Albuquerque Journal

LUNAR COMEBACK

HOUSTON — Artemis II’s astronauts closed out humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, blazing new records near the moon with grace and joy. It was a dramatic grand finale to a mission that revealed...

Remembering the fall

SANTA FE — More than 150 people — many of them from the New Mexico Army National Guard — came together in Santa Fe on Thursday to commemorate the 84th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. The annual event, held outside the Bataan Memorial Building, marks...

Residents blast Edgewood for terminating fire, EMS contract

EDGEWOOD — Over 100 people — including several Santa Fe County firefighters — filled the Edgewood Town Hall Commission Chambers on Tuesday. Some listened intently while others voiced their displeasure over the upcoming split between Edgewood and the...

ALBUQUERQUE’S ‘SKYLINE’

Not all heroes wear capes — this one carries Narcan. Recently, an Albuquerque local, known by the superhero moniker Skyline, went viral online for his civic powers rather than his super ones. Skyline sits in on City Council meetings, attends protests...

VASQUEZ CALLS FOR CLOSURE OF FORT BLISS ICE DETENTION CAMP

EL PASO — Southern New Mexico Congressman Gabe Vasquez paid a visit to a neighboring House district Monday for a tour of the nation's largest immigration detention facility on the grounds of U.S. Army installation Fort Bliss. Spring winds kicked up...

`There are some students that have straight up disappeared'

Teachers at Highland High School in Albuquerque's International District say the school has always been a “revolving door” of students coming and going from around the world. “We used to get kids all throughout the year,” said Rachael Sonia, who...

Rio Grande could dry up in the metro for the third time in 40 years

New Mexicans could face a water shortage and increased costs for fruits and vegetables, if the Rio Grande does not receive a lot more precipitation this year. “The amount of water in the river is not sufficient to meet irrigation demands while...

New Mexicans make Good Friday pilgrimages amid surge in Catholicism

CHIMAYÓ — Taos resident Jose Gonzales is finding his faith again, and he’s not alone. On Good Friday, Gonzales was trekking south in a bucket hat and neon vest along the High Road to Taos Scenic Byway. His destination? One of the most sacred sites for...

Corrales resident reflects on historic 1966 NCAA title run with Texas Western

In the early to mid-1960s, during the heart of racial unrest in America, many college teams never recruited Black athletes. That was especially true in the powerhouse Southeastern and Southwest conferences. But what transpired during the NCAA...

A NEW SPACE AGE

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity's first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA's push toward a landing in two years. Carrying three...

‘We love what we’re doing’

Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. President and CEO Shyla Sheppard was tending to some yardwork on an otherwise ordinary Tuesday when a f lurry of Instagram notifications interrupted her clipping and pruning. It was a welcome distraction, as dozens of Bow &...

BioPark works to make elephant habitat `Alice-proof' after escape

Alice the Asian elephant was standing inside her ABQ BioPark habitat on Monday afternoon when Calli Hamlin told her to “come here.” As the 52-year-old walked over toward Hamlin, BioPark's assistant curator of elephants told her, “good girl.” When...

Keyshawn Whitehorse wins PBR Ty Murray

For three days, the Land of Enchantment treated Keyshawn Whitehorse like one of its own. The Navajo Nation athlete from McCracken Spring, Utah, enjoyed a near-perfect weekend, successfully completing all four of his eight-second rides — including two...

Thousands rally against Trump in ‘No Kings’ protests statewide

A cacophony of megaphones and raised voices mingled with the honking of horns and billowing exhaust as several thousand people marched up two of Albuquerque’s busiest thoroughfares to protest the Trump administration on immigration enforcement, the...

Texas House speaker wants lawmakers to look into annexing part of New Mexico

Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, it seems. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows directed lawmakers to explore the possibility of adding part of New Mexico to the Lone Star State in his list of 2027 legislative priorities. The Lubbock...

ABQ sees 9 days above heat record, cooler weather may lie ahead

Like a meteorological high jumper, New Mexico has continued raising the bar for highest temperatures ever recorded in the month of March, but forecasts show cooler days may lie ahead. Thursday marked the ninth consecutive day that Albuquerque exceeded...

Cecily Barker named APD chief

After spending $55,000 on a national search and months of taking input from the community and public officials, the Albuquerque Police Department has announced its next chief. Mayor Tim Keller said Cecily Barker, a former deputy chief with over 20...

Jurors begin deliberations in state's lawsuit against Meta

SANTA FE — New Mexico asked jurors Monday to impose a penalty of more than $2 billion against digital giant Meta, arguing the company failed to protect teenage users from sexual predators and harmful content on its online platforms. Jurors began...

A LITTLE TURN ON THE CATWALK

Julian Higdon’s 9- and 10-year-old sons were looking at three cheetahs inside the ABQ BioPark Zoo’s new Running Wild: Cheetahs & More habitat on Thursday morning when one of the boys issued a challenge. “I can ride them,” he said. “(But) they can run...

Cesar Chavez accused of sexual abuse of girls, women

Allegations that civil rights icon Cesar Chavez raped and sexually abused underage girls landed like a bombshell Wednesday in New Mexico, where he has enjoyed reverential status for decades. Adding to the heartbreak was a statement released Wednesday...

Spaceport America hosts cleaning of mammoth US flag

When the Great American Flag needs to be unfurled for a cleaning, an enormous area is required. The 46-year-old banner takes up nearly 2 acres. This month, the nonprofit Great American Flag Preservation Group transported the 86,000-square-foot flag...

Columbus marks 1916 Pancho Villa raid

COLUMBUS — Thousands turned out Saturday to welcome nearly three dozen horses that trekked from the Columbus Port of Entry over three miles into the village center for the annual commemoration of Pancho Villa's attack on the border community. On March...

Nine hours on call with the Behavioral Health Unit

Jennifer Moya often talks to people on the worst days of their lives. Moya is a clinical therapist for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Behavioral Health Unit, a response team composed of caseworkers, therapists, paramedics and detectives who respond...

MARCH MADNESS

Several thousand fans have filtered through the Pit this week to watch the best high school teams in the state battle for court supremacy. The top boys and girls teams — one from each of the state’s five classes in each gender — will be crowned...

A FEW MORE TURNS

TAOS SKI VALLEY — As the season wears on here, the airy swish of powder has given way to the watery squish of slush earlier and earlier in the day. But that hasn’t kept the skiers away, at least not at one of North America’s most renowned and...

VIVA LOBO VEGAS UNM FANS CHEER THE CHERRY

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — “Man, these people are really getting into it!” Such was the reaction of two passersby taking a stroll down the Las Vegas Strip on Wednesday. What drew their attention in a place well known for its sensory overload? A raucous crowd...

‘THE BLASTS KEPT COMING’

Three Albuquerque residents were sightseeing at the Al Fatez Mosque in Manama, Bahrain, late morning on Feb. 28 when they heard an explosion. As they toured the mosque, Suzanne Horning said she heard a “bam!” The explosion struck near the U.S. Navy’s...

In ABQ, lowrider culture finds its next generation

Eight years ago, Albuquerque became the first major city to repeal its ban on cruising. Cruising — driving slowly along main streets to show off a deckedout car — is a mainstay of lowrider culture, said Rob Vanderslice, an Albuquerque native, lowrider...

Amy Coney Barrett talks about Supreme Court as dozens protest

SANTA FE — Hundreds of people came to The Lensic Performing Arts Center on Sunday — some to judge and others to hear from a judge. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett was in Santa Fe on Sunday to speak about the court and the Constitution during a...

There's still a lot of life left in THESE OLD BONES

The lobby of the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science is bright with a fresh coat of paint. Workers bustle around making finishing touches, protective paper lining the floors. A sign tacked to the doors says the museum isn't extinct, just...

One dead and another injured in plane crash at Los Altos Golf Course

A small aircraft crashed into Los Altos Golf Course while attempting to make an emergency landing Friday, leaving one person dead and another injured, authorities say. Albuquerque Fire Rescue was dispatched to the scene, near Eubank and Interstate 40,...

SPECIAL DELIVERY

Roadrunner Food Bank received a big donation Wednesday — one of 250 nationwide deliveries commemorating the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The delivery is part of the America Gives initiative, a collaboration among America250, The...

LEADING ROLE

He attended basketball camps at the University of New Mexico as a young boy. He did laundry for the Lobo men's basketball team as a student manager. He was an ace student in UNM's Anderson School of Management, the university's governor-appointed...

Albuquerque City Council settles dispute over firefighter staffing

After a year of tense debate and legal strife, the City Council voted on a staffing policy for Albuquerque Fire Rescue on Monday night. “This is the winding down of a lot of drama,” said sponsor Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. The resolution revisited...

Hundreds honor fallen Bernalillo County sergeant

An American flag waved gently in the air as police sirens blared in the background to honor the life of Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Schlattman Monday morning. Hundreds of people, a majority of whom were law enforcement, filled the...

National Nuclear Security Administration memo urges increased plutonium pit production at LANL

The National Nuclear Security Administration’s deputy administrator for defense programs argued in a memo this month that Los Alamos National Laboratory should increase its annual production of plutonium pits. “Strategic deterrence is as critical to...

Trump: Iran’s supreme leader dead

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday, throwing the future of the Islamic Republic into doubt and raising the...

Olympic gold draws crowd to Albuquerque ice rink

More than a decade ago, a little girl in Española watched TV coverage of the Olympics — dazzled by figure skaters dancing, spinning and leaping across the ice in glittering getups. That little girl grew up to be 26-year-old Danekah Johnson, who, after...

NAME OF THE GAME

The six-decade-old arena, dug 37 feet into the New Mexico dirt at the corner of Avenida Cesar Chavez and University Avenue in southeast Albuquerque, has never been called “the Pit.” At least not officially. On the books, it’s a facility known as...

FALLEN DEPUTY

Mike Diehl lays flowers on a law enforcement vehicle to honor Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Michael Schlattman, who was killed Monday afternoon during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Carnuel. The memorial has been set up in front of the...

Trump says nation ‘stronger than ever,’ but NM lawmakers disagree

Breaking his own record for the longest State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump delivered a dramatic one hour and 48 minutes of prime-time television on Tuesday night, replete with the awarding of two Medals of Honor and two Purple Hearts,...

WINTER HEAT WAVE AHEAD

‘If you don’t use it, you lose it’

Use it or lose it. That was the mantra that many repeated Saturday during the USA Track & Field Masters Indoor Championship. A collection of track athletes from across the world, ages 25 to 97, gathered in the Albuquerque Convention Center for the...

Medical malpractice reform predicted to gradually improve doctor shortage

After years of controversy, the latest overhaul of New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws took just 28 days this legislative session. Under a reform bill expected to be signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham: ■ Hospitals will benefit from a first-ever...

Sadie’s matriarch remembered as ‘true icon’

Sadie’s of New Mexico matriarch Betty Jo Stafford understood the restaurant business like the back of her hand. That knowledge followed her everywhere, making it nearly impossible to dine out without instinctively evaluating every aspect of the...

Gov. highlights achievements and setbacks post 30-day session

SANTA FE — Over her seven-plus years as New Mexico governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham hasn’t always gotten what she wants from state lawmakers. But as her final regular session as governor wrapped up Thursday, Lujan Grisham sounded a largely upbeat tone...

SENATE PASSES MEDICAL MALPRACTICE BILL

SANTA FE — The Senate voted 40-2 late Tuesday in favor of a bill that would limit punitive damages in medical malpractice cases for the first time in New Mexico's history, sending it to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who has voiced her support for the...

Senate OKs budget bill after outcry over stripped-out raises

SANTA FE — The Senate signed off Monday on a $11.1 billion spending plan that would fully fund a landmark universal child care initiative announced last year by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. But bill sponsors faced questions — and suggestions of...

Amid partisan strife, Senate passes election bills to bar troops, concealed firearms from polling places

SANTA FE — The Senate voted to approve a politically-tinged election bill on Sunday, sending it on to the House with just a few days left in this year’s 30-day legislative session. The measure, Senate Bill 264, would make it a state-level crime for...

Medical malpractice bill passes House on overwhelming vote

SANTA FE — With just a few days left in this year’s 30-day session, a high-profile legislative tourniquet aimed at stabilizing New Mexico’s medical malpractice laws is headed to the state Senate. The House voted 66-3 on Saturday to approve legislation...

Industry says kids' safety not 'black and white' as lawmakers weigh new cannabis packaging

SANTA FE- As a lifelong cannabis user and family man, Pharmers Quality founder Don Romero says he always knew his kids might take an interest in the substance at the center of his business and off-duty downtime. The solution, he said, was to treat...

Malpractice bill moves to House floor

A measure to rein in high-dollar medical malpractice awards in New Mexico is due to hit the state House floor for a vote, which could give the Senate a tight deadline for considering the complex issue. Proponents portray the bill that emerged from the...

LEGISLATURE 2026 Clear Horizons Act rejected by Senate amid concerns over economic impact

SANTA FE — A hotly debated bill setting greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in state law was voted down by the state Senate on Wednesday, dealing a searing defeat to climate change activists and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration. The...

Following the nectar

An endangered bat species has traveled farther north in New Mexico than previously known, scientists confirmed by testing agaves and hummingbird feeders for bat DNA. “Having (environmental DNA) as a tool is invaluable to our understanding of this...

Senate passes gun bill after lengthy debate

After a sometimes heated six-hour debate and a few failed amendments, the New Mexico Senate passed a gun bill that aims to stop firearms from getting into the wrong hands and ban the sale of certain types of weapons. With a 21-17 vote, Senate Bill 17...

Hundreds turn out to oppose proposed TXNM Energy sale

It was standing room only inside the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission meeting room in Albuquerque on Thursday as hundreds showed up to oppose the sale of the company that runs New Mexico's largest electricity provider to a New York-based private...

Gov. signs fast-tracked bills and urges deal on medical malpractice

SANTA FE — For the second year in a row, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law a bushel of fast-tracked bills passed by state lawmakers during the opening stanza of a legislative session. But whether those bills end up being the defining...

HALFWAY THERE

SANTA FE — The clock is ticking at the Roundhouse. Lawmakers reached the halfway point of the 30-day legislative session on Wednesday, with high-profile bills dealing with immigration and road funding already headed to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's...

Clear Horizons Act clears first hurdle after lengthy hearing

SANTA FE — The highest-profile climate change bill under consideration during this year’s 30-day legislative session passed its first Senate committee hearing Tuesday, but only after weathering a broad blast of opposition from business and industry...

ACEQUIAS, LAND GRANTS CELEBRATED AT ROUNDHOUSE

“¡Que vivan las acequias!” was the repeated call in the Roundhouse Rotunda Monday. Acequia Day and Guadalupe of Hidalgo Treaty Day at the New Mexico Legislature highlighted some of the state's oldest and smallest government bodies: acequias and land...

PIT count: A look into life on Albuquerque’s streets

Tents behind freeway barricades, back alleys and arroyo beds are makeshift homes for people living in the fringes of society. Their obscurity poses a unique challenge for the scores of volunteers that must find these people and tally them for the...

In Mora County, the hunt for water contaminants is ongoing

MORA COUNTY — Outside a home tucked down a dirt road in Mora County, environmental engineer Tom Brown dumped out a 5-gallon bucket of well water, then another, tracing a path from a well-cared-for wooden wellhouse to the nearby pines. Brown was...

Thousands of Albuquerque protesters fill Civic Plaza to condemn ICE killings

Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Downtown Albuquerque on Friday to condemn the killing of two people in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents this month, joining a nationwide movement that saw people from across the country walk out of...

Medical malpractice reform could hinge on limits to punitive damages

SANTA FE — While no final deal has been struck, negotiations between hospital executives, trial lawyers and other stakeholders on possible changes to New Mexico's medical malpractice laws have yielded some areas of agreements — and some potential...

GUN BILL SPARKS EMOTIONAL DEBATE AT ROUNDHOUSE

SANTA FE — New Mexico lawmakers' latest push to keep guns out of dangerous hands is causing a ruckus at the Roundhouse. A Senate committee heard emotional pleas from supporters and opponents alike Wednesday on a Democratic-backed bill aimed at slowing...

Bill increasing penalty for violent crimes against law enforcement clears first legislative hurdle

SANTA FE — Backers of a proposal to increase the penalty for certain violent crimes against law enforcement officers in New Mexico are hoping the fourth time is a charm at the Roundhouse. The bill, House Bill 61, passed its first assigned House...

APS walking school bus programs will expand with $2.7 million federal grant

A walking school bus is one Albuquerque neighborhood’s solution to the hazards children reported on their route to school. The Albuquerque Public School district was awarded a $2.7 million federal grant to add walking school buses across the district,...

Bill that could shut immigration detention facilities in NM advances in the House

A woman shot in the head by a federal agent, widespread protests, families separated and American citizens unlawfully detained. State Rep. Eleanor Chavez, D-Albuquerque, described these scenes before introducing House Bill 9, which could shutter...

‘Public safety is not a partisan issue’

SANTA FE — Republican lawmakers say this is the year New Mexico makes meaningful strides toward reducing crime rates that have for years outpaced national averages. Their confidence owes much to the backing of a Democratic governor hoping to change a...

‘NOT A VICTORY LAP’

SANTA FE — In her last and longest address to state lawmakers, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday touted the strides New Mexico has taken since she took office in 2019 to reduce poverty and improve its fiscal footing. But the governor said her work...

TACKLING MALPRACTICE REFORM

Responding to doctors' concerns that New Mexico's malpractice system is making it hard to practice medicine, leading lawmakers hope to rein in tactics lawyers use to win awards for injured patients. The bills they are crafting are highly technical,...

‘I’M OVER THIS’

Afew months into his immigration detention at the Cibola County Correctional Center in rural New Mexico, Damian Soto, 31, almost gave up the fight. Baby-faced with a closecropped mustache, he’d been trying to tell the authorities, in his...

Could a tax bill boost affordable housing projects, even in pricey Santa Fe County?

On a chilly morning in Santa Fe, developers and state officials broke ground on a large-scale affordable housing project that will put 312 apartments on the market in a city long known for its high cost of living. The project could be buoyed, however,...