State approves $67 million bond for fairgrounds. What comes next?

Albuquerque is set to get a new 10-acre public park at the State Fairgrounds after state finance officials approved $67 million in bonds Tuesday. The approval, combined with a $22.35 million land acquisition bond cleared Dec. 9, commits more than $90 million to park space and pedestrian upgrades ahead of a final redevelopment plan expected […]

Thousands of New Mexicans face new work requirements for food benefits

Nearly 56,000 New Mexicans will need to work, volunteer or participate in job training for 80 hours each month to maintain food stamp benefits under new federal requirements taking effect Jan. 1, 2026. The changes stem from federal legislation Congress passed in July that expands work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. […]

New Mexico awards $26M in grants for brackish water treatment projects

New Mexico officials announced Thursday the state will invest $25.9 million in seven projects designed to turn salty underground water into usable supplies, marking the first major funding under a new program aimed at stretching the state’s limited freshwater resources. The grants represent the initial phase of a $40 million legislative appropriation for the Strategic […]

Federal judge orders Iranian bodybuilder’s release from New Mexico jail

This article was originally published by Source NM. By Patrick Lohmann A federal judge in Albuquerque on Monday ordered the immediate release of an Iranian man held at an Estancia immigration lockup for the last six months, agreeing with his lawyers that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was not acting quickly enough to deport […]

A new alert for missing Native people has been issued just six times since July implementation

This story was originally published by New Mexico In Depth. It’s republished here with permission. By Bella Davis New Mexico created a new alert earlier this year to help find Native people who go missing. But since the Turquoise Alert went into effect in July, New Mexico State Police have only issued six, despite 27 requests […]

Crime down, trust low: Medina exits APD after rocky 5 years

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina will retire Dec. 31, ending a five-year run defined by controversy. Medina announced his decision on Wednesday and told APD commanders during his final staff meeting on Tuesday, according to a city press release. His tenure included a crash that seriously injured a civilian, a City Desk investigation that found […]

Council president seeks investigation into city attorney in latest chapter of lawsuit between council, mayor enters 2nd year

Albuquerque City Council President Brook Bassan is asking investigators to determine whether City Attorney Lauren Keefe violated conflict-of-interest rules by siding with Mayor Tim Keller’s lawyers in a months-long legal dispute over fire department staffing. The council voted unanimously Monday to add the investigation request to the Jan. 5 agenda for formal consideration, following a […]

Council forces budget transparency after year-long fight with Keller administration

After a year of negotiations and resistance from the Keller administration, the Albuquerque City Council voted 8-1 Monday night to overhaul how the city builds its $1.5 billion budget and require the mayor to give council more insight into how programs and staff perform. The changes introduce new transparency rules designed to provide residents with […]

National Guard quietly “winding down” APD aid this week

Six months after National Guard troops began assisting the Albuquerque Police Department in an unprecedented move, the city confirmed Tuesday the program is winding down this week — though officials never publicly announced the conclusion of the more than $2 million effort. Asked by City Desk, APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos confirmed in an email late […]

Raising dough: Councilor bakes over 1,000 vegan cookies for senior animals charity

Burqueños looking for meaningful holiday gifts can turn to an unlikely source: City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. When she’s not working on housing policy or climate legislation, she and her partner, Paul Roybal, spend the season in their kitchen baking thousands of vegan cookies for people and dogs. The homemade treats support Kindred Spirits Animal Sanctuary, […]