Author: Rene Thompson

The city has established the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission during Domestic Violence Month.  The task force has studied the needs of domestic violence and sexual assault survivors for the last two years and has made 39 recommendations on where services could be improved. It also looks at preventive strategies and responses to be able to improve the lives of victims, as well as making the committee a permanent task force commission. Mayor Tim Keller, along with City Councilors Tammy Fiebelkorn, Renee Grout, Trudy Jones and Klarissa Peña, will put forward legislation to establish a Domestic Violence and Sexual…

Kroger and Albertsons announced a $24.6 million merger Friday. The price includes Kroger acquiring all outstanding shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc., including the assumption of $4.7 billion of Albertsons Cos. Debt. The agreement has been unanimously approved by the board of directors of each company. In the announcement, Kroger says it “plans to invest in lowering prices for customers and expects to reinvest approximately half a billion dollars of cost savings … to reduce prices for customers.” It also said $1.3 billion will be invested into Albertsons stores to “enhance the customer experience.” The combined company also expects to invest…

Mayor Tim Keller announced Monday the Housing Forward ABQ project to address the housing crisis affecting New Mexico.  “Today, nearly half of Albuquerque renters are ‘housing cost-burdened,’ meaning they spend over 30% of their income on housing, placing significant stress on middle-income households and creating real risk for lower-income households,” a press release stated.  Housing Forward aims to create 5,000 new housing units by 2025 and takes a multi-pronged approach to break down barriers to access in housing, protect renters from discrimination and predatory practices, while increasing urgently needed housing through conversions and new construction for residents of all income…

The Albuquerque City Council voted on a 7-2 vote to not pass the memorial urging the New Mexico State Legislature to repeal rent control prohibition. The council heard perspectives from many people for more than two hours, including realtors, property managers and property investors who were against the memorial, as well as rental tenants and organizers from the People’s Housing Project who were pushing for the council’s support the last few months. Councilor Dan Lewis repeatedly apologized to people against the memorial stating because they were being harassed by the council audience while speaking. He was also the councilor to…

The Albuquerque Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit arrested Gigeon Michael Robles on Saturday for rape, battery and child abuse.  A female victim stated her boyfriend refused to stop having intercourse with her when she asked him stop and instead got violent, throwing and hitting, then strangling her till she was unconscious. The woman stated when she regained consciousness she was again strangled by Robles.  When she was able to finally call for help, she saw her phone had been broken and the bedroom had been doused with gasoline and bleach. All of this occurred while an infant was present inside the…

Every year, some people go all out with the fall decorations, including squashes — and of course pumpkins — for Halloween, and most tend to just throw away the remains by winter.  The ABQ BioPark takes donations of pumpkin and squash as a treat for the animals at the zoo as folks are able to recycle something that would have usually been thrown away. There some standards though. The fruits cannot be carved or written/painted on and not bleached or soaked in vinegar. The zoo will only be taking the 100, and donations can be dropped off at 1451 Kit…

Here is a recap of last week’s games for Eldorado High School teams according to the Albuquerque Public Schools athletics schedule and Maxpreps. Football The Eldorado JV team (3-3) was beat by the La Cueva Bears 53-8 on Monday.  Volleyball The varsity volleyball team (14-2) swept two matches last week against Farmington and West Mesa.  The  JV team (8-5) also swept its best-of-three matches against Farmington and West Mesa.  Volley C (3-7) had two losses, falling to Farmington 2-0 and West Mesa 2-1.  Soccer  Girls varsity (13-2-2) tied 2-2 with Sandia on Tuesday and won against Farmington 2-0.  Boys varsity …

The city of Albuquerque has plans to develop a new educational center at the Elena Gallegos Open Space in the foothills and is being met with resistance from residents and an environmental conservation organization called Save Elena Gallegos.  A citizen committee to stop the development shared the petition via social media, letting people know that the city is violating the deed that all buildings of any kind are very clearly prohibited. The city will have to violate the deed in order to build the Visitor Center, said a Save Elena Gallegos representative.  “We’re working with real estate lawyers who have…

Pacific Rim Food Park is the first of its kind in Albuquerque, nestled away on Louisiana and San Antonio NE, had power set up this afternoon, and its soft opening Friday.  Owner of La Cocina De Ana food truck, who offers Paraguayan cuisine, said the park will have its official grand opening event on Oct. 30 with activities and giveaways.  The park, located in the parking lot of Grace Church, offers six different international food trucks with one more on the way. It also features a large grass picnic area and tables throughout with shade sails provided by the church.…

Keep Albuquerque Beautiful is having its fourth annual Junk Jog that asks ploggers to compete for litter cleanup along the Valle De Atrisco Bosque Trail in the most highly used and populated areas of the Bosque near the Biopark and Tingley Beach.  The Bosque is the largest cottonwood forest in the world, stretching 200 miles from Cochiti to Bosque Del Apache, and local Albuquerque residents have events throughout the year to clean up along the Bosque to preserve its beauty and delicate ecosystem.  Each plogger receives a plastic garbage bag, gloves and a litter grabber to pick up trash, as…