Author: Tracy Goldizen

The city remains on track to close Coronado Park by the end of the month. In a statement from the city released Monday, approximately half the camps that were once at the park are no longer there since receiving notice of location’s closure and the work of outreach efforts. The Family and Community Services Department (FCS) and the Albuquerque Safety Department (ACS) have spearheaded the outreach effort to connect residents of the park connected with the right program or organization. Last week’s efforts resulted in 29 people voluntarily leaving Coronado Park with 21 receiving hotel vouchers and entered a pathway…

When the La Cueva High School boys basketball team takes the court this season, it will be with a new head coach at the helm. La Cueva Athletic Director Brandon Back told the Neighborhood Journal on Monday that Eric Orell has accepted the job of head coach, elevating him from assistant head coach, a role he has filled since 2017. Eric also serves La Cueva as the head coach of the golf team, as well as a health teacher. According to Orell’s LinkedIn profile, he has been in the APS system for 17 years, both as a teacher and a…

It’s a … baby gorilla! Samantha, a 15-year-old gorilla at the ABQ BioPark, gave birth to her first baby at 10:29 a.m. Zoo staff have not yet determined the sex of the baby, who was fathered by 20-year-old Kojo, who came to the BioPark last year. It’s the first baby gorilla welcomed at the zoo since 2004. The city, through a press release, said zoo caregivers were present during the birth, watching remotely via camera, ready to intervene for the health and safety of the animals if necessary. However, the natural process unfolded without incident, and Samantha and the baby…

West Nile has appeared in Bernalillo County.  On Friday, the county said the first positive mosquitoes of 2022 were identified through routine mosquito monitoring at locations throughout the city of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County. “Mosquitoes infected with West Nile virus will be around until there is a good hard frost in the area, so we urge people to continue to take precautions against mosquito bites throughout the rest of the season,” said Dr. Mark DiMenna, deputy director for the city Environmental Health Department. Common symptoms of West Nile virus are fever, nausea, headache and muscle aches, and in rare cases,…

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has issued an endangered missing person alert for 56-year-old Larry Santisteven. Santisteven was last seen around 4 p.m. Sunday near his residence in the 6000 block of Fourth Street Northwest. He has a medical condition that requires regular medication, and the report says there are other factors indicating concern for his safety and well-being. It also says that it is not normal for him to leave without notifying his family of his whereabouts. The alert describes Santisteven as a bald Hispanic male who is 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 175 pounds. Those with…

For the second day in a row, Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are under a health alert due to elevated ozone levels. Those with respiratory conditions are encouraged to limit time outdoors. The alert was issued at 2:30 p.m. and runs until 7 p.m. For details on precautions to take, click view the details on Thursday’s alert or click here.

A health alert has been issued for Albuquerque and Bernalillo County due to elevated ozone levels. The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Program issued the alert from 12:40-7 p.m. Aug. 4, recommending that those with respiratory conditions limit outdoor activity. Information on the city’s website states that health alerts are issued when conditions worsen to the point that those with respiratory conditions may be adversely impacted by outdoor activity; because of elevated levels of dust or smoke; or when ozone levels exceed 70 parts per billion over and eight-hour average or 120 pub in an hour. During a health alert, people,…

The Albuquerque Police Department has entered the world of podcasting. “Duke City Case Files Podcast” features cold cases, unsolved investigations and other initiatives going on within the department. In an effort to engage with the community — and a broader audience — the podcast is available on multiple platforms, including a video version on YouTube and APD’s social media channels in addition to the audio version on each episode that will be uploaded to podcast streaming platforms.Two episodes have been released so far. The first dives into the case of 71-year-old Agnes Tybo, a Native American woman visiting Albuquerque for the…

If you’ve been thinking about adopting a cat, now’s the time. The city of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department is waiving adoption fees for cats and kittens during its Property Kittens adoption special, which runs through Oct. 30, at all three locations: East Side Animal Shelter, 8920 Lomas Blvd. NE; West Side Animal Shelter, 11800 Sunset Gardens SW, and Everyday Adoption Center, 350 Eubank NE. Property Kittens will have adoption counselors at all three of the department’s locations to match animals that suit families’ needs. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each adoption includes spaying or neutering, all vaccinations required…

Drivers’ wallets are still getting drained at the pumps, and though gas prices remain sky-high, the average price per gallon in Albuquerque has dropped significantly since this time last month, going from $4.72 on June 22 to $3.87 on Wednesday, July 27. That trend carried over into the neighborhood as several stations in northwest Albuquerque had prices below the citywide average. Sam’s Club and Costco, which both require a membership, were at $3.53. The Murphy Express location on Alameda was $3.74, the lowest in the area for non-membership gas stations. The Speedway on Alameda was at $3.76 with the Speedway…