A fourth Albuquerque Police Department officer has resigned rather than be interviewed as part of an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct by DWI officers. Nelson Ortiz resigned Thursday, according to a news release. “Investigators were attempting to schedule an interview with Ortiz, but he decided to resign,” the release states. Ortiz, who joined APD […]
Category: Housing & Homelessness
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Feds, State Fund Wildland Fire Management, Firefighters and Smokey Bear
Drought maps colored in cheerful red, orange and gold are anything but cheerful in their meaning. They confirm what ranchers already know, that it’s painfully dry here. Devastating wildfires in West Texas add an exclamation point. If there’s any good news it’s that Congress and the Legislature are more attuned to the reality of fire. […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness
Cheers For Title IX and Women’s Sports
For me, one of the most exciting sports events in New Mexico is about to get underway – the high school basketball tournament! Prep basketball has long been a community event across New Mexico, from Dulce to Eunice to Belen to Taos to neighborhoods in Albuquerque. I grew up in Hobbs, where boy’s basketball was […]
Posted inEducation, Housing & Homelessness
Education wins and loses at the Legislature
The 2024 legislative session contained one big victory for public education and a few disappointments, the head of the local teachers’ union said Wednesday. “In general, it has not been a banner year for education,” Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, told CityDesk ABQ. She said the one great thing to come out […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Third APD officer under investigation in DWI corruption probe resigns
A third officer under investigation for corruption within the Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI unit has resigned before being interviewed by internal investigators. Harvey Johnson resigned on Wednesday. Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesperson, said he was scheduled to be interviewed for the internal investigation today. Johnson is one of six APD officers who were put on […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, New Mexico State Gov.
Find out who’s running to represent you in the state legislature
Candidates running for the New Mexico Legislature — both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate — have filed their paperwork to be on the ballot for the primaries on June 4. There are a lot of familiar faces — including long-time senator Linda Lopez who is facing Democratic challenger Richard Carrion — […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Death of adult film star in Albuquerque gets national, international attention
Twelve days ago, local homicide detectives were called to a Northeast Albuquerque apartment complex to investigate a woman’s death after she was found “unresponsive” by her family. Now it’s been more than a week and her death has been reported by national — and even international — outlets, including the New York Post, The Daily […]
Reader-supported
How do you fire a chief of police?
After three false starts, Councilor Louie Sanchez is getting some traction in getting the City Council to chastise Chief Harold Medina after what he calls a pattern of mismanagement and scandals. This week a vote of no confidence moved forward out of an important city committee — but Sanchez acknowledges that Medina is not going […]
Posted inLocal Gov.
BernCo’s “Take a Ride on Us” program offers safe ride option for St. Patrick’s Day 2024
You don’t have to be lucky to score a safe ride this St. Patrick’s Day. The “Take a Ride on Us” program is once again offering residents in Sandoval, Santa Fe, and Bernalillo counties a designated driver option. The “Take a Ride on Us” program is offering 1,500 trips on a first-come, first-served basis. The […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Muslim community reflects as first trial in spate of killings begins
As Muslims began their Ramadan fasts on Monday, Muhammad Syed — an Afghan refugee who came to Albuquerque in 2016 — prepared to face a jury on one count of murder in the 2022 slaying of a fellow Muslim, Aftab Hussein. It is the first of three trials in a case that shook Albuquerque’s Muslim […]