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Protest for Palestine demands ceasefire

Maddie Pukite | November 6

Across the street from the Farmers Market at Robinson Park, a few dozen people quickly turned into a few hundred gathered peacefully in support of a cease-fire in Gaza and the freedom of Palestine. Samidoun the Palestine Prisoner Solidarity Network was a lead group organizing the protest. Their name – Samidoun – means “those who are steadfast.” This also was a goal of the protest, to continue to be steadfast in their support, Michael Butler said – an organizer with Samidoun.

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No LoboAlert or Advisory sent for repeat offender

Lily Alexander | November 6

The University of New Mexico Police Department filed two criminal complaints against an individual on Sept. 27 for disorderly conduct and assault. He was later spotted on campus again, despite warnings. No LoboAlert or Lobo Advisory was sent to students in reference to the incidents. In the UNMPD Daily Crime Log – which is meant to house all campus crime data – both incidents are labeled as “cleared by arrest.”

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At victims’ request, 2020 Oñate statue shooter will not serve prison time

Austin Fisher | November 6

This story was originally published by Source New Mexico. In line with the wishes of the people he harmed more than three years ago, Steven Ray Baca will not spend any more time in jail. Baca, 34, is a failed Albuquerque City Council candidate and Trump supporter who brought a concealed handgun to a peaceful protest on June 15, 2020 at the statue depicting Spanish colonizer Juan de Oñate called La Jornada at Tiguex Park in Albuquerque’s Old Town neighborhood.

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Vice President of Student Affairs addresses ASUNM

Jaymes Boe | October 30

The Vice President of Student Affairs, Eric Scott, appeared as a guest speaker at the most recent Associated Students at the University of New Mexico full Senate meeting. Scott addressed ASUNM through a presentation speaking the on Student Affairs’ mission and took more specific questions from senators regarding the Lobo Pantry. Scott brought up the possibility of needs testing for access to the pantry. The Student Affairs mission is, “creating infrastructure so that no matter who you are, and no matter where you’re coming from, you have the opportunity to be successful at the University,” Scott said.

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Unclear communication with UNM’s Campus Watch

Lily Alexander | October 30

The University of New Mexico is gradually launching a new program intended to enhance safety through a campus-wide communication channel, but the rollout has not been universally seen by those intended to be involved in the program. Planning for the program titled “Campus Watch” began the first week of the fall semester with a questionnaire sent to UNM building coordinators – staff in charge of overseeing respective buildings on campus – according to Maya Williams, Campus Watch co-chair and Facilities Management Public Information Representative. The questionnaire was meant to gauge interest and recruit volunteer Zone Captains, Williams wrote. Once assigned, Zone Captains will supervise 23 different areas on campus divided by Campus Watch officials.

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Loaded assault rifle found near Zimmerman Library

Lauren Lifke | October 30

At about 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 23, police responded to a report of a loaded assault rifle in a cactus outside Zimmerman Library, according to a State of New Mexico Uniform Incident Report. Officers took into evidence the Smith & Wesson AR style rifle, along with 15 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. It is unclear who left the weapon and how long it had been there, according to the report.

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Eight bonds on the ballot for city maintenance

Zaina Naru , BillyJack Davidson , Karina Bolaños , Maddie Pukite , Thomas Bulger and Kelsa Mendoza | October 23

On this year's ballot, there are a total of seven municipal General Obligation Bond questions alongside one college bond question. If any of the G.O. Bonds are passed, money from the city's property tax revenue will be put toward that particular set of capital improvement projects or city maintenance. The approval of bonds will not cause property taxes to increase, however if a bond is not passed, it could cause a small decrease in property taxes with a $3.80 decrease a month for a home valued at $150,000. The team at the Daily Lobo has broken down what these bonds mean to give voters context on the projects at hand as they step into the voting booths this November.

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District 2 candidate guide

Jaymes Boe | October 23

With City Council elections around the corner, incumbent Isaac Benton will not be running for re-election and District 2 will welcome a new councilor to assume the role. District 2 is the City Center district. It includes Downtown, Old Town, and the valley east of the Rio Grande. District 2 also holds the highest number of homeless shelters of any other district in Albuquerque, according to a map released by The Family and Community Services Department. A common issue all three candidates share as a focus of their campaigns is how to address the size of the unhoused population in the City.

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Uncontested flood control election

Maddie Pukite | October 23

This year's Flood Control District 5 director election is uncontested with incumbent Bruce Thomson on the ballot unopposed. The Flood Control Board of Directors is a political body in the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority that is elected for six-year terms to work and set budgets for flood control projects in the City.

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Soil & Water supervisor board election

Maddie Pukite | October 23

This upcoming election, three of the five elected positions on the Ciudad Soil and Water District Supervisor Board are up for election. Of them, two are landowner positions – meaning you must own land in the district – and one is an at-large position. There are several soil and water conservation districts (SWCD) across the state. The SWCD are volunteer positions and the board is responsible for the control and prevention of soil erosion, flood water damage, promoting conservation and water recreation, according to the Act creating the districts. The board sits under both the New Mexico Department of Agriculture and the National Resource Conservation Service, which is positioned under the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture – providing perspective to both state and federal matters.

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District 4 candidate guide

Sadie Hopkins | October 23

Located in the Northeast Heights, District 4 has two candidates on the ballot for City Council, the incumbent Brook Bassan and incoming candidate Abby Foster. The district is home to many schools, religious structures and family-owned businesses. Neither candidate responded to the Daily Lobo's request to comment.

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District 6 candidate guide

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | October 23

On Nov. 7, voters will choose between four City Council candidates to represent District 6, the University of New Mexico’s district. The candidates – Abel Otero, Jeff Hoehn, Kristin Greene and Nichole Rogers – are vying for the seat incumbent Pat Davis has held since 2016. A fifth candidate, Joseph Pitluck Aguirre, withdrew from the race in August but is still listed on the City of Albuquerque’s candidate list.

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Mill Levy and APS

Rodney Prunty | October 23

With the election coming up, a question on the ballot proposes an Albuquerque municipal Public Schools Mill Levy or asks whether or not to continue to utilize property taxes in order to fund APS and charter schools. If approved, property taxes will not increase and APS will continue to get $264,673,790 for the next six years. If failed, APS would not receive this funding. Mill Levy, also referred to as a Capital Improvements Tax, provides funding for school activities, maintenance and other miscellaneous things.

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All about absentee voting

Elizabeth Secor | October 23

As election season approaches in November, the University of New Mexico opens up polling sites in the Student Union Building. However, what about students from out-of-state? As of fall 2023, UNM had 3,609 out-of-state students, according to enrollment reports — leaving them to figure out how to absentee vote while being away from home. UNM’s Office of Institutional Analytics has data from 2022 that indicates that there is at least one out-of-state student from every state. This means there are 50 states, each with its own guidelines and specifics on how to mail-in vote.

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How and where to vote in Albuquerque

Grace Egan | October 23

Election Day is on Nov. 7 and knowing where and how to cast your ballot is just as important as knowing who you’re casting that ballot for. There are three major ways to vote – through an absentee ballot (also known as mail-in ballot), voting on Election Day or voting early. Absentee ballots in New Mexico require an application to state where the ballot should be sent. The last day to request an absentee ballot is Oct. 24. Past that, your civic duty must be performed in person. With an absentee ballot, it must be filled out as you would at a polling location, then mailed or hand-delivered to your county clerk’s office. The locations to vote in-person are different if you are voting early or on Election Day. There are 72 election voting convenience centers (VCCs), ranging from shopping centers to schools to plazas, but only 20 VVCs are open for early voting.

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APS school board election prepares to bring changes to the district

Detroit Kallunki and Milan Ortiz-Ruiz | October 23

On Nov. 7, Albuquerque Public Schools will hold an election for school board members. District 1, 2 and 4 each have representatives running for a spot on the school board. Community focuses and values have been voiced throughout fall 2022 within organized community meetings and numerous individual conversations. Consistent concerns regarding the need for schools to emphasize literacy, math, post-secondary readiness, and the skills, habits and mindsets that lead to success, according to APS Goals and Guardrails.

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District 8 candidate guide

Kat Gomez | October 23

Current city councilor for District 8, Trudy E. Jones, will not be running for re-election, making her last term and 16 years in the position. Located in the Northeast Heights and Foothills this year, there’s two new candidates that are vying to assume the role: Idalia Lechuga-Tena and Dan Champine.

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ASUNM President presents a petition without Senate knowing

Karina Bolaños | October 16

After the failure of the bills proposed in hopes of increasing voter turnout, President Krystah Pacheco and Vice President Mikenzie Chessman soon after created a petition to do the same as the failed bills. Bill 9F would have changed the constitution by combining Spring Presidential and Senatorial elections and Bill 10F would have been an extension of this bill to the ASUNM lawbook. Both failed at the Full Senate on Sept. 27. “Our priority is to let the students have a say on this decision with its placement on the ballot and at the time of elections,” Pacheco wrote in an email addressed to the Senate on Oct. 9.

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Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller discusses homelessness at ASUNM meeting

Jaymes Boe | October 16

Mayor Keller presented future city plans and developments to the ASUNM Senate – offering information regarding Albuquerque’s unhoused population, mentioning shelter and treatment but not addressing permanent housing solutions. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller appeared as a guest speaker at Associated Students at the University of New Mexico’s recent full Senate meeting on Oct. 11. The Gateway Center aims to be Albuquerque’s answer to fill the need for a 24/7 shelter and treatment facility. The facility is currently under work to take over the old Gibson Medical Center located near the intersection of San Mateo and Gibson and is planned to open in stages. “In the Gateway, this winter we’re expecting to open up a sobering center and a medical triage facility,” Keller said. Based on a feasibility report done for the sobering center, the initial staffing required would be 22 individuals, 15 being clinical staff.

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UNM releases annual crime statistic report

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | October 9

The University of New Mexico released its Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (ASFSR) on Friday, Sept. 30. It includes 609 Clery crimes last year. There is no guarantee this number reflects all campus crime data. Pre-pandemic in 2019, there were 588 crimes. Hate crimes rose to 34 reported in 2022 compared to a reported two in 2019. 23 of these were thefts related to sexual orientation, according to the report. For the annual report, Clery coordinator Adrienne Helms is required to reach out to local law enforcement agencies — including but not limited to the Albuquerque Police Department — to request data on crimes that occur in UNM’s Clery geography but outside of UNM Police Department jurisdiction, she said. However, outside agencies are not required to provide any data.