Good morning, Albuquerque.

Sprouting Compassion will host its 11th annual Red and Green VegFest on Aug.

15 at the First Unitarian Church (3701 Carlisle Blvd NE) from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., featuring chef demos, educational talks and local vendors to inspire plant-based living.

Albuquerque food banks report that federal SNAP cuts & rising grocery costs have spurred increased demand; Roadrunner Food Bank saw a 79% jump between January 2025 and January 2026 during a roundtable with U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján in the South Valley.

Sunday is Funday returns on Aug.

16 at Haynes Park with pony rides, a mechanical bull, a rock wall and over *150* vendor booths. The Rio Rancho Kiwanis Club runs the event from noon to 4 p.m. to benefit local groups.

Scott Salvas, a Rio Rancho brewer behind Brew Lab 101, is reviving the long-closed Putt-Putt Golf and Games course at 5100 San Mateo Blvd. NE in Albuquerque & rebranding it as Putts N Pints; a soft public opening is expected soon with a grand opening planned for mid-September.

Verizon faces ongoing service issues in Albuquerque after multiple fiber cuts on Wednesday disrupted mobile devices and internet access.

Engineers are working to restore connectivity & customers are advised to check for updates.

Mike Holtzclaw will end his service as chancellor at UNM-Los Alamos on June 30, 2027 as he does not seek reappointment, and the campus will work with him during the transition + continue investing in student success and improvements.

Thick smoke from Frijoles Fire, which burned 8,000 acres near Nambé since Aug.

4, is affecting northern New Mexico communities. Outdoor events including the Santa Fe Opera performance were canceled while local authorities advise vulnerable residents to stay indoors amid hazardous air quality & heavy smoke.

The Navajo Area Indian Health Services and NMDOH signed a memorandum to boost rural health by sharing high-quality data that will help the Navajo Nation design its own culturally relevant interventions.

The agreement, supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, will improve real-time public health tracking.

Lobos fall camp got heated Tuesday night as coach Jason Eck broke up a brief fight among players (signaling ramped-up energy) while the quarterback battle remains tight with no clear timeline for Layne’s return ahead of the season opener against Central Michigan.

The Albuquerque Isotopes finished a tough six-game series against Sugar Land last week—winning four games—to boost their record to 10 wins in 12, and they will travel to Oklahoma City to play the Comets this week.