Good morning, this is Albuquerque Local Pulse for Friday, July 18. We’re waking up to a sticky mix of weather across the city, as forecasts call for slow-moving showers and thunderstorms rolling through much of Albuquerque today. There’s a real risk of flash flooding, especially over recent burn scars near the foothills. Those storms could also pack gusty winds, some small hail, and quick bursts of lightning. For those in the Rio Grande Valley and the eastern plains, the heat will stick around. If you’re planning a hike in the Sandias or heading out near Petroglyph National Monument, keep your eyes on the sky and your weather app handy.
From City Hall, the council is in session today, with key improvement district meetings for neighborhoods like Lower Petroglyphs and Volterra, focusing on how tax funds will shape things like streets, lighting, and water in these growing areas. These meetings are where the details get hammered out for everything from sidewalks to storm drains, so they impact daily life for a lot of us.
Turning to crime news, Albuquerque police made two arrests and recovered three stolen vehicles in a targeted sting around the University area early Thursday morning. Officers used live video and GPS to stop the theft in progress, apprehending Lawrence Vigil and Rito Gonzalez-Polanco near Bridge and Isleta. Vigil was already known to police for previous auto thefts, while Gonzalez-Polanco was also wanted by the U.S. Marshals on a felony warrant. This quick teamwork has already put two suspects behind bars and brought stolen property back to the community. In another high-profile case, former MMA fighter Diego Sanchez was arrested Thursday after allegedly firing a weapon from a vehicle here in Albuquerque. Police are still investigating, but no injuries were reported.
We’re following up on the fatal shooting in an apartment parking lot last week. Police have now charged Joseph Carlos Rivera, age twenty-one, as the primary suspect in the homicide. Rivera is currently in custody, and city officials are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
In the job market, local job postings have held steady this week, with about thirty-five hundred open positions across healthcare, construction, and tech. In real estate, median home prices in Albuquerque now hover around three hundred thirty thousand dollars. Inventory remains tight, so buyers and sellers alike are watching closely to see if the summer storms will slow activity.
On the lighter side, we’ve got plenty to look forward to this weekend. The city is alive with events—live music is set for Old Town Plaza tomorrow. Local favorite banda SuperGrito takes the gazebo stage at seven, and food trucks will line the plaza. Out at Isleta Amphitheater, Mayor Tim Keller announced that Paul McCartney is coming through in October. Tickets for that show are going fast, but this weekend, look for regional acts lighting up the summer evenings.
In sports, high school athletes have been making waves, with Albuquerque High’s girls softball taking the city league title last night. There’s city league soccer at Balloon Fiesta Park all weekend and a youth basketball camp kicking off at Lobo Gym tomorrow.
And in feel-good news, a group of local business owners teamed up this week to repair the community garden on Central near Downtown. After recent vandalism, neighbors came together—kids, families, and business leaders—to get the beds replanted in a single afternoon. Seeing a mix of hands in the dirt and laughter through the rain was a reminder of what makes Albuquerque so resilient.
That’s a wrap for today. Be sure to stay weather aware if you’re heading outside, and let’s keep supporting each other through the ups and downs. Thanks for tuning in and remember to subscribe. This has been Albuquerque Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quiet please dot ai.
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