Wednesday’s Top Stories
DWI suspects keeping driver licenses due to officer ‘no shows’
ABQ launches program for businesses affected by window vandalism
BernCo to build urban agriculture project in the International District
Unexpected design coming to Alvarado Transit Center clock tower
Albuquerque teachers ask lawmakers for cooler classrooms
Albuquerque boy to be featured in National Down Syndrome Society video
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to $740 million
Wednesday’s Five Facts
[1] Muhammad Syed pleads no contest to two second-degree murder charges – Muhammad was arrested for a string of murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque in 2022. Earlier this year he was convicted in the killing Aftab Hussein. Tuesday, Syed pled no contest to the killings of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain and Naeem Hussain. Syed is expected to be sentenced sometime in the next two months. The 30-year sentence Syed agreed to in Tuesday’s plea will be served at the same time as his sentence for the first killing. That case hasn’t been sentenced yet but Syed faces life in prison.
[2] Governor talks human trafficking in Tuesday press conference – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was joined by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials at the State Capitol to announce the results of a major law enforcement operation. Sixteen law enforcement agencies participated in ‘Operation Disruption,’ which focused on human trafficking. Border Patrol Agents say that during the 12-day operation, they saw a 90% reduction in deaths and were able to rescue three times the usual number of migrants in distress.
[3] Fewer storms & more 90-degree temperatures – While most of the region will still be mostly dry today, storms will be most likely in the San Juan Mountains and parts of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. More storms are more likely tomorrow and while conditions will dry out this weekend, temperatures will remain near to slightly above normal.
[4] Ordinance could get ABQ westside film studio project into motion – The Mesa Film Studios Project is set to be introduced for approval by the Albuquerque City Council. The studio is looking to build a new sound stage studio on 56 acres by Double Eagle II Airport. If approved, the studio would have six sound stages, a production office space, a backlot and a permanent blue screen. The studio has a price tag of $57 million. The state would provide $6 million for the project and the city would provide $1 million.
[5] Southbound I-25 ramp closed – Construction crews closed the loop ramp that connects westbound Montgomery to southbound I-25. Drivers traveling west on Montgomery will need to turn onto the frontage road to access the southbound lanes. To help accommodate the expected increase in traffic, crews will be adding another left turn lane.
