Author: For Neighborhood Journal

Walmart has recently redesigned two Albuquerque stores, reverting to staffed cashier lanes from self-checkout lanes. The change is part of Walmart’s efforts to enhance the shopping experience. Another Albuquerque store is set to make a similar shift, with at least one more following suit next month. Walmart did not provide specific reasons for these changes but emphasized their commitment to offering customers the best shopping experience possible. These moves follow the closure of a Walmart store in March, which did not meet financial expectations. While the extent of this change nationwide is unknown, some Walmart locations in Canada are testing…

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Over the past 10 years, TenderLove Community Center has evolved from offering one sewing class in a small room to becoming a thriving nonprofit dedicated to empowering vulnerable individuals to lead stable lives. Founded by Debbie Johnson, a former nurse from Nigeria, who experienced homelessness herself, TenderLove provides free services ranging from GED preparatory classes, computer literacy, and culinary arts to housing assistance and more. It doesn’t offer handouts but instead lifts people up, fostering hope and change. To find out more read the full article.

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Keshet Dance & Center for the Arts proudly announces its selection as a 2023 National Dance Project Production Grantee. This prestigious grant program, a significant supporter of dance in the United States, champions the development and sharing of innovative dance projects. Out of 167 competitive applications, 12 NDP Advisors chose the recipients, with 75% being first-time awardees. Each artist or company will receive $45,000 for their dance project creation, along with $10,000 in unrestricted operating support. Additionally, a $11,500 grant is allocated for Production Residencies for Dance and Community Engagement. Keshet Dance expresses gratitude to its partners and supporters for…

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Coronado Dual Language Magnet School, Garfield STEM Magnet, and Nex+Gen Academy, all part of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), have achieved national certification as outstanding magnet schools by Magnet Schools of America, a nonprofit organization representing over 4,300 magnet schools nationwide. Only 245 schools have received this designation since the certification program’s inception in 2016. Moreover, Coronado and Garfield have achieved Certified-Demonstration status, surpassing the Standards of Excellence criteria, and will serve as models for other magnet schools across the U.S. Superintendent Scott Elder congratulated the schools and their innovative approaches to education. See more details at the APS website.

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On September 8, 2023, at around 2:00 pm, an Albuquerque Public School Police Officer alerted a School Support Deputy at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School regarding two students exhibiting unusual behavior following an on-campus altercation. Despite not being directly involved in the fight, the students’ heightened agitation prompted further investigation. Both students, in the presence of their guardians, admitted to having firearms stored in their parked vehicles on school premises. Subsequently, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office’s Violent Crimes Unit executed search warrants, leading to the discovery of handguns and ammunition in the students’ vehicles. The 16-year-olds were arrested on charges…

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A tragic pedestrian accident occurred on Albuquerque’s West Side late Saturday, claiming the life of an unidentified adult man. The Albuquerque Police Department reported that the incident took place at around 10:20 p.m. on northbound Unser NW near Bluewater. The driver of a pickup truck noticed a vehicle beside him braking as the traffic light was green. Subsequently, the pedestrian suddenly entered the crosswalk, leading to a collision with the pickup truck. Despite efforts to avoid the accident, the pedestrian died at the scene. Neither intoxication nor excessive speed played a role, but limited surrounding area lighting may have contributed…

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Clayton Garcia was arrested by APD detectives after confessing to brutally beating his father, Jorge Garcia, who later succumbed to his injuries. Clayton faces charges of murder and tampering with evidence. The incident unfolded when APD officers responded to a report of a man on the ground and heard yelling for someone to die at their shared home. Clayton stated that he was in an altercation with his father, who had confronted him when he returned from a party. Clayton admitted to kicking his father, expressing a bizarre belief that his father’s death was necessary for his journey to “Valhalla.”…

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Alijah Gonzales, Volcano Vista High’s senior running back, delivered a remarkable performance with 225 yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries, securing a strong 38-19 win over Eldorado. This victory marked Gonzales unofficially surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season. He showcased his prowess with powerful runs between the tackles, a strategy employed by the Hawks to control the clock on offense. Volcano Vista’s defense also played a crucial role, limiting Eldorado’s high-powered offense. The Hawks now set their sights on a District 1-6A opener against No. 1 Cleveland, while Eldorado prepares to face La Cueva. Get more details in…

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The Albuquerque Police Department’s Central Narcotics Unit and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Albuquerque District Office joined forces to address complaints of open-air narcotics trafficking at City transit locations. In collaboration with the City of Albuquerque’s Transit Department, they pinpointed spots along the ART route where narcotics transactions were suspected. The operation resulted in 6 felony arrests for trafficking controlled substances, 2 cleared felony warrants, and the seizure of 122 fentanyl pills and 1 gram of meth. The arrested individuals had extensive criminal histories, prompting concerns about community safety and the need for legislative reevaluation of laws. For more details see…

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Albuquerque police have initiated a homicide investigation following the discovery of a deceased woman in a vehicle near the fairgrounds. Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle around 5 a.m. at Alcazar and Copper NE. Upon arrival, they found an unresponsive woman in the driver’s seat, showing signs of bleeding. Homicide detectives were summoned to the scene to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death.

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