+News Archives - Page 4 of 31

Parents raised concerns about APS recording children’s voices using AI. The district responded.

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Parents across the Duke City pushed back against Albuquerque Public Schools’ use of artificial intelligence to record, analyze and store elementary students’ voices without explicit parental consent. The district listened and is now changing how it handles those recordings. At the center of the debate is Amira AI, an […]

Pictured is a sign warning drivers of photo enforced speed cameras located ahead along Arenal Rd SW between Tapia Blvd and Isleta Blvd in the South Valley. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales / City Desk Abq

Speed cameras bring in millions as public safety costs already outpace City’s new record budget

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — On the streets of Burque, it’s a tale of two financial realities: Automated speed cameras are bringing the city millions in revenue, while increasing police and fire costs are continuing to outpace the city budget’s projections. According to the city’s third quarter fiscal year 2026 revenue and expense report […]

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, D-N.M., speaks during a press conference at Saranam's Westside campus, announcing more than $7.6 million in federal Community Project Funding for seven local housing and homelessness projects. Aug. 19, 2026, (Jesse Jones)

Stansbury announces $7.6M for Albuquerque housing, homelessness programs

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Families in the Duke City who rely on federal housing funding got a boost this week, even as the larger fight over that money goes on in Washington. U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury, a Democrat, announced Wednesday at Saranam’s Westside campus more than $7.6 million in Community Project Funding for […]

A Gallup native is in line to become one of the country’s top health officials after President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

From Gallup to Washington: UNM Graduate nominated to lead FDA

by Jesse Jones August 19, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. & New Mexico Political Report — A Gallup native is in line to become one of the country’s top health officials after President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Heidi Overton to lead the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Overton has deep academic and civic ties to N.M. She graduated from Gallup […]

Empower Health Service’s overnight shelter operates out of the former Ramada by Wyndham Albuquerque Airport at 2300 Yale Blvd. SE. The shelter opened in November 2025 without a required permit. (Jesse Jones)

Council sets up public hearing over accidentally-approved homeless shelter near the Sunport

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Neighbors and nearby business owners along Yale Boulevard near the airport will get their say on an overnight drug treatment shelter after city officials accidentally allowed it to open without a required permit. The Albuquerque City Council rejected a recommendation that would have allowed the shelter to move forward […]

Albuquerque city councilors vote on a motion to override Mayor Tim Keller's veto of R-26-30 during Monday's meeting. (Jesse Jones)

Albuquerque Council fails to override Mayor’s veto, killing proposal to make city clerk, attorney independent

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños will not get a chance to weigh in this November on removing the mayor’s sole power over the city attorney and city clerk after councilors failed to override Mayor Tim Keller’s veto, which warned the change would effectively create a new branch of city government. During Monday’s Albuquerque […]

Can New Mexico, not Blackstone, just buy PNM? It turns out, we can’t. Here’s why.

With more than $70 billion available to invest for the benefit of New Mexico, why doesn’t the State Investment Council just buy PNM instead of letting them sell to Blackstone, a private equity company? This story was originally published at New Mexico Political Report, a nonprofit news service covering politics and policy in the Land […]

Global quantum computing firm Quantinuum plans to open a roughly 13,263-square-foot research center in Albuquerque with high-tech optical lasers and equipment to support 25 scientific and engineering jobs averaging $150,000 a year. (Courtesy of Quantinuum)

Albuquerque weighs $3.1M in incentives for cybersecurity, quantum and space jobs

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — The Duke City could see more than 200 high-tech jobs and tens of millions of dollars in private investment if the City Council approves $3.1 million in city and state incentives for three local companies in cybersecurity, quantum computing and aerospace. The three proposed Local Economic Development Act projects […]

A quartet of ABQ City Councilors raises alarm White House plans to let political staff cancel local grants

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Burqueños who rely on local housing, transit and community services could see programs lose federal funding if a proposed rule were to give political appointees new power to freeze or end grants over vague standards tied to federal policy. Four Albuquerque City Councilors, led by Stephanie Telles and joined […]

Interim City Attorney Lauren Keefe listens to discussion of a proposed charter amendment during the City Council’s Aug. 3, 2026, meeting. Days after an Office of Inspector General report cleared Keefe of misconduct, councilors voted to put a measure on the Nov. 3 ballot that would let voters decide how the city attorney and city clerk are appointed and removed. (Jesse Jones)

Watchdog clears Albuquerque’s top lawyer in probe, but dispute with Council persists

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque’s city watchdog found no legal or ethical misconduct by Interim City Attorney Lauren Keefe, but the report paints a picture of confusion inside City Hall. Interim Inspector General Peter Pacheco released the final special investigation report July 31 on allegations of legal and ethical misconduct by Interim City […]