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UNM community recognizes two years of 'live-streamed genocide' in Gaza during rally at Scholes Hall

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 13

On Oct. 7, dozens of students, staff, faculty and community members rallied outside Scholes Hall, carrying handmade signs and Palestinian flags, in recognition of two years of war in Gaza. The rally was hosted by the University of New Mexico Students for Justice in Palestine, and concluded with a march to the Duck Pond and back to Scholes Hall, during which participants chanted “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.” Noelia Mann, a PhD student and organizer with UNMSJP said the student organization continues with the goal of pressuring the University to divest from weapons manufacturing companies.

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City councilor, UNM Researchers collaborate on food security research

Shin Thant Hlaing | October 13

How long would it take you to access fresh food? How much money for gas would be added to the cost of your groceries? How much time would you spend walking, or on buses? For residents of Albuquerque’s International District the answer is unfortunately simple: too long. But now, that could change for the better. On Oct. 2, a collaboration between district six City Councilor Nicole Rogers and researchers from the University of New Mexico based in the Sustainability Studies Department was announced.

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Albuquerque Elections special issue

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

This year, Albuquerque is holding elections for mayor, odd-numbered city council districts — one, three, five, seven and nine — Albuquerque Municipal School Board districts three, five, six and seven, and 12 general obligation bond questions. The Daily Lobo spoke to the city council candidates for each district and asked them each the same five questions — for the mayoral candidates, we asked them each the same four questions, with one question specialized to each candidate, including what each candidate’s vision is for the partnership between the city and University of New Mexico. Mayling Armijo, incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez, Alex Uballez, Eddie Varela and Darren White are the six candidates for Albuquerque mayor. Daniel Chavez, whose name will still appear on the ballot, dropped out of the race. Varela did not respond to multiple requests for an interview in time for publication.

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Former Daily Lobo Editor wins lawsuit against UNM

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 13

In the sea of things she learned from the recent settlement of her years long public records battle, former Daily Lobo Editor-in-Chief Lily Alexander has a message for student journalists: trust your instincts. On Sept. 4, University of New Mexico agreed to settle a lawsuit that Alexander filed last March while working at the Daily Lobo, alleging that the UNM Police Department had violated the Inspection of Public Records Act. After the settlement last month, the University provided Alexander with UNMPD’s weapons inventory with the weapons’ location redacted, and agreed to eventually pay $195,000 — $65,000 to Alexander, and $130,000 in attorney fees.

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City Council district nine candidates

Michael Padilla | October 13

The candidates competing for the opportunity to lead district nine are incumbent city councilor Renée Grout and challenger Colton Newman. Former candidate Melani Buchanan Farmer will appear on the ballot, but has withdrawn from the race. Grout declined an interview with the Daily Lobo, citing a full schedule.

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City Council district seven candidates

Elizabeth Bolke and Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

The city council election in Albuquerque’s district seven will see incumbent Tammy Fiebelkorn face write-in challenger Jaemes Shanley. The district makes up Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights, including parts of the University of New Mexico.

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City council district five candidates

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 13

Incumbent councilor Dan Lewis and challenger Athenea Allen are running to represent district five of the Albuquerque City Council. The district represents the northwest side of Albuquerque, located west of the Rio Grande river. Allen could not be reached for an interview in time for publication.

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City council district three candidates

Maria Fernandez | October 13

The city council election in Albuquerque’s district three sees challengers Christopher Sedillo, Teresa Garcia and incumbent city councilor Klarissa Peña. Garcia could not be reached in time for publication. District three represents the southwest side of the city.

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City council district one candidates

Addison Fulton | October 13

The city council election in Albuquerque’s district one presents a unique challenge: all candidates on the ballot are challengers. The race is without an incumbent, as previous councilor Louie Sanchez is running for mayor. Those vying for the district one seat — which represents the central west side of Albuquerque — are Daniel Gilber Leiva, Ahren Griego, Joshua Taylor Neal and Stephanie Telles.

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UNM campus buildings undergo major changes

Addison Fulton | October 6

Like spidery cracks along the shell of a hatching egg, wire fences and hard-hat zones criss-cross the University of New Mexico Main Campus. The crumbling of walls has become another ambient sound between Zimmerman Library and the Student Union Building, and blocked roads and pathways have become common occurrences. Students are surrounded by the signs of change. UNM Main Campus has four active construction projects: the Center for Collaborative Arts and Technology, the Humanities and Social Sciences Facility, a new UNM Police Department Headquarters and a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Track, according to UNM Facilities Design and Construction.

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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.