández wants to give utilities better tools to prevent the next power line disaster. Leger Fernández and three other U.S. House members introduced […]
Communities
Posted inCannabis, New Mexico
New Mexico Supreme Court upholds warrantless vehicle searches during brief decriminalization era
New Mexico drivers stopped by police during the state’s brief marijuana decriminalization period could still have their vehicles searched without a warrant based on the smell of cannabis alone, the state Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a unanimous decision that clarifies police powers during a unique period in the state’s drug policy history. The ruling […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Firefighter union battles mayor over staffing changes
Albuquerque’s firefighter union is pushing back after a city committee sided with the mayor in a heated staffing dispute, saying the administration is misusing the decision to impose changes without negotiation. On July 7, the Intragovernmental Conference Committee (ICC), formed by Burqueño voters to settle power struggles at City Hall, ruled the City Council overstepped […]
Posted inBernalillo County
Bernalillo County hosts community dialogue on small business, infrastructure needs
Bernalillo County residents will have another opportunity to influence local economic development policies at the next Community Dialogue meeting focused on small business and infrastructure needs, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Taylor Ranch Branch Library. The meeting represents the third in a series of five community engagement sessions designed to gather public […]
Posted inBernalillo County
Bernalillo County restores non-emergency phone service after technical outage
Bernalillo County Emergency Communications has resolved technical difficulties that temporarily disrupted non-emergency phone lines, affecting approximately 668,850 residents across New Mexico’s most populous county. Full service has been restored, and residents may now use the regular non-emergency number 505-798-7000 to contact Bernalillo County Emergency Communications, according to a county update. During the outage, residents were […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Democrats say 112,000 New Mexicans could lose health insurance under Trump bill
Nearly 112,000 New Mexicans could lose health insurance under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” according to a new Democratic Party analysis that warns the federal law will disproportionately impact the state’s rural communities and low-income families. The Democratic National Committee launched a website (https://democrats.org/trump-tax/) on Tuesday highlighting state-by-state impacts of Trump’s budget […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
ACS helps Albuquerque man in mental health crisis find treatment
When a desperate father couldn’t calm his adult son during a severe mental health crisis, Albuquerque’s alternative emergency response team stepped in where traditional police might have struggled, successfully connecting the man to voluntary treatment within an hour. Behavioral Health Responders from the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Department responded to the 911 call and found […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., New Mexico
Sen. Heinrich secures $6.5M for New Mexico crime fighting
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich announced that nine New Mexico law enforcement agencies will receive federal funding totaling $6,521,000 for forensic equipment, crime scene processing tools and safety improvements through the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee’s passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The funding comes as New Mexico grapples […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Albuquerque City Council to vote on stricter animal sales enforcement
Albuquerque residents who find animals being sold or given away on sidewalks, in parking lots or other public spaces could soon see stricter enforcement under a proposed ordinance update scheduled for a City Council vote in August. The proposed ordinance, O-25-84, would strengthen enforcement of the city’s 2006 Humane and Ethical Animal Rules and Treatment […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
Uballez criticizes Keller’s ICE policy, calls for stronger immigrant protections
Mayoral candidate and Former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez launched a petition last weekend urging Albuquerque to adopt stronger immigrant protections, criticizing the city’s response as insufficient ahead of Mayor Tim Keller’s executive order signed July 21. Alex Uballez’s 11-point plan, first proposed on social media, includes measures like banning masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) […]