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New Mexico drives to make transition to electric vehicles

Nate Bernard | November 27

On Nov. 16, the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board and the Environmental Improvement Board adopted clean vehicles rules after a joint public hearing. The rules align New Mexico’s air quality emissions standards with those of other states and promotes the transition to zero-emission vehicles without an in-state rebate program available to purchasers of electric vehicles. The rules require manufacturers to ship an increasing percentage of zero-emission vehicles to New Mexico dealerships to have for sale starting in 2026.

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Climate Assessment highlights a need for immediate action

Detroit Kallunki | November 27

The Fifth National Climate Assessment was released on Nov. 14 by the U.S. Government. The report contains updates on the state of climate change, basic risk assessments and ideas for communities to lower their emissions and live a more environmentally conscious life. The National Climate Assessment was mandated by the 1990 Global Change Research Act — a law requiring research on climate change — and is supposed to occur every four years with the submission of the president’s budget. In the past 33 years, only five assessments have been released. The NCA5 details current environmental problems and projections for the immediate future. The report covers issues like flooding, droughts, food insecurity, health challenges and region-specific issues.

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United Graduate Workers of UNM reach tentative compensation agreement

Nate Bernard | November 20

United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico and the UNM Administration have developed a tentative agreement for compensation negotiations. If approved by the Union, raises would go into effect in January. The tentative agreement includes a 6% raise, a 6% increase of the minimum stipend a grad worker can be paid, along with standardization of contracts to 18 weeks for teaching assistants/associates, research assistants and graduate assistants, according to the Union’s website and union member Anna Rose. This allows all graduate students in teaching positions to have a week of paid prep-work for a 17-week semester.

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No body-cam footage from UNMPD

Lauren Lifke and Lily Alexander | November 20

A 2020 New Mexico statute – which requires most law enforcement agencies to use and have policies on body-worn cameras – may exempt the University of New Mexico Police Department. The statute says officers who regularly interact with the public and are employed by law enforcement agencies should wear body-worn cameras while on duty. It defines a “law enforcement agency” as “the police department of a municipality, the sheriff's office of a county, the New Mexico state police or the department of public safety,” not explicitly including university police departments. UNMPD officers undergo training at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Police Academy, according to UNMPD’s website.

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Spring Senatorial & Presidential elections combined in Constitutional amendment

Karina Bolaños and Jaymes Boe | November 17

Last week, Associated Students at the University of New Mexico held its fall elections with a total of 308 student votes cast. The results included the passing of Constitutional Amendment 1. The amendment “amends Article VII, Sec. 2 and 3 combining the Spring Senatorial elections with the President/Vice presidential elections,” as stated on the ballot. The final vote was 168 for, 66 against, 70 abstaining. The change in the amendment was originally presented during ASUNM’s full Senate meetings earlier this semester via bills 9F and 10F. These two bills would have worked together to amend Article VII Sec. 2 and 3. Both bills failed the Senate’s roll-call vote 6-14-0-0.

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City Council abolishes & significantly alters Air Quality Control Board

Nate Bernard | November 13

The Albuquerque City Council approved an ordinance and resolution Nov. 8 to abolish the current Albuquerque-Bernalillo Air Quality Control Board and recreate it with substantial changes. The Boardu2019s purpose is to maintain air quality standards put forth by the Air Quality Control Act by adopting, amending or repealing regulations with City Council approval, the Ordinance sponsored by Councilor Dan Lewis, states.

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Continuing to demand for ceasefire and a facilitation of discourse

Alexandre Chino | November 13

Protesters blocked three lanes on Central Avenue early Thursday afternoon after congregating in Zimmerman Plaza in solidarity with Palestinians. Students walked out of class and demanded a ceasefire on their march through campus and Central to support the freedom of Palestine, demanding that the ongoing conflict in Gaza cease.

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ASUNM passes recently tabled Bill 19F

Jaymes Boe | November 13

The Associated Students at the University of New Mexico passed the previously tabled Bill 19F during the Nov. 8 full Senate meeting. Bill 19F will place restrictions on senators when submitting appropriations and was originally tabled at the end of the Oct. 25 full Senate meeting. After the initial tabling and further discussion at the most recent meeting, the bill passed with a final vote of 12-2-4-2 (yes-no-abstain-absent). The bill itself will prohibit senators from having their names listed on appropriations for non-ASUNM organizations that are submitted to the student government.

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Two N.M. prison guards named three times in civil rights complaints

Maddie Pukite , Austin Fisher and Miyawni Curtis | November 10

Corrections and clarifications were added to this story on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 11:30 p.m. This investigation is a collaboration between Source NM and reporters from the Daily Lobo at the University of New Mexico. Two New Mexico correctional facility officers have been accused multiple times of abusing and harassing incarcerated people. This past year, the prison guards Lt. Christian Trujillo and Sgt. Danny Pelayo were both named three times in civil complaints and civil rights lawsuits. Trujillo and Pelayo work at the Northeast New Mexico Correctional Facility in Clayton. Civil complaints allege the guards have been involved in a lengthy pattern of abuse against incarcerated people. Their personnel files show that the incidents did not prevent them from moving up the ranks. Settlement negotiations haven’t gone anywhere, court records show.

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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.