News

February 23

Over 100 speak against Blackstone’s PNM acquisition during public comment

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa

For nearly six hours in the University of New Mexico Student Union Building, over 100 people took turns speaking to the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission during a public comment session, with none being in favor of private equity firm Blackstone’s acquisition of the state’s electricity provider, Public Service Company of New Mexico. Several speakers at public comment on Tuesday, Feb. 17, spoke about Blackstone’s major investments in AI data centers, Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman’s ties to pedophile sex offender Jeffery Epstein and criticized the operation of private equity firms as a whole. Blackstone Infrastructure and TXNM Energy Inc, which owns PNM, announced the $11.5 billion deal last May, and would result in Blackstone taking ownership of TXNM, according to Source NM.

February 23

Bill forbidding state partnership with immigration officials signed

Penelope Loyd Sment

February 23

UNM study finds over $1 billion generated by Albuquerque creative economy

Penelope Loyd Sment

News

State legislature celebrates local Black history

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 16

Black community leaders and lawmakers opened African American Day at the State Legislature with a group performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” on the House floor. Rep. Pamelya Herndon (D-Albuquerque) led the House floor celebration on Friday, Feb. 13, recognizing the “vital contributions of African Americans to the state’s history, culture and progress,” and honoring ten outstanding African American women in New Mexico for their contributions to communities across the state. The NM State Capitol featured a resource fair in the rotunda with Black-led organizations, including the NAACP, New Mexico Black Leadership Council, Juneteenth Renaissance Institute and the University of New Mexico African American Student Services.

News

New BioPark CT scanner progresses animal care

Maria Fernandez | February 16

In December, the ABQ BioPark Zoo became one of a dozen zoos in the U.S. to add an on-site CT scanner to its veterinary care system. CT scanners provide advanced imaging through a series of X-rays, generating a more detailed, 3D rendition of the 2D X-ray information, Carol Bradford, the senior veterinarian at the BioPark, said. “In the past, we would take X-rays or ultrasound here at the zoo, and then if there was something we felt we were not able to diagnose or diagnose properly, we would take the animal off grounds to a veterinary specialty hospital,” Bradford said.

News

UNMPD attempts to rein in vehicle theft

Elizabeth Bolke | February 9

The University of New Mexico Police Department is working to reduce car, bicycle and scooter theft by patrolling the Central Campus more thoroughly, monitoring bike racks and promoting proper security practices. While statistics around bike thefts on campus are not widely available, in 2024, reported 81 instances of motor vehicle theft, a category that includes theft of electric scooters and electric bikes. Recently, UNMPD has been distributing flyers around campus that detail which bike locks to use and how to use them, in addition to increasing patrols covering bike racks around campus.

News

Bill aiming to eliminate green house gas emissions faces questions

Addison Fulton | February 9

One bill making its way through the 2026 legislative session is the Clear Horizons Act — SB 18 — that aims to codify restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions, require greenhouse gas emission reporting and expand the duties of the Environmental Improvement Board. The bill creates limits on CO2 that can be met either by direct reductions or through carbon offsets that remove greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. The bill’s goals for statewide gas emission limits include at least a 45% reduction by 2030, at least 75% reduction by 2040 and by 2050, 100% less than 2005 levels.

News

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

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 9

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.

News

Lobos-turned-lobbyists at ‘UNM Day’

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 9

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.

News

Thousands protest against ICE during ‘National Shutdown’

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | February 2

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.

News

ASUNM President announces transportation, AI initiatives

Shin Thant Hlaing | February 2

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.

News

UNM Athletics unveils $58 million plan for University Stadium upgrades

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | February 2

The University of New Mexico released its next phase of improvement plans for University Stadium on Jan. 23. The upgrades will focus on the critical infrastructure, accessibility and safety needs of the stadium. The plan is part of the first phase of the University’s “Stadium of the Future,” intended to modernize University Stadium and the South Campus Sports and Entertainment District. Interim Vice President and Director of Athletics Ryan Berryman said that the increased attendance at football games this season highlighted some of the problems with the stadium.

News

Over 1000 march in Albuquerque after Minneapolis nurse killed by ICE

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 26

Over a thousand protesters demonstrated in Albuquerque on Sunday, Jan. 25, marching from the Bernalillo Metropolitan Courthouse to Civic Plaza to demand the removal of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents from communities around the country and expressing solidarity with Minneapolis, Minnesota, after 37-year-old Alex Pretti was fatally shot by ICE agents the day before. Pretti was an intensive care nurse who worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at a VA hospital in Minneapolis. He had participated in protests following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent on Jan. 7, according to the Associated Press.

News

Student government previews legislative priorities

Shin Thant Hlaing | January 26

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, students and staff from the University of New Mexico will participate in “UNM Day,” an annual event at the state legislature meant to increase the University’s lobbying presence at the capitol. This year, the legislative priorities of the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico are the “Basic Needs Fund,” an upcoming bill meant to address non-academic barriers to education access, and a Capital Outlay request to improve parking security for T-Lot and P-Lot.

News

ASUNM, PATS launch long-awaited nighttime ‘LoboLift’ escort program

Elizabeth Bolke | January 26

LoboLift will run Monday through Friday from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the last pickup at 10:45 p.m. When calling LoboLift, the dispatcher must verify the rider’s LoboID before a vehicle is sent to the pickup location, to ensure safety. Each LoboLift vehicle has a camera to provide security, and if there is suspicious activity, the LoboLift driver can relay that information directly to UNMPD via the vehicle’s radio. Each cart is driven by trained student employees with no services being provided across city streets.

News

Protesters pressure lawmakers during NM legislature opening day

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 26

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, over 1,000 protesters marched throughout the chilly morning from Santa Fe Plaza to the New Mexico State Capitol on the opening day of this year’s legislative session and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s State of the State address. The march was organized by Youth United for Climate Crisis Action and sponsored by 25 organizations, including University of New Mexico Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight, New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition, New Energy Economy and Tewa Women United, according to a YUCCA press release. The protest was part of the “We Got Us” mass mobilization that aimed to “put forward a people-centered vision for the future, show up for one another in the face of systemic failure and make our movements’ collective power impossible to ignore,” the press release reads.

News

Elected officials condemn Trump administration in Albuquerque ‘Free America Rally’

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | January 19

Hundreds gathered at Civic Plaza on Sunday, Jan. 18 to express their disapproval of President Donald Trump’s administration, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement detentions, the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Trump’s “fascism,” according to the event flyer. Among those who spoke at the rally were New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D), New Mexico Women’s March Founder and Chair Samia Assed and community organizer Selinda Guerrero. Haaland was one of many rally speakers who encouraged attendees to vote in this year’s midterm elections.

News

KUNM programming to increase focus on local news

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | January 19

New Mexico’s largest nonprofit newsroom and National Public Radio affiliate, KUNM, is proposing a new program schedule to shift more local news segments into primetime listening slots. The changes could go into effect this spring, pending a review by the KUNM Radio Board on Feb. 3. “The top line for us is more local news for the most people, that’s why we’re making a program change,” KUNM’s General Manager Jeff Pope said.

News

Homeless shelter organizers speak on cold fighting $820k state grant

Penelope Loyd Sment | January 19

In a first for the New Mexico Office of Housing, a new grant program to prepare for winter emergencies was announced earlier this month, with $820,000 distributed to shelters across the state, giving a maximum amount of $20,000 to each homeless shelter. The funding seeks to help shelters prepare for the needs of people with unstable housing conditions during the winter by increasing the holding capacity of shelters and other living facilities and distributing greater amounts of warm food and drink, hygiene supplies including pads and tampons, and warm clothing, according to a New Mexico Department of Workplace Solutions press release.

News

NM AG announces legislation to protect victims of AI deepfakes

Addison Fulton | January 19

On Thursday, Jan. 15, New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and State Representative Linda Serrato (D-Santa Fe) announced legislation meant to curb the spread of harmful images generated by artificial intelligence. The legislation will be voted on during the upcoming legislative session, which begins on Jan. 20. The “Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act” would establish requirements that generative AI servers and social media platforms embed markers or “signatures” into images, allowing law enforcement to trace illegal AI generated content back to its source, as well as allow the New Mexico Department of Justice to investigate tech companies for infractions, Torrez said during a press conference at the New Mexico Department of Justice office in Albuquerque.