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Albuquerque Rail Trail project to continue despite federal funding freeze

Paloma Chapa | October 6

Albuquerque’s under-construction Rail Trail project — a seven-mile loop connecting Downtown, Old Town and the Bosque — lost $11.5 million in federal grant money. New Mexico was one of at least six states to receive a letter from President Donald Trump’s administration stating that funding for pedestrian and bike trail projects has been withdrawn, according to The Associated Press. City of Albuquerque Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Director Terry Brunner said the letter he received on Sept. 9 stated that the Rail Trail project “runs counter to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s priority of focusing on projects that promote vehicular travel.”

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UNM graduate workers shut down intersection during picket

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 6

Around 200 graduate workers stopped traffic and rerouted shuttles while picketing at the intersection of Yale Boulevard and Las Lomas Road on Friday, Oct. 3. The picket was organized by United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico in conjunction with their final bargaining session that ended with graduate workers earning a 6% raise; one percentage point higher than their previous bargaining negotiation. The union also won an article that protects international workers from disclosing their immigration status information. Noah Mertz, a graduate worker and member of UGW, said that the Union’s actions have worked in creating change with University administration.

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Mayoral candidates discuss crime, other issues at back-to-back forums

Addison Fulton and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 6

As the weeks tick down for Albuquerque citizenry to pick their mayor for the next four years, the wide field of candidates met on stage twice to let constituents hear their stances on issues including crime, homelessness, small businesses and immigration. All six candidates still in the race were present at the first forum on Tuesday, Sept. 30: Mayling Armijo, incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez, Alex Uballez, Eddie Varela and Darren White. White did not attend the second forum due to a family emergency. Former candidate Daniel Chavez, whose name will appear on the ballot, dropped out of the race and did not participate in the forums.

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UNM Bike Valet aims to reduce theft and promote green commute

Lexis Lovato | September 29

At the start of the fall semester, the University of New Mexico’s Parking and Transportation Services implemented a free bike valet program, encouraging students and staff to make a greener commute to campus, while deterring the frequent amount of bike theft that occurs on campus. There are 128 slots available for UNM staff and students to keep their bike or other mode of transportation safely secured and monitored at the bike valet. The bike valet is located across from the Student Health and Counseling Center, in between the Student Union Building and the northeast corner of Popejoy Hall.

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UNM receives F grade for free speech climate

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 29

On Sept. 9, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression released their 2026 College Free Speech Rankings report, which ranks the University of New Mexico at 139 out of 257 universities. This ranking is up from last year, when UNM was ranked 219 out of 251. This year, UNM received an overall score of 57.0 out of 100, and an “F” grade for free speech climate. Both scores are based on student surveys, campus policies and speech-related controversies, according to the FIRE website. FIRE was founded in 1998 by University of Pennsylvania history professor Alan Charles Kors and civil liberties lawyer Harvey Silverglate to advocate for the rights of college students and faculty on matters of freedom of speech and expression, according to the FIRE website.

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Governor, UNM President cut ribbon on new critical care tower

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | September 29

A decade-long wait is finally over, as the University of New Mexico Hospital Critical Care Tower is set to begin receiving patients on Sunday, Oct. 5. University and Hospital leadership alongside state and federal authorities gathered on Friday, Sept. 26 for a celebration and official ribbon cutting ceremony. The 570,000-square-foot tower features a 68 bed expansion to the Adult Emergency Department, 96 new intensive care beds, a surgical suite with 18 operating rooms and a second helipad. UNM Hospital is the state’s largest teaching hospital and only level I trauma center. The fourth floor of the Critical Care Tower is inaccessible to patients and visitors and will serve as a multi-use space with private rooms, lockers and eating lounges; but much of the space will also be dedicated to meeting rooms for educational purposes.

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New public lands information center to open in Old Town

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | September 29

While most of the space is still in boxes with maps and informational flyers strewn about, there will soon be a new Public Lands Interpretive Association Discovery Center opening its doors in Old Town Albuquerque. PLIA is a non-profit that supports public lands throughout the Southwest and partners with federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. Its mission is to make sure that people have the resources, tools and information they need to explore public lands, Aryn LaBrake, PLIA’s executive director, said. The organization helps staff BLM and Forest Service sites and visitor centers. PLIA also provides, sells, and creates maps of public lands, memorabilia and educational publications, on topics such as hunting, camping, hiking and rockhounding.

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NM House Speaker condemns Israeli military

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 22

On Thursday, Sept. 18, a press conference was held in front of the Pete V. Domenici United States Courthouse in light of the expired one-year deadline set by the United Nations General Assembly to enforce the International Court of Justice advisory opinion that declared Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal. During the press conference, New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Bernalillo) and emergency physician Clayton Dalton, who worked at a Gaza hospital in January, condemned Israel’s military actions. The press conference was sponsored by the Southwest Coalition for Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque and the New Mexico Alliance for Justice in Palestine.

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President Stokes to retire in July

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | September 16

After serving as president of the University of New Mexico for eight years, Garnett Stokes will be retiring at the end of the 2025-26 school year. She announced her retirement in an email to the campus community on Tuesday, Sept. 16. Stokes is the 23rd president of UNM since the University’s founding in 1889. She is the first female president of the University in its 136-year history. Stokes assumed the role on March 1, 2018, after previously serving as provost, executive vice chancellor for academic affairs and Interim Chancellor at the University of Missouri along with positions as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and interim president at Florida State University.

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Mayoral candidate Alex Uballez makes campaign stop at UNM

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 16

Albuquerque Mayoral candidate Alex Uballez conversed with passing students who approached him with questions and campaigning on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at the University of New Mexico Student Union Building. Uballez told the Daily Lobo he was spending time talking to people on campus because he feels elections are losing voters to cynicism. “When people don’t believe that their vote counts, when people don’t get engaged in their local politics or their national politics, when people don’t believe their government serves them,” Uballez said.

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Duck Pond Memorial service held for right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk after fatal shooting

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 15

On Saturday, Sept. 13, students and community members gathered on the grass of the University of New Mexico Duck Pond during a memorial for right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday, Sept. 10. Participants, including students from the UNM chapter of Turning Point USA, left flowers, candles and photos of Kirk at an altar and delivered speeches to commemorate him. Turning Point USA, a nationwide right-wing political organization with many college chapters, was founded by Kirk in 2012. The event Kirk hosted at UVU was part of the “American Comeback Tour,” organized by TPUSA and headlined by Kirk.

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Quantum computing could bring new growth to New Mexico

Addison Fulton | September 15

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced in a press release, on Sept. 2, a partnership between the state of New Mexico and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to accelerate the development, testing and validation of emerging quantum computing technologies. With the partnership comes the establishment of the Quantum Frontiers Project, which will bring New Mexican private-sector innovators, national laboratories and universities to expand upon quantum computing research, according to the press release. In an interview with the Daily Lobo, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said that the state is putting “skin in the game.” “Usually cities chase a growing industry. That’s what we do in economic development. We’ll be like ‘Oh, renewable energies, we should try to build a work force for that,’” Keller said. “Quantum computing offers a rare opportunity that you almost never see, which is the chance to lead in something that is the source of a bunch of other industries.”

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United Graduate Workers stage all-day work-in outside Provost office

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 15

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, over 100 University of New Mexico graduate workers, including United Graduate Workers of UNM union members, held a work-in from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., as part of a demonstration to present their bargaining priorities, including higher wages, protection for international workers and dental and vision benefits. Workers and students conducted their routine research and coursework in the hallway outside the office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs in Scholes Hall. Some graduate workers held their class office hours seated on the hallway floor and went over assignments with undergraduate students who came to ask questions. A group of UGW members also met with UNM Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Rodriguez to speak about their priorities.

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Students and experts reflect on changes to education after coronavirus pandemic

Lexis Lovato | September 8

It has been five years since Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told New Mexico schools to close for three weeks, which then became 13 months of isolation, forcing students and teachers to move online and participate in school solely through online tools. Jill Holtz, a behavioral health psychologist, said that paranoia about contamination and health was very common at the start of quarantine. Losing loved ones, having limited freedom at home, and moving to online school, altogether, caused great stress for many of the adolescents she worked with at the time, she said.

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Details shared on fatal dormitory shooting

Nate Bernard and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | September 8

On July 25, a deadly shooting occurred at the University of New Mexico’s main campus within the Casas Del Rio dormitory complex. The shooting took place in a dorm room and 5esulted in the death of 14-year-old Michael Lamotte and the injury of 19-year-old Daniel Archuleta. After an hours-long manhunt, New Mexico State Police apprehended the suspect, 18-year-old John Fuentes. As of Sunday, Sept. 7, Fuentes, who has been charged with murder in the first degree, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and tampering with evidence, is in the Bernalillo County Jail awaiting trial. On Aug. 29, UNM released 255 audio files of calls involving the UNM Police Department on the day of the shooting and a 34-page police report to the Daily Lobo.

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Thousands march in ‘Workers Over Billionaires’ rally

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | September 8

On Monday, Sept. 1, thousands of people gathered and marched at Civic Plaza in Downtown Albuquerque during the “Workers Over Billionaires" rally on Labor Day. Participants of all ages chanted and carried handmade signs relating to multiple issues including workers rights, immigrant rights, Palestinian rights and disapproval of the Trump administration. Neidi Dominguez, executive director of Organized Power in Numbers, said more than 3500 people attended the march. “We’re one of more than a thousand actions across the country that are saying today, everyday it should be workers over billionaires,” Dominguez said.

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ASUNM fails to provide notice of first fall Full Senate meeting

Elliott Wood | September 1

On Aug. 20, the Associated Students at the University of New Mexico Senate held a publicly unannounced full senate meeting prior to previously scheduled and announced committee meetings. This meeting included the passing of a bill and confirming the appointment of three new senators. This failure to alert the public to the existence and circumstances of a meeting where business regarding legislation could take place is in violation of the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, as well as the ASUNM Lawbook. The New Mexico Open Meetings Act is part of the state’s Sunshine Laws that provide statutory guidelines for conducting public meetings, and ensure that public policy is made in meetings that are open to the public where members thereof are permitted to attend and listen to the deliberations and proceedings, according to UNM School of Law and the New Mexico Department of Justice.

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Albuquerque mayoral candidates react to Keller ‘State of the City’ address

Addison Fulton | September 1

On Nov. 4, Albuquerque municipal elections will be held for city offices, including the mayor's office. There are currently seven candidates running for mayor: Mayling Armijo, Eddie Varela, Darren White, Tim Keller, Louie Sanchez, Alex Uballez and Daniel Chavez. On Aug. 23, incumbent Tim Keller hosted the annual State of the City address at the Albuquerque Biopark Botanic Garden. This State of the City address fell during an election year, with voting in Albuquerque for mayor beginning Oct. 18. Some of Keller’s challengers — Armijo, Sanchez and Uballez — shared their reaction to Keller’s address. Keller could not be reached after multiple requests for comments by the Daily Lobo.

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Lawsuit targets HSI grants

Maria Fernandez | September 1

In a memo written to Congress on Friday Aug. 22, the Justice Department declined to defend the Hispanic-Serving Institution designation for U.S. colleges and universities in a lawsuit filed by the state of Tennessee and activist group Students for Fair Admissions. In the memo, the Justice Department said it agreed with the lawsuit’s goals to strike down grants that are reserved for HSI’s, according to the Associated Press. The HSI designation within the Higher Education Act provides grant funding to postsecondary institutions to assist with strengthening institutional programs, facilities and services to expand the educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans and other collegiate underrepresented populations, according to the Department of Education.

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United Graduate Workers demonstrate at ice cream social

Elliott Wood and Addison Fulton | August 25

On Aug. 18, the University of New Mexico hosted Ice Cream Social and Departmental Informational Day with UNM President Garnett Stokes as part of the University’s “Welcome Back Days”. The United Graduate Workers of UNM, a union representing graduate workers, demonstrated at the event, hoping to raise awareness for their efforts and get face time with the University President. The demonstrators were hoping to secure higher wages, vision and dental insurance and contractual protections for international grad students against having their immigration status exposed or weaponized, UGW Stewards Noah Mertz and Lee Ferrin, said.