Good morning, Albuquerque.

Congress has redefined hemp to measure total THC—including THCA—which bans hemp-derived intoxicants and may force local farmers and processors to adjust their products, switching to low-THC strains or pivoting to fiber and seed production.

Six Albuquerque schools will require clear backpacks when classes resume today, and APS will provide them for free to increase safety following a community survey.

After a brief warm spell today, New Mexico faces a shift as a warm storm brings rain Wednesday evening + a colder front turns that rain to snow Thursday through Friday, dropping Albuquerque temperatures to about 20 by Saturday.

Residents can drop off their Christmas trees for free recycling at designated sites until Jan.

11 so crews can grind them into mulch. Drop-offs occur from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a five-tree limit after all decorations are removed.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue recorded a 12% drop in outdoor warming fires during November and December 2025, handling 2,538 incidents compared to 2,875 last winter.

The agency credited milder weather plus distributed over 3,200 cold-weather items while linking residents to support services.

Hundreds of recovering addicts and supporters participated in the New Year's Prediction run on Thursday to benefit Soul Recovery Cafe in Albuquerque.

The free event, organized by a local doctor & community volunteers, saw a record turnout of 400 participants and raised $2,000 to support addiction recovery programs.

Local OB-GYNs have faced rising malpractice insurance costs due to state reforms that boosted damage caps & shifted expenses to individual providers; some doctors have cut surgeries or joined larger hospitals to manage rates, risking fewer counties having maternal care.

New Mexico is set to receive about $211 million over five years to boost rural health care access under the Rural Health Transformation Program with funding beginning in 2026, but state officials have not yet identified the hospitals to benefit & critics note concerns over future Medicaid cuts.

New Mexico’s Health Care Authority will receive $211.5 million in federal funding to improve health care in rural communities (covering 26 of 33 counties) where residents face long travel.

The award under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed last year is expected to help hospitals and clinics deliver care.

A New Mexico freestanding birth center that once offered maternity care stopped delivering babies in December because state rules and low insurance payments made it hard to stay open.

Other centers nationwide face similar issues as hospital maternity units close, which may limit care options for local families.

Albuquerque Career Fair

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Albuquerque Marriott Pyramid North — Free entry — Meet live with hiring employers and explore career opportunities.

Gene Simmons Concert

6:30-10:30 p.m. — Backstage at Revel — Ticketed event — Experience an unforgettable live performance by the legendary Gene Simmons.

International District Book Group

5-6:30 p.m. — International District Library — Free entry — Engage in lively discussions about inclusive YA books with diverse characters and themes.

Giant Kaleidoscope Experience

10 AM – 5 PM — Color Wheel Toys LLC — Free entry — Explore an 8-foot kaleidoscope and create stunning visual patterns with various items.

Visit the Giant Kaleidoscope

11 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Color Wheel Toys LLC — Free entry — Explore an 8-foot kaleidoscope and create stunning patterns with your chosen items.

Functional Programming Through Construction

6-8 p.m. — CG Infinity, Inc. — Free entry — Explore functional programming concepts like pure functions and immutability while enjoying dinner and insights from Cameron Presley.

The Children's Hour

7:30 p.m. — Albuquerque Little Theatre — Cost varies — Experience a powerful live performance exploring themes of trust and friendship.

Stop.Drop.Rewind Concert

7-10 p.m. — Launchpad — Tickets starting at $51 — Experience a live performance by Stop.Drop.Rewind in an energetic atmosphere.

Southwest Indoor Sectionals 2026

8 a.m. — Hit or Miss Archery Center — Early registration fee required — Compete in the NFAA 300 rounds and aim for high scores to improve your national ranking.