Albuquerque Journal

Wall of historic Lindy's Diner collapses just days after closure

A wall that city officials warned was in danger of collapsing fell Monday at Lindy's Diner, sending part of the building onto a Downtown Albuquerque sidewalk and narrowly missing a passing vehicle. The incident happened days after the restaurant was...

Students read aloud. AI scores them

Lilly Garcia is learning to read. Her tutor is a robot. On a Friday morning in her combination second- and third-grade class at Matheson Park Elementary School, Garcia reads a story about a rabbit and a fox traveling to a tropical island. She's...

The last Gathering of Nations

The dancers streamed in from the southwest corner, filling Tingley Coliseum with beautiful, bright regalia and a deafening chorus of chants, drums and clanging bells. It marked the “Last Dance” of the Gathering of Nations Powwow, the largest powwow in...

BernCo officials spar, property owners decry short-term rental tax policy

This weekend, Albuquerque resident and property manager Shane Dolinski is renting out one of his short-term rental properties in the Foothills to a couple of families who came from across the country for the city’s last Gathering of Nations Pow...

CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD

More than a dozen Indigenous people and supporters gathered on the banks of the Rio Grande on Thursday afternoon for the ninth year, drawn together by the Two Spirit Water Ceremony led by Sharon M. Day. The ceremony celebrates the vital spirit of...

Gov. issues order creating state energy council to study cost, reliability issues

SANTA FE — With New Mexicans facing rising electricity rates and hotter weather, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday ordered the creation of a new energy affordability council to provide policy recommendations by later this year. The 13-member...

Bliss Building owner calls city’s closure of Lindy’s Diner ‘unfortunate’

For years, Steve Vatoseow knew his historic Bliss Building needed work. He explored every avenue he could think of to address the issues — from applying for Route 66 preservation grants to pitching developers and attempting to sell the property. But it...

HISTORY IN MOTION

Members of the the Hopi Eagle Dance Group from First Mesa, Arizona, donned regalia and performed cultural dances at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to kick off American Indian Week on Monday. The week-long celebration runs through Sunday. Kids days...

Pedestrian deaths in ABQ area, state fall for second straight year

Seven fewer people were fatally struck by drivers on Albuquerque's streets last year — the second straight annual decrease in pedestrian deaths since a post-pandemic spike. Driven to some degree by the decrease, New Mexico — for the first time in eight...

Independents’ ranks swell after new voter registration system enacted

SANTA FE — For the last three decades, the ranks of New Mexico independent voters have been growing at a more rapid rate than registered Democrats or Republicans. But that trend has accelerated in advance of the state’s first semi-open primary...

Supreme Court won’t intervene in Otero County ICE detentions

The New Mexico Supreme Court declined to intervene in a dispute over Otero County’s new service agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which means the use of a county-owned facility in Chaparral for federal immigration detention will...

NM runners chase glory in 2026 Boston Marathon

On Monday morning, approximately 30,000 invited competitors will congregate in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, for the kickoff to the 130th running of the Boston Marathon, widely considered the most prestigious annual running event in the world. The number...

BETTER COVER UP YOUR BUTTERCUPS

Rachel Carstens arranges succulents at the Alameda Greenhouse on Wednesday. The National Weather Service predicts strong winds will blow a cold front into Albuquerque on Friday, ushering in a late freeze.

NM governor candidates have already spent $10M on race

SANTA FE — With less than two months left until New Mexico’s primary election, Democrat Deb Haaland is continuing to outraise — and outspend — her rivals in the state’s open race for governor. The former U.S. Interior secretary reported raising...

Oil companies accused of massive accounting fraud in New Mexico

Oil companies ExxonMobil, Empire Petroleum and their subsidiaries engaged in accounting fraud that could cost the state nearly $200 million, a lawsuit filed in New Mexico District Court alleges. If successful, plaintiffs say the case could change how...

ABQ mayor proposed $35 million in cuts to the city budget, but will it be enough?

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller is tightening the city budget for the next fiscal year ahead of an expected economic downturn. But even with $35 million in cuts, the city is projected to spend more from its largest account than is being replenished by...

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...