Leila Chapa

Mariachi Christmas celebrates over 25 years of tradition through Mexican song and dance

On Friday, Dec. 19, the sights and sounds of Christmas in Mexico come back to the Popejoy Hall stage, with colorful mariachi music and traditional ballet folklórico. This year marks Popejoy’s 25th celebration of New Mexico holiday traditions through Mariachi Christmas. Through music and dance, the show highlights the faith and traditions found across Mexico in a cheerful holiday performance for the whole family. Founded by Noberta Fresquez in Albuquerque, Mariachi Christmas tells the story of Christmas with regional and traditional folklore from several regions in Mexico.

Recent UNM graduate calls on local leaders during COP30

The Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change occurs every year in a selected country, during which the United Nations decision making body, represented by nations around the world, convenes with the aim of preventing ‘dangerous human interference with the climate system,” according to their website.  This year, the UNFCCC was held in Belém, Brazil, where recent University of New Mexico alum Feleecia Guillen spoke at a press conference organized by US Climate Action Network at the convention, during which she called on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham after having spoken with her in-person at the convention. 

City Council unanimously passes historic traffic ordinance

The Albuquerque traffic code has remained nearly unchanged since 1974, but is now being updated after a unanimous city council vote in the wake of multiple pedestrian and bicycle traffic accidents, including one that killed 19-year-old cyclist Kayla VanLandingham, who was struck by a car at a bike crossing near Carlisle Boulevard.  The ordinance intends to update the traffic code to improve protections for bicyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, Albuquerque District Seven City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn — who sponsored the ordinance — said during a City Council meeting on Nov. 5.  VanLandingham’s grandmother, Diana Zamora, spoke about her granddaughter's death during public comment at the meeting. 

UNM LEAF launches campaign after release of UNM Sustainability Strategic Plan

The University of New Mexico released its first comprehensive Sustainability Strategic Plan on Oct. 28, and with it came a launch of campaigns from students organizing with UNM Leaders for Environmental Action and Foresight.  UNM sophomore and Director of Projects for UNM LEAF Caitlyn Bizzell said she and other members, along with more student groups, participated in the creation of the Sustainability Strategic Plan.  In a statement to the Daily Lobo, UNM Office of Sustainability Director Anne Jackle praised student involvement in the plan. 

First segment of ABQ Rail Trail now open

The first segment of the Albuquerque Rail trail opened to the public on Oct. 25, welcoming visitors to the trail which connects the Sawmill District to Tiguex Park. The following weekend, the Rail Trail was filled with dogs in costume for the inaugural “Howl-a-Day of the Dog” pet parade on Nov. 1. Uncertainty of the Rail Trail’s future began after the project kicked off, when Albuquerque lost $11.5 million in federal grant money, followed by a city lawsuit against the Trump Administration on Oct. 31, arguing that the grant was withdrawn “abruptly and without significant justification,” Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency Operations Manager Sarah Supple wrote in a statement to the Daily Lobo. The city will continue to invest in the Rail Trail through local and state partnerships as the legal process moves forward, with the Central Crossing segment still on track to open next year, Supple wrote.

How the government shutdown impacts UNM

The University of New Mexico community is bracing itself for the impacts of the federal government shutdown, which has been ongoing for over a month since lawmakers missed the deadline for government funding. UNM President Garnett Stokes sent a campus-wide email on Oct. 6, in which she wrote that the government shutdown may affect University federally funded research projects.  UNM Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher and UNM Health Sciences Center Vice President for Research, Hengameh Raissy, addressed the UNM Research Community in a letter with guidelines to prepare for the shutdown on Sept. 29, before the government shutdown.

Speaker hosted by conservative student organization draws tension, protests

For over four hours, approximately 30 people protested against the University of New Mexico chapter of Turning Point USA, a conservative student organization that had a table set up near the Duck Pond on Monday, Oct. 27. Some students debated with members of TP-UNM, while others gathered and chanted. TP-UNM members were promoting an upcoming lecture that occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 29, titled “CRT: Education or Indoctrination,” with guest speaker Stephen Davis, a Turning Point USA contributor and host of the podcast “SMASH with MAGA Hulk.”  Students protested Turning Point’s presence on campus, chanting “hey hey, ho ho, Turning Point has got to go.” Some protestors handed out “Lobos Against Fascism” stickers and sang “Bella Ciao,” “This Land is your Land,” “Solidarity Forever” and “John Brown’s Body.” 

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender,’ comes to life through on-stage orchestra

The animated TV series, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” lands at Popejoy Hall as a two hour live orchestral performance, bringing the show’s musical score on stage for the show’s 20th anniversary tour. The orchestra, which plays in Albuquerque on Sunday, Nov. 2, will be paired with highlights and favorite moments from all three seasons of the show, projected on a full-sized cinema screen, according to a Popejoy press release. The live orchestra performs the music of Emmy Award-winning composer Jeremy Zuckerman, who is behind the show's original music, and will be in sync with the action on screen, according to the press release.

Journalist, political commentator discusses Israel-Palestine politics during UNM visit

During his appearance at the University of New Mexico, journalist, political commentator and author of “Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning,” Peter Beinart, spoke on topics ranging from Jewish identity and anti-Zionism, to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal and student activism.  In the nearly-full Anthropology Building lecture hall on Tuesday, Oct. 21, Beinart took questions from students, staff, faculty and community members. “It was wonderful, it was great. I really appreciated that there were people of different perspectives who asked me challenging questions from different points of view,” Beinart told the Daily Lobo after the lecture.

Peter Beinart, author of ‘Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning’ to speak at UNM

Journalist, political commentator and author of “Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning,” Peter Beinart, will be visiting the University of New Mexico to speak in a discussion-format lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m., at the Anthropology building lecture hall.  The event is sponsored by Congregation Nahalat Shalom, the Unitarian Universalist Church and Muslims and Jews United, and is part of Beinart’s national book tour, according to a press release by the event organizers. “Beinart, a leading voice in American and Middle Eastern political affairs, will address his call for justice for Palestinians after decades of occupation, and a new paradigm for understanding Jewish victimhood,” the press release reads.

VIDEO STORY: Downtown Growers Market hosts furry fashion show with Dogboo costume contest

Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06

VIDEO STORY: Labubus come to ABQ Food Park

On Aug. 23, during a windy evening, the ABQ Food Park was overtaken by all kinds of Labubus, which are a form of plush doll. Vendors had booths with original Labubu dolls, others had artisan Labubu crafts made by local artists through mediums like crocheting and 3D printing. Labubu keychains, thermoses, purses, backpacks and other merchandise were everywhere on display. Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06

VIDEO STORY: Over a thousand march in ‘Albuquerque Against ICE’ protest

On Friday, June 20, approximately 2000 people marched in Downtown Albuquerque to protest President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and call for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement The protest began at 5pm at Civic Plaza, during which mariachi performers sang and played songs, and organizers gave speeches to the crowd before the march. The protest concluded at Civic Plaza around 8:15 PM.

VIDEO STORY: Walkout during ‘Higher Education Week of Action’

April 17, 2025.

VIDEO STORY: Albuquerque youth and community march for immigrant rights

VIDEO STORY: Black History Month kicks off at UNM with Pan-African flag raising ceremony

VIDEO STORY: Actions held in Albuquerque in response to Trump's inauguration

VIDEO STORY: Lobo men's hockey battles rivals NAU in close back-to-back games

On Friday, Dec. 6, the Lobos lost 3-2 in a close game against Northern Arizona University. The next day, the Lobos managed to hold a 3-3 draw before ultimately losing 6-4 to NAU.

VIDEO STORY: At UNM Hanging of the Greens, students project messages in support of Palestine

VIDEO STORY: Albuquerque community marches against Trump's reelection