Good morning, Albuquerque.

Eight New Mexico students pursuing skilled trades received over $10K in scholarships + tools and equipment when BBB and partners held the SWCEF Awards at Quezada's Comedy Club on July 23.

The program aims to help students overcome financial barriers while building local workforce skills.

Rio Rancho’s Governing Body approved two childcare projects today: a 16,000 sqft La Esperanza preschool and daycare facility near Arena Drive, which will serve 84 infants/toddlers and 80 preschoolers, and a new daycare site at Southern Boulevard and Golf Course Road; next steps include permits and inspections.

Albuquerque ecologist Donald Falk was named a fellow by the Ecological Society of America for his work in fire history and forest ecology—an honor that marks his significant contributions to conservation and research in local ecosystems.

Federal regulatory filings show that Energy Transfer has delayed the Green Chile Project pipeline for the Project Jupiter data center to February 2027 due to state trust land issues in Doña Ana County — Oracle confirmed the data center remains on schedule.

Filmmaker Bryan Konefsky has brought international experimental filmmakers to Albuquerque through his noncompetitive festival, Experiments in Cinema, for over 20 years.

Submissions remain open until Nov. 1 and the next in-person event will take place April 15-18, 2027 (the online edition will run April 29-May 11).

New Mexico’s higher education ranking improved to 18th nationally — based on factors such as affordability, access, enrollment and attainment — according to U.S. News and World Report.

Policies like the Opportunity Scholarship benefited over 118,000 residents, including 42,000 last academic year.

Due to the Frijoles fire burning over 11,000 acres, officials closed the Española Ranger District (including roads, trails and campgrounds) today to keep the area safe and instruct residents to follow posted signs.

The New Mexico Environment Department proposed rules that use satellite and aircraft imagery to find large methane leaks and require oil and gas operators to fix them within three days.

The new measures also update equipment requirements to meet federal standards by 2031 (pending review by the Environmental Improvement Board).

A UNM research team spent weeks in northern Alaska this summer collecting soil and water samples along three river watersheds to study how permafrost thaw affects water quality and carbon movement.

The team is working with Sandia National Laboratories to develop models that will predict future changes.

Albuquerque resumed school bus route 790 on August 17 to serve UNM and CNM students with free rides.

The route runs from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from the Northwest Transit Center near Cottonwood Mall to downtown and campus stops.

Kate Becker, CEO of UNM Hospital, will retire Dec.

11 and be succeeded by Dr. Steve McLaughlin, who has worked at UNM since 1995 and helped open SRMC’s emergency department in 2012. SRMC reported growth in surgery and clinic visits and is promoting levy funds via billboards.