+News Archives - City Desk ABQ

Several dozen homeless folks currently camp under interstate I-40 and first street. Many express frustration of authorities coming by everyday and kicking them out but decide to return an hour later. This has been their daily routine for months now. Pictured is a fentanyl pill about to be consumed. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales / City Desk Abq

Mayor’s budget pitch doubles treatment spending but lowers targets, but city says there’s a reason

By Jesse Jones, City Desk in The Paper. –– While reviewing Mayor Tim Keller’s $1.47 billion budget proposal, a counterintuitive number jumped out in the city’s Health, Housing and Homelessness Department budget: despite contracts for substance use treatment more than doubling to $5.5 million,the city expects to serve fewer people, lowering its target from 650 […]

Albuquerque approves $3M deal to land space energy startup

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Most people do not notice the thunderbird on Albuquerque’s flag in the top left corner, but its late-’60s design reflected the city’s role in the nuclear and Space Age. Nearly 60 years later, that vision is still unfolding, and could mean almost 200 high-paying jobs for Albuquerque residents. On […]

Fed cuts prompt Keller to pitch budget with $35 million hole and 272 job cuts

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque is tightening its belt for the first time in years, and Burqueños may soon feel the shift. Mayor Tim Keller sent his $1.47 billion budget proposal to the City Council on Wednesday. The budget is $35 million less than last year. After a record budget year approved last […]

Pictured is the proposed site for a new Maverick gas station on the corner of Indian School and Carlisle. This was the former site of a Whole Foods Supermarket.

Albuquerque, Local Government

Neighborhoods prevail in first round against Maverick plans for gas station on former Whole Foods site

by Pat Davis April 2, 2026

A city zoning official has denied petitions that would allow a new gas station and convenience store to be built at Carlisle Boulevard and Indian School Road. Zoning Hearing Examiner Robert Lucero announced his decision Thursday morning. Maverik, which already owns the property, had sought a conditional use permit to allow the store to be […]

From curbside to containers: Why Albuquerque is rethinking how it recycles glass

It looked like the glass would finally be picked up with the rest of our trash and recycling we all hoped for, but the reality was that it was not to be, at least not yet. Editor’s note: For years, the city has fielded requests to add glass to “blue bin” curbside recycling, so when […]

APD investigating hate crime in Old Town after Muslim mom with kids spit on by man asking, “Are you Christian?”

An Albuquerque mother taking photos of her children in Old Town says she was spit on and harassed all because she was wearing a hijab, and she caught it on video. Editor’s note: This story was updated Wed. afternoon after APD confirmed the name of the suspect they identified in this case. That update is […]

Albuquerque, Environment, Conservation & Climate, Local Government

City closes part of Bosque for fire prevention, Jetty Jack removal

by The Paper staff March 30, 2026

With little snowpack and early season heat waves hitting the city in February, 2026 is shaping up to be an historically dangerous year for wildfire conditions so the City of Albuquerque is getting a head start on wildfire prevention along the Bosque. City officials will close an 18-acre area north of Campbell Rd. and west […]

Congress & Federal Gov., NM Political Report

Senate Republicans agree to Dem demands funding DHS without ICE ops; House approval uncertain

by NM Political Report March 27, 2026March 27, 2026

The United States Senate voted by unanimous consent overnight to break the impasse and fund the Department of Homeland Security without ICE deportation operations, sending the package to the House of Representatives where passage is still uncertain. Democrats had offered support for this funding strategy for weeks but President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans had […]

‘No Kings’ organizers plan for 40K & Stacey Abrams in rally, march through ABQ Sat.

By Kevin Hendricks — Organizers of Albuquerque’s “NO KINGS” rally are planning for more than 37,000 people to participate in a planned 3-mile march and rally on Saturday – prompting police to issue warnings of impromptu road closures along some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares. The “NO KINGS” movement began in 2025 and has since […]

Inside the Oso Negro project: Bernalillo County’s newest weapon against power outages

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — With an uncertain future for power rates and unreliable power grids, Bernalillo County residents may see more stable electricity rates and a stronger power grid, following the approval of a $175 million battery storage project on Albuquerque’s Westside. Bernalillo County commissioners approved an industrial revenue bond, 4-1, March 11, […]