Steve

AI Summary:
Bernalillo County commissioners approved a master plan for Sedillo Ridge Open Space, opening it to public access while focusing on fire mitigation. Initial improvements include a parking lot and access trails.

AI Summary:

Castelion, a California defense contractor, has chosen Sandoval County for a 1,000-acre hypersonic missile manufacturing facility, Project Ranger, expected to create over 300 jobs with average salaries of $100,000. The project promises more than $650 million in economic output over ten years and involves an initial investment of over $100 million. However, community concerns about safety, environmental impact, and taxpayer accountability have emerged. Residents have raised issues regarding emergency response and potential groundwater contamination. The facility aims to enhance U.S. national security by increasing munitions manufacturing capacity.

Albuquerque has investigated 59 homicides this year through Nov. 11 — a 32% plunge from the same period last year and the city’s third straight year of declining homicides.

Keller credited “investment in technology,” including gunshot detection and license plate readers, along with increased civilian staff that freed up officers for “good old-fashioned police work.”

APD has solved 84% of this year’s homicide cases and cleared 25 cold cases from previous years, according to Atkins.

Albuquerque’s 32% drop in homicides mirrors declines in other large cities, city officials say, citing Major Cities Chiefs Association data.

AI Summary:
"New Mexico's Transportation Department plans to propose a 25-35% increase in vehicle registration fees and a new surcharge for electric vehicles to raise funds for road repairs. This proposal aims to address rising construction costs and declining revenues. Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna highlighted the need for these changes to maintain infrastructure, as fuel efficiency standards are reducing gas tax revenues significantly."

These locations will open from October 18 to November 1.

Hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless stated otherwise.

These sites will also open on Election Day, November 4, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

98th & Central Shopping Center 120 98th St NW, 87121 Suite B101 & B102

Andalucia Shopping Center 5600 Coors Blvd NW, 87120 Suite C-5

Bernalillo County Visitor and Cultural Center 6080 Isleta Blvd SW, 87105

Caracol Plaza 12500 Montgomery Blvd NE, 87111 Suite 101

Central Mercado 301 San Pedro Dr SE, 87108 Suites B, C, D, E

Clerk’s Annex 1500 Lomas Blvd NW, 87104 Suite A

Cottonwood West 10131 Coors Blvd NW, 87114 Suite C-02

Daskalos Center 5339 Menaul Blvd NE, 87110

Four Hills Shopping Center 13140 Central Ave SE, 87123 Suite 1420

Holly Plaza 6600 Holly Ave NE, 87113 Suite B-6

Isleta Elder Center 1005 Tribal Rd 140, Isleta 87022

Los Altos Plaza 4200 Wyoming Blvd NE, 87111 Suite B-3

Los Ranchos Villa 6601 4th St NW, 87107 Suite U

Petroglyph Plaza 8201 Golf Course Rd NW, 87120 Suite D-1

South Valley Multi-Purpose Senior Center 2008 Larrazolo Rd SW, 87105

The Shoppes at 6001 San Mateo 6001 San Mateo Blvd NE, 87109 Suite B-3

Tijeras City Hall 12 Camino Municipal, Tijeras 87059

To’Hajiilee Navajo Chapter Administration Building 91 Tribal Road N7071, To’Hajiilee 87026 Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

University of New Mexico Student Union Building, 87106 Louie’s Lounge

West Bluff Center 5211 Ouray Rd NW, 87120 Suite B

Buccaneer, a 22-year-old reticulated giraffe who charmed millions of visitors at the ABQ BioPark over nearly two decades, was euthanized Thursday due to declining mobility from arthritis, zoo officials announced.

Saying “factors beyond our control… made continuing challenging”, organizers of the nation’s largest Native American Pow Wow announced on Saturday that the 2026 event in Albuquerque would be its last.

The 2026 Gathering of Nations announcement was made on social media and via email over the weekend and included a preview of the event poster, including the theme of “the last dance.”

Kagi AI Summary:
As Albuquerque students return to school on August 7, 72% of classrooms will lack modern air conditioning, relying on outdated evaporative coolers that struggle in extreme heat. Only 28% of classrooms have refrigerated air conditioning. The district faces a $165-$175 million challenge to upgrade all facilities, with a $40.2 million bond proposal for 20 schools pending voter approval in November. Rising temperatures, from 7 days above 97°F in 1990 to projected 45 days by 2050, exacerbate the issue. Evaporative coolers, which can only reduce temperatures by 20 degrees, leave classrooms uncomfortably hot. Educators and parents express concerns about learning conditions, with some teachers purchasing personal air conditioners. Despite recent improvements, cooling unit failures persist, and the district is working to address them. The bond, if approved, would fund conversions at schools like New Futures High and Mary Ann Binford Elementary. The district acknowledges the necessity of refrigerated air conditioning to provide comfortable learning environments amid rising temperatures.

City Councilor Louie Sanchez says he will require Albuquerque police to cooperate with federal immigration officers if he is elected mayor, despite casting the deciding vote last year on legislation prohibiting police from doing just that.

Kagi AI Summary:
Mayor Tim Keller is proposing changes to Albuquerque's regulations for Safe Outdoor Spaces to make them more accessible for churches and nonprofits, aiming to address the city's record homelessness crisis. Current rules, including mandatory 24/7 security, permanent showers, and dedicated service provider spaces, create significant financial barriers, with annual costs exceeding $100,000. Keller's plan includes flexible security arrangements, mobile shower solutions, and eliminating the need for dedicated service provider spaces, reducing costs and red tape. The changes would also introduce $100 application fees and $50 renewal fees, with permits lasting 12 months and participation in a Good Neighbor Program. With over 2,700 people experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque, Keller emphasizes the need to scale up Safe Outdoor Spaces, potentially creating up to 100 sites to accommodate those who may not be ready for traditional shelters.

Kagi AI Summary:
A Comcast outage in southeast Albuquerque affected nearly 15,000 people, starting Monday night and continuing into Tuesday afternoon. The outage was caused by damage to a fiber line by a third-party utility, according to Comcast spokesperson Kyle Biederwolf. The damaged site was deemed safe for repair at 12:45 a.m., with initial expectations of service restoration by overnight, then by 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, but the restore time was pushed to early evening. The specific utility responsible for the damage is unclear, though Albuquerque has faced issues with companies installing fiber internet infrastructure, including Vexus Fiber and Ezee Fiber, which recently had stop-work orders lifted. Xfinity customers can check outage status via the Xfinity App or website and sign up for text notifications.