New Mexico legislators are weighing four bills that would significantly reshape the state’s gun laws, with proposals ranging from permitless carry to enhanced penalties for felons and new restrictions tied to juvenile offenses and domestic violence protection orders. The bills, introduced during the 57th Legislature’s second session in 2026, reflect competing visions for firearm policy […]
Category: +News
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Energy, NM Political Report
Opinion: Sen. Heinrich knows that clean energy is the key to New Mexico’s continued prosperity
State Senator Heather Berghmans, a Democrat, represents Senate District 15 in Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights. She has served since 2025 By State Senator Heather Berghmans — Despite being 36th in population, our state of New Mexico is the ninth-largest energy producer in the country. Around half of the energy that is generated here is exported, meaning […]
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Will Albuquerque strengthen renter protections?
Albuquerque City Councilors are set to vote Wednesday on a rental protections ordinance that would give the city authority to enforce state renter laws and on funding to help 92 households stay in their homes. Housing dominates the agenda, with final action expected on the Rental Practices Ordinance, O‑25‑102, which would codify state protections while allowing […]
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Metro crime-fighting tools highlighted as federal funding package clears Congress
A package of federal appropriations bills that cleared both houses of Congress this week contains hundreds of millions of dollars for New Mexico, with a heavy emphasis on public safety in the Albuquerque metropolitan area. U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján issued news releases Friday detailing the legislation, which now heads to President […]
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Bernalillo County seeks $72.9 million for capital projects in 2026 session
Bernalillo County is requesting $72.9 million in capital outlay funding for the 2026 legislative session to address public safety, housing, infrastructure and other countywide priorities. The funding request combines major capital projects with investments tailored to each of the county’s five commission districts, officials said. County commissioners are seeking $5 million to expand the Mesa […]
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DWI cases rebound in Bernalillo County court after APD corruption scandal
DWI cases filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court reached a multiyear high in 2025 and APD arrests are on the rise following a decades-long corruption scandal that has decimated its specialized DWI unit, a City Desk investigation found. The court recorded 2,404 total DWI filings in 2025, consisting of 2,360 misdemeanor and 44 felony cases, […]
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Bernalillo County moves to regulate AI data center expansion
With Project Jupiter, a controversial campus of data centers slated for Doña Ana County, in the works, the Bernalillo County Commission took a first step Tuesday toward imposing some of the state’s strictest regulations on data center development, introducing a resolution that would tie taxpayer-funded incentives to aggressive hiring, wage and environmental standards. Sponsored by […]
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New leadership takes the gavel in Bernalillo County
The Bernalillo County Commission elected the new chair and vice chair of the commission in its first meeting of the 2026 calendar year, where Adriann Barboa took over as the commission chair with Frank Baca as her vice chair. The commission voted 5-0 for Barboa to take over the gavel from outgoing chair Eric Olivas. […]
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Albuquerque’s Gateway Center hits a turning point in homelessness response
The City of Albuquerque announced Tuesday that the Gateway Center reached full capacity for the first time since its late-2025 expansion, placing nearly 200 people on a path toward stable housing through intensive support services. The Gibson location now serves 192 residents — 100 women and 92 men — who commit to behavioral intervention and […]
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Albuquerque’s nightly outreach hits record as winter temperatures plunge
Albuquerque Community Safety transported a record 1,230 people experiencing homelessness to shelter in December, helping protect lives during extreme winter temperatures. The total is the highest since the service relaunched in November 2025, a 136% increase from the previous month and a 92% jump from December 2024. The surge reflects rising community need and an […]