Albuquerque nominated for ‘Best City for Street Art’

In Albuquerque, street art covers public buildings, highway underpasses, restaurants, hotels and more, depicting New Mexico’s diverse cultures, political and social issues and history. With its diverse and stunning illustrations has come national recognition that could earn the city the title of being the nation’s very best for street art. In late January, Albuquerque was nominated for USA Today’s “Best City for Street Art” competition, vying for the most votes against cities including Atlanta, Austin, Texas and Chicago. The competition examines street art beyond its eye-catching features and colors, looking instead into the cultural significance that each city’s street art represents.

UNM Japanese bean scattering brings Spring and good fortune

In an event bringing both spring and good luck for the upcoming year, Japanese traditions were brought to the University of New Mexico through a bean scattering event open to all. The Monday, Feb. 2, event featured a presentation, followed by an origami box making workshop, tossing soybeans at participant volunteers donning ‘oni,’ or demon masks, and eating roasted soybeans corresponding to their age. The UNM Language Learning Center event featured a presentation by Mami McCrew, UNM Department of Language, Cultures, and Literatures Professor, on the Setsubun festival itself. Setsubun, meaning “seasonal division,” is usually celebrated on the last day of winter or before the start of spring, according to Uwajimaya. 

Proposed UNM School of Medicine building would fill gaps in states healthcare system

The University of New Mexico hopes to continue its North Campus expansion with the construction of a new $600 million School of Medicine Senate Bill 6, which would provide the necessary funds to the University, was most recently given a “Do Pass” recommendation by the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee at the time of publication.  State Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics (D-39), one of the sponsors of SB 6, said the new facility will help address many aspects of the state’s healthcare provider shortage.

Lobos-turned-lobbyists at ‘UNM Day’

Cherry, silver and turquoise coated the Roundhouse in Santa Fe as students, staff and administrators of the University of New Mexico journeyed up to the State Capitol for “UNM Day” on Wednesday, Feb. 4. “It’s just been an amazing day. I think no matter what happens, our students are having fun and they’re learning, and that’s very important to me, so that’s one of the reasons I love doing UNM Day,” the Executive Director of Associated Students at UNM Governmental Affairs, Alana Baca, said. ASUNM held meetings with lawmakers throughout the day to lobby for their legislative priorities, encapsulated in HB 170; the UNM Basic Needs Project that requests $1.4 million from the state.

Alum-run local business brings international viral treats to Albuquerque

People who consider themselves chronically online and can’t get the newest trend out of their head — such as Labubus or fruit-shaped ice cream — may find fulfillment from the exotic snack shop, Monaco Market. Monaco Market imports rare ingredients, drinks and prepackaged snacks that aren’t easy to find anywhere else.  The store is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. University of New Mexico students receive a 10% discount when they present their student ID.

UNM Speaker advocates against superstitious killings in Africa

Even today, killings based on superstition persist in several sub-Saharan African nations. To bring attention and advocate for a stop to the killings, the founder of Advocacy for Accused Witches, Leo Igwe, spoke to an audience at the University of New Mexico Continuing Education Building on the history, causes and impacts of witch hunts in Africa. AFAW has responded to over 300 cases of witch hunts and ritual attacks in the past few years, Igwe said. Igwe said he was inspired to intervene in witch hunts after finishing his PhD in African studies in Germany and being told that he must study with distance and detachment.

Women’s Basketball: Broncos rattle Lobos in Boise

The Lobos women’s basketball team took a trip up to Boise, Idaho, for a much anticipated matchup against the Boise State University Broncos. Coming into the game on Saturday, Feb. 7, both teams were riding high as they sparked up winning streaks with the Lobos’ four straight games and the Broncos’ eight. Adding to the game’s suspense, the last time these two teams met up, the University of New Mexico  handled business at The Pit, defeating Boise State 70-63 in December 2025. In a game that had the making of a heavy weight bout between two Mountain West foes, it resembled more of a one-sided affair as the Broncos knocked down the Lobos 63-35. 

Mens Basketball: Lobos drop second straight in tight battle with Broncos

The Lobos men’s basketball team aimed to get back on track after a blowout loss to Utah State University as they hosted the Boise State University Broncos in The Pit. But in the end, their defense was not up to task again as the University of New Mexico lost 91-90 at home for their second straight defeat on Saturday, Feb. 7. Lobos Head Coach Eric Olen was disappointed in the loss but proud of his team’s effort, he said.

Lobo men’s basketball gets handed first home loss of the season by Utah State

The University of New Mexico Lobos men’s basketball team started February with a loss,  returning to The Pit for a showdown with the Utah State University Aggies as the two teams were tied for second in the Mountain West Conference.  The Lobos came in on a four game winning streak, and the Aggies came in on a three game winning streak of their own. One team had to give in, which meant an 86-66 point loss for the Lobos, as Utah State handed UNM its first loss at The Pit this season.

Lobo women's basketball lassos Cowgirls, running past Wyoming

Sitting at about 7,220 feet above sea level, the University of Wyoming is one of the toughest places in the country to play, with the highest altitude gym in Division I. The Lobos all- time are 15-27 in Laramie, and are 4-4 under Head Coach Mike Bradbury when visiting Wyoming.  But on Wednesday, Feb. 4, the Lobo Women’s basketball team threw those stats aside and put Wyoming to the test, surging past the Cowgirls in the second quarter to take control of the game, and winning 58-51. 

Lobo women’s tennis sweeps WNMU and CSU Pueblo

The University of New Mexico Women’s tennis team started 2026 with a bang, sweeping both Western New Mexico University and Colorado State University Pueblo 7-0.  The Lobos started their day against WNMU and came out of the gate swinging with a whopping 6-0 wins in first and second-seed doubles, and a score of 6-1 in third-seed doubles. More than just doubles power, the Lobos handily picked up all six singles wins against WNMU, dropping only 10 sets out of 82 played overall. 

Comic, Feb. 3, 2026

Thousands protest against ICE during ‘National Shutdown’

Thousands marched in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday, Jan. 30, to protest against President Donald Trump’s Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a nationwide strike that called for no school, work or shopping for the day.  Chants of “Abolish ICE” and “Immigrants are welcome here” echoed throughout the Civic Plaza and streets of Downtown Albuquerue. City of Albuquerque offices in Downtown, including City Hall, closed at 1 p.m. as a result of the protest to “minimize vehicle traffic from Downtown workers,” according to the  City of Albuquerque.  

ASUNM President announces transportation, AI initiatives

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico kicked off the spring semester with a number of announcements from ASUNM President Andrew Norton on executive priorities at the first full senate meeting of the year on Wednesday, Jan. 28.  Many of the initiatives involved student transportation, both for those with and without a personal vehicle. Among these initiatives were the creation of a student parking committee, an “alternative parking system” and an increase in funding for parking and the potential for a partnership with Uber. The Uber partnership would be focused on providing free or reduced fares for students using the app within a 10-mile radius of the campus. 

Native American students envision the future of their communities in artwork

Native American students demonstrated their outstanding talents through different forms of art work, each detailing what they envision for their community’s future, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center during its 45th annual student art exhibit, which ended on Sunday, Feb. 1. The event featured art work from Native American students in New Mexico between Kindergarten and 12th grade. The first Native American Student Art Show took place just shortly after the IPCC opened its doors in 1976. This year’s theme was “Planning Our Future Homes,” where students were given prompts to help guide their artwork. The prompts were meant to evoke an idea of what each student hoped to see their community look like within the future.

UNM hosts ‘Teach-In’ to discuss, question Venezuelan intervention

The University of New Mexico Latin American and Iberian Institute and Department of Political Science held a “Teach-In” event on Monday, Jan. 26, to discuss U.S. intervention in Venezuela and attacks on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The teach-in consisted of lectures by UNM Political Science Professors Mark Peceny and William Stanley, and closed with a Q&A. The presenters spoke on the U.S. attacks on alleged drug smuggling boats, the seizure and blockade of Venezuelan oil tankers, the U.S. military strikes on Caracas, Venezuela, and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, being taken from their home and brought to the U.S. to face criminal charges while the Trump administration seeks to assert control over the Venezuelan oil industry.

Africana Studies Department kicks off Black History Month with brunch

The University of New Mexico Department of Africana Studies “41st Annual Black History Month Kickoff Brunch” started Black History Month off strong, with the Student Union Building full of smells, sounds and an electrifying sense of community that could be felt as soon as one entered the ballroom. The Saturday, Jan. 31 brunch started off with attendees and speakers singing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson; a hymn first written in 1900 and adopted as a rallying cry during the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s.  The afternoon began with brief messages from UNM students and Mr. and Ms. UNM Afro, Jayden Charter and Judie Oyinatumba, as well as a quick introduction from Albuquerque’s first African American City Council member, District Six’s Nichole Rogers.