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Endangered Species Act faces many threats

Isaiah Garcia | October 18

The Endangered Species Act is a set of laws that has helped save many different plant and animal species from going extinct, as well as preserved wildlife and natural ecosystems throughout the country. Over the course of summer 2018 the current administration proposed a set of bills to change the Endangered Species Act and subsequently limit its protections. The proposed changes are detailed in a technical 100-page long document. Some of the most controversial changes proposed include loosening the regulations protecting threatened species and considering the economic consequences of protecting a species before listing them as endangered.

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Netflix and Bill: City Council to hold special meeting over Netflix deal

Danielle Prokop | October 15

On Sunday Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis (District 6) and City Council President Ken Sanchez (District 1) announced legislation to authorize the prospective Netflix deal to buy Albuquerque Studios will have its own special session this Thursday, instead of being discussed at Monday’s City Council meeting. “We had looked at holding this meeting on Monday, but we just felt the issue was too critical and too important,” Sanchez said. Davis said having the meeting pushed back allows the public to “examine a deal shrouded in secrecy and excitement for months.”

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UNMPD to improve visibility after multiple carjackings

Anthony Jackson | October 15

The University of New Mexico announced in an online statement on Saturday, Oct. 6 that the UNM Police Department will be increasing their presence on campus. “Officers will saturate the community and increase the visibility of mobile unit, bicycle and foot patrols, especially during the evening and late-night hours,” UNM President Garnett Stokes’ statement read. This statement followed two armed carjackings, one on Friday, Oct. 5 at A Lot and another on Sunday, Oct. 7 on Las Lomas Street, east of Yale.

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ASUNM prohibits funding of "classroom components"

Justin Garcia | October 15

In the final hours before the start of Fall Break, Senators of the Associated Students of the University of New Mexico voted on three bills: a resolution, nearly $12,000 in appropriations and the fall budget. ASUNM passed a bill that would prohibit the funding of “classroom components” starting in the spring 2019 semester. As for what qualifies as a classroom component, the working definition, according to Standing and Rules Chair Jorge Rios, is “including but not limited to assignments, work for projects that may result in academic grade and credit. This does not include extra credit.”

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Crime Briefs for Oct. 15, 2018

Elizabeth Sanchez | October 15

Possession of Controlled Substance at Yale Parking Structure On the morning of Oct. 1, three officers were sent to the Yale parking structure due to a disturbance, according to a report. Dispatch said a person with a baseball bat broke through the windows of a red Toyota parked on the top floor of the parking structure, and the person was inside. When officers arrived, the windows were not broken, but at least two people were inside. One officer told the people to exit the vehicle one at a time. A male exited from the driver’s seat — he was handcuffed and patted down for weapons. When asked if he had weapons or needles, the male said he had a knife, but he did not know if he had needles.

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UNM celebrates National Coming Out Day

Makayla Grijalva | October 15

Students and community members gathered at the University of New Mexico LGBTQ Resource Center Wednesday, Oct. 10 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day. According to the Human Rights Campaign website, National Coming Out Day was first celebrated in 1988 on the anniversary of the Second National March on Washington for Gay and Lesbian Rights, which took place on Oct. 11, 1987. It was created to encourage and celebrate those who made the decision to come out. “For a lot of people coming out is a moment of being able to say, ‘This is who I truly am,’” said Frankie Flores, educational director at the LGBTQ Resource Center. “Being LGBTQ is not just about who we love and who we chose to share our lives with, it’s also a culture. It’s history. It’s tradition.”

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The federal elections on this year's ballot

Megan Holmen | October 15

Midterm elections are approaching and there are countless races voters need to know about. Early voting begins on Saturday, Oct. 20 and the General Election is Tuesday, Nov. 6. On the ballot are two Federal Offices, seven New Mexico State Offices and more than 10 other items. For this article, we’ll be focusing on federal elections that will be on this year’s ballot. Local and state elections will be covered in subsequent articles.

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Nonfatal shooting outside Frontier Restaurant

Kyle Land | October 10

A non-fatal shooting occurred across from the University of New Mexico on Tuesday night outside the Frontier Restaurant. Around 11:00 p.m., an adult male was shot multiple times on Cornell and Central by an unknown assailant. No other injuries were reported. The identity of the lone victim is currently being withheld by the Albuquerque Police Department.

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Controversial murals in Zimmerman Library may be removed

Megan Holmen | October 9

The conversation surrounding a piece of art at the University of New Mexico’s main library may be coming to an end soon. The Three People’s Murals, located in Zimmerman Library, have been a point of contention for decades. However, UNM Associate Vice Provost Alex Lubin has presented a plan for the murals to the Office of the President. The murals are composed of four different paintings that hang in the West Wing of Zimmerman Library and have been criticized by many for their “racial undertones.” The murals were painted by Kenneth Adams and completed in 1939.

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Centennial Library to temporarily close for repairs

Ahmad Yar Ranjha | October 9

The University of New Mexico Centennial Library will be temporarily closed from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13 because UNM Facilities Management will be replacing sewer lines in the surrounding area. The maintenance work was planned because of a severe water leak last month. According to Karl Benedict, an associate professor and director of Research Data services at UNM libraries, there was a water leak during the week of Sept. 22. The leak impacted staff and faculty offices.

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Bus Routes to change for Fall Break

Madison Spratto | October 9

The University of New Mexico shuttle service is tapping on the brakes this week on Thursday Oct. 11 and Friday Oct. 12. As students gear up to celebrate the beginning of the fall season, or just enjoy two days without classes, they can expect their usual commute to look just a little different during Fall Break.

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UNM students react to Kavanaugh's confirmation

Megan Holmen | October 9

University of New Mexico students have shared their opinions on recent confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who recently received confirmation from the United States Senate. Kavanaugh was sworn into the Supreme Court on Saturday, Oct. 7. Like the rest of the country, UNM students had a variety of opinions to share on the matter. Grace Leishman said no one should be confirmed to the Supreme Court with such allegations, particularly because some of his friends corroborated the stories about his drunken behavior.

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UNM celebrates Indigenous Peoples' Day

Alyssa Bitsie | October 9

Students and faculty gathered in the University of New Mexico Student Union Building atrium to celebrate Indigenous People’s Day Monday Oct. 8. The event featured a read-in of Indigenous texts hosted by the Project for New Mexico Graduates of Color (PNMGC). The PNMGC is a student-led program that works to retain students of color through ongoing peer mentoring. According to the group's UNM website, this mentoring provides academic, social, cultural and emotional support.

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CNM to host Blockchain event in Albuquerque

Sol Traverso | October 9

BlockFiesta!, Albuquerque’s first ever blockchain conference, is a Central New Mexico co-sponsored event taking place on Saturday Oct. 13. Blockchain is an online, decentralized, ledger of transactions associated largely with cryptocurrencies. Essentially, it is a growing list of records using cryptography. Bill Halverson is the senior technology advisor for CNM Ingenuity, which is hosting the event. He defines it as a world wide ledger that can be verified by everyone.

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Deadline: How to make sure you're registered for the midterms

Anthony Jackson | October 7

The last day to register to vote for the November 2018 Midterm Election is Tuesday, Oct. 9. The midterm election is less than 30 days away, and according to the New Mexico Secretary of State Website, there are more than 1.25 million registered voters in New Mexico as of Sept. 2018 — 45.8 percent registered as Democrat, 0.7 percent registered as Libertarian, 30.4 percent as Republican, 22 percent registered as Independent and 1 percent registered as Other. New Mexico state law requires voting registration to cease 28 days before the election.

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UNM students start denim recycling program

Alyssa Bitsie | October 7

The University of New Mexico’s Environment Coalition partnered with the Blue Jeans Go Green program to kick off a denim recycling for insulation campaign on Friday afternoon in the Student Union Building atrium. The kick off campaign included a jean ribbon cutting ceremony by Emily Wilks, the vice president of the Associated Students of the UNM. Formed in 2017, UNM’s Environment Coalition consists of seven student organizations committed to organizing projects that aim to promote sustainability and an eco-friendly campus and community, according to a press release addressing their goals and partnership with Blue Jeans Go Green.

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Crime briefs for Oct. 8, 2018

Elizabeth Sanchez | October 7

Criminal Trespass and Resisting, Evading or Obstructing an Officer On Sept. 23, two officers were sent to a bathroom on the third floor of the University of New Mexico Student Union Building because of a man’s disorderly conduct, according to a UNM Police Department report. SUB staff and UNMPD know the man well, due to many other past incidents. He was given a letter that banned him from campus on April 5, 2018. He has returned to campus multiple times since the ban and has been reminded that he cannot be on campus. When the officers arrived, a custodian said he saw the man in the men’s restroom on the third floor washing dishes in the sink. The custodian saw there was water on the counter, placed a washcloth there and told the man to clean the mess when he was done.

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Federal government gives grant for economic development

Tasawar Shah | October 7

The University of New Mexico’s organization for Supporting Technology Transfer and Catalyzing Economic Development (STC.UNM) has received a five-year grant from the federal U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) under its University Center Economic Development Program to foster economic development in the region. EDA is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Commerce. EDA's University Center Economic Development Program makes the resources of universities available to the economically developing community. Using the grant awarded, STC.UNM will establish a university center to promote economic growth in the region. According to the EDA’s Website, the U.S. Department of Commerce has invested $2.5 million to strengthen innovative and economic growth initiatives. Colleges and universities in 13 states have been awarded funding through economic development competition.

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The best songs of September 2018

Colton Newman and Shayla Cunico | October 7

“Mona Lisa” by Lil Wayne Ft. Kendrick Lamar On Lil Wayne’s long awaited “Tha Carter V” he and Kendrick Lamar belligerently document the story of a woman who sets up her boyfriend for robbery. “Mona Lisa” is an exciting display of Wayne’s ability to weave a storyline together without compromising his goofy tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Wayne embodies the the man who is robbing while Kendrick takes on the roll of a man treating a woman to a life of luxury but has suspicion that she is seeing another man and isn’t loyal to Kendrick. “Mona Lisa” is one of the all star tracks that “Tha Carter V” has to offer — hopefully more Lil Wayne and Kendrick collabs are on their way.

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Black Student Alliance calls KKG apology a duplicate

Kyle Land | October 4

The Black Student Alliance (BSA) of the University of New Mexico has rejected an apology sent to them from the University of New Mexico Gamma Beta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma (KKG) sorority in regards to racial comments made by KKG members at the New Member Summit for Greek Life. Members of BSA issued a response statement rejecting the apology, because the letter they received is the same as another letter sent to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.