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Mayoral candidates gather at UNM as election day closes in

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 20

As Election Day quickly approaches, the candidates for Albuquerque mayor continue to dash around the city with their packed campaign schedules. During their tour, they met at the University of New Mexico’s Student Union Building to discuss policing, public transit, the city’s economy and homelessness. The forum was hosted in part by students from the UNM Law School and held on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Of the field of six certified candidates, Mayling Armijo, incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez and Alex Uballez were the four present, alongside write-in candidate Patrick Sais, who will not appear on the ballot.

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Alex Uballez interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I was most recently the United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico. I was its chief federal law enforcement officer, running an office of 200 people who reported directly to me, as well as hundreds of federal ...

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Mayor Tim Keller interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

What some of your experiences over the past eight years and what some of those accomplishments have been, and why that experience tells voters that they should give you another term? “I was born and raised here, and when I was first elected, we were in tough times. We had President Trump. Crime was ...

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Darren White interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and resume qualify you to lead the city of Albuquerque? “I dedicated my life to public service, from the time I was in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division until I left the city of Albuquerque in 2011. I think we can all agree that crime and homelessness are the two significant ...

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Louie Sanchez Interview

Jaden McKelvey-Francis | October 13

How does your experience and your resume help qualify you to lead the City of Albuquerque? “Well, the first thing is, I'm a 26-year veteran of the Albuquerque Police Department, where I worked every part of the city of Albuquerque. I worked Field Services. I worked the investigative impact team. I worked the gang unit, the auto theft unit, the air support unit, the organized crime unit. I worked in the New Mexico violent gang task force, and then I was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant and Commander. So I worked at the higher levels of the APD organization.

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Community demands answers after police rule Jayvon Givan’s death a suicide

Leila Chapa and Paloma Chapa | October 13

Dozens gathered in front of the Albuquerque Police Department’s downtown headquarters during a press conference on Monday, Oct. 6, demanding answers about the death of Jayvon Givan, a 29-year-old Black man who was found hanging by a chain from a wall pillar outside a vacant building near Corrales last year. Givan’s death was ruled a suicide with “no signs of foul play” on Sept 17, 2024, according to police reports, but the incident started circulating on social media after his cousin, unaware of his death, filed a missing person report with APD on Oct. 1 that revealed he had been dead for over a year. The day after the community press conference, Tuesday, Oct. 7, APD announced that they would seek an independent review of Givan’s death as it has “raised concerns from the community about circumstances surrounding the man’s death.”

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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.