Powerful storm transformed ‘relatively flat’ Willard into ‘large lake,’ forecasters say

WILLARD, N.M. (AP) — A powerful storm battered a small New Mexico village for several hours Wednesday, causing severe flash flooding that trapped dozens of vehicles in rushing flood waters. The storm unleashed a thick curtain of rain and lime-sized hail over the 200-person village of Willard outside of Albuquerque, as fire crews farther south […]

Powerful storm transformed ‘relatively flat’ Willard into ‘large lake,’ forecasters say

WILLARD, N.M. (AP) — A powerful storm battered a small New Mexico village for several hours Wednesday, causing severe flash flooding that trapped dozens of vehicles in rushing flood waters. The storm unleashed a thick curtain of rain and lime-sized hail over the 200-person village of Willard outside of Albuquerque, as fire crews farther south […]

Powerful storm transformed ‘relatively flat’ Willard into ‘large lake,’ forecasters say

WILLARD, N.M. (AP) — A powerful storm battered a small New Mexico village for several hours Wednesday, causing severe flash flooding that trapped dozens of vehicles in rushing flood waters. The storm unleashed a thick curtain of rain and lime-sized hail over the 200-person village of Willard outside of Albuquerque, as fire crews farther south […]

City offers ‘World’s Largest Swimming Lesson’ to adults and children

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department offered free swim lessons  at the West Mesa Aquatic Center on Thursday, as part of the “World’s Largest Swimming Lesson.” The department offered lessons in floating for children ages three to five, floating and gliding for children ages six to 14, introduction to freestyle swimming ages six to 14 […]

Board wants city to make attacks on homeless a hate crime

The city’s Human Rights Board is recommending that Albuquerque’s hate crimes ordinance be updated to include housing status — a reference to those experiencing homelessness or who are precariously housed. The recommendation comes after board members noticed a rise in hostilities toward the unhoused community. The board is appointed by the mayor and confirmed by […]

County manager finalists make final pitches to commission, community

Joseph Lessard says he’s got the diversity of experience to head up the government of New Mexico’s most populous county. Cindy Chavez says her leadership record presents her as the ideal candidate. Marcos Gonzales says he’s invested in Bernalillo County’s future success and is familiar with the challenges facing it. One of them will be […]

Split commission redoes county manager selection process during tense meeting

The process Bernalillo County commissioners used to figure out how to hire a new county manager has now been redone to please state investigators, but two commissioners are still questioning whether it was legal. The ratification was necessary after the New Mexico Department of Justice sent a letter to the commission saying it had violated […]

Republican Herrell signs onto what critics call anti-transgender message

This story is republished from NM Political Report, a nonprofit news outlet, as a part of our commitment to bringing you the best in independent news coverage that matters to Albuquerque. By Susan Dunlap Republican candidate Yvette Herrell, who is running against Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District seat, committed herself […]

Black Sabbath

By Hakim Bellamy I promise it was no hyperbole when I said to Dr. Opal Lee, in the presence of her granddaughter Dione Sims: “I hope it doesn’t make you blush when we rightfully call you a living, breathing national treasure.” Roughly 12 hours later, I would be on stage with Sims and Lee in […]

The beginner’s guide to celebrating Juneteenth

By TERRY TANG For more than one-and-a-half centuries, the Juneteenth holiday has been sacred to many Black communities. It marks the day in 1865 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas found out they had been freed — after the end of the Civil War, and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Since it was designated a federal holiday […]