Good morning, Albuquerque.

Local retailer Chile Traditions in Albuquerque received an early crop of high-quality green chiles thanks to drip irrigation and high temperatures, with a strong supply expected through October. (Retailer advises buyers to check for local certification to support New Mexico farmers.)

Nob Hill’s decade-old Waffletopia (formerly known as La Waffleria) announced its permanent closure this past Sunday due to rising costs and health issues affecting its chef/manager; owner Daniel Boardman said the restaurant built into a former home on Campus Blvd near Carlisle is now seeking a new tenant.

Albuquerque Public Schools installed 93 vape detectors in high school bathrooms to fight teen vaping and create safe spaces, investing $500,000 in technology; the detectors sense air quality (without recording video or audio) and officials are considering expansion to middle schools.

UNM College of Education (COEHS) now offers free mental health counseling, physical wellness assessments and family-focused programs that serve the community while giving students hands-on training; its Manzanita Counseling Center is Albuquerque’s only completely free mental health clinic.

Ellis welcomed the Executive MBA Class of 2028 during an immersion event held Aug.

6-8, letting 25 students tour the campus, start courses, and hear alumni and councilor Stephanie Telles share career insights. The class will plan an international visit (May 2027) to further its leadership development.

The federal government announced it may remove road restrictions in over 44 million acres of national forests, including 1.6 million acres in New Mexico.

Public comments on the proposal are due by midnight on Sept. 21 & details will be on the Forest Service Roadless Areas webpage today.

The Middle Rio Grande is having its worst water year in a century as low snowpack, extreme heat and limited monsoon have dried the river, forcing the conservancy district to cut water to nontribal farmers.

Officials say long-term changes to water policy are needed to prepare for wetter seasons.

At 9:40 p.m. Monday, a magnitude 3.1 earthquake struck 9 miles west-southwest of Pueblitos, and a magnitude 2.5 quake hit near the county line around midnight Tuesday in southern Valencia and northern Socorro counties.

Seismologists explained the cyclical swarms are caused by stress release from the local magma body.

The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District on Thursday announced new security cameras will be installed along the bosque to track fires and recurring illegal activity — measures designed to protect privacy by blurring any private property in the cameras' view.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue reported record response numbers for structure fires (207), outside fires (5,735), vegetation fires (385) and vehicle fires (421) through July, with all categories exceeding last year except for vegetation that dropped slightly.

On Monday, the City Council approved over $40 million in tax incentives for a new hotel project in the Sawmill area near Old Town.

The Sun Capital Hotels plan will replace a vacant 25,000 sqft building with 135 rooms to add affordable lodging—some residents worry about traffic and neighborhood impact.