Undercover operation nets arrests as New Mexico’s top prosecutor blames Meta for online predators

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN / Associated Press New Mexico’s top prosecutor announced charges Wednesday against three men who are accused of using Meta’s social media platforms to target and solicit sex with underage children. The arrests are the result of a monthslong undercover operation in which the suspects connected with decoy accounts that were set […]

Woman shot, injured inside convention center

A woman was shot and seriously injured inside the Albuquerque Convention Center Wednesday evening while a gradutation ceremony was taking place. It was not immediately clear if the victim or suspect were involved in the graduation ceremony, which police say was for the Southwest Secondary Learning Center charter school. The suspect has been taken into […]

Another officer — the 9th — put on leave amidst internal investigation of DWI unit

The Albuquerque Police Department has expanded its internal investigation into corruption in the DWI unit to yet another officer — bringing the total to nine. Matthew Trahan was put on leave Wednesday, APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos confirmed. He said Trahan was hired in 2006 and served in the DWI unit from 2014 to 2016. Of […]

Heading Home will no longer run Westside shelter; city hasn’t found new operator

The embattled Westside Emergency Housing Center (WEHC) took another hit this month after the city was unable to find an operator to run it starting July 1. Two organizations applied for a $4.1 million annual contract, but officials said their proposals were “unsatisfactory, incomplete and ineligible.” Operator Albuquerque Heading Home, whose current three-year contract expires […]

Biden Admin to Propose Tougher Asylum Standards for Some Migrants at the Border

By SEUNG MIN KIM and STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to propose a new rule Thursday aimed at speeding up the asylum claims process for some migrants — a potential prelude to broader actions from President Joe Biden later this year that would impose a bigger crackdown at the […]

Council moves Westside mixed-use development forward

Albuquerque city councilors rejected an appeal from neighborhood groups opposed to a Westside development, paving the way for the mixed-use project to move forward. Tierra West LLC is planning townhouses, office space, a cannabis retailer and a restaurant at Coors Boulevard and 7 Bar Loop Road. Representatives of the Bosque del Acres Neighborhood Association have […]

City councilors seek to reverse immigrant friendly policy

Councilors Brook Bassan and Renée Grout are co-sponsoring a bill that would reverse the city’s Immigrant Friendly Policy to allow police to contact federal authorities if an undocumented immigrant is charged with certain violent crimes or drug offenses. The bill to amend the current policy, introduced at the Albuquerque City Council meeting Monday night, was […]

Low-income homeowners to get help with heating and cooling upgrades

Albuquerque has received a grant that city officials say will help improve the health and finances of low-income homeowners. The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department awarded the city $1.7 million to expand its retrofitting efforts in improving work energy efficiency. Through the Community Energy Efficiency project, income-qualified homeowners will receive free energy […]