Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Albuquerque Christmas Calm: City Celebrates Quietly on Peaceful Holiday Morning
Published 4 months ago
Description
Good morning, this is Albuquerque Local Pulse for Thursday, December twenty fifth.
We wake up to a calm Christmas morning across our city. Skies are mostly clear over the Sandias, with chilly temperatures in the twenties and low thirties in the valley. We warm into the mid forties this afternoon, so we will want a coat for walks along Central or around Old Town. Roads stay dry, and winds are light, so holiday travel on I-25 and I-40 looks smooth. Tonight dips back below freezing, but no storms are on the horizon for the next day or so.
From city hall, most offices are closed today, but recent council decisions still shape our week. The city is pushing residents to use eco friendly tree recycling sites after the holiday instead of dumping in alleys. The Solid Waste Department reminds us we can drop trees at designated lots near Balloon Fiesta Park and around the West Side, which helps keep our streets and arroyos clean.
On public safety, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announces a nine million dollar multistate settlement with Kia and Hyundai over car theft vulnerabilities, a big deal for Albuquerque where we have struggled with auto theft for years. The settlement means better anti theft technology on new models and potential restitution for local Hyundai and Kia owners whose cars were stolen or damaged. That could ease some pressure on neighborhoods from the Heights to the South Valley.
In the last day, Albuquerque police and Bernalillo County deputies report an otherwise relatively quiet Christmas Eve overnight, with extra patrols around shopping areas along Coors, Eubank, and Montgomery. One notable incident earlier this week involved a Sun Van rollover near I-40 and 98th Street on the West Side, where officers ended up in a foot pursuit after the crash. Investigators are still sorting out what led up to that, and we keep those involved in our thoughts.
On the feel good side, holiday spirit is strong. At Arroyo del Oso Golf Course, the long running Christmas Eve Balloon Glow lit up the Northeast Heights last night, with dozens of balloons tethered and glowing like lanterns. Organizers say it is their way of giving back to neighbors who open their yards during balloon season and offering comfort to those who find the holidays hard.
For jobs, local recruiters report seasonal hiring tapering off, but healthcare, tech support, and logistics around the Sunport and near Jefferson and Osuna remain active. Starting pay for many entry level roles sits in the mid to upper teens per hour, with some skilled positions above twenty. In real estate, agents say listings inside the Albuquerque city limits are holding around a median price in the mid three hundreds, with West Side and far Northeast neighborhoods still moving fastest as buyers look for space and views.
On the cultural front, many venues are dark for Christmas Day, but we look ahead to weekend events. Old Town Plaza will bring live music back tomorrow evening, with local bands mixing holiday tunes and New Mexico classics under the lights near San Felipe de Neri. The KiMo Theatre is gearing up for New Years performances, and breweries along the Rail Yards and in Nob Hill are posting their end of year lineups with local DJs and bands.
For schools, winter break continues, but a quick shout out to Albuquerque high school athletes. Recent basketball tournaments saw strong showings from teams across APS, with both boys and girls squads from the West Side and Heights picking up early season wins, setting the tone as district play approaches in January.
Sports wise, we watch our Lobos closely. The mens basketball team is in the thick of non conference play at The Pit, drawing big crowds off University Boulevard. Football recruiting news trickles in as well, with the program working to shore up key positions ahead of next season.
Community wise, the
We wake up to a calm Christmas morning across our city. Skies are mostly clear over the Sandias, with chilly temperatures in the twenties and low thirties in the valley. We warm into the mid forties this afternoon, so we will want a coat for walks along Central or around Old Town. Roads stay dry, and winds are light, so holiday travel on I-25 and I-40 looks smooth. Tonight dips back below freezing, but no storms are on the horizon for the next day or so.
From city hall, most offices are closed today, but recent council decisions still shape our week. The city is pushing residents to use eco friendly tree recycling sites after the holiday instead of dumping in alleys. The Solid Waste Department reminds us we can drop trees at designated lots near Balloon Fiesta Park and around the West Side, which helps keep our streets and arroyos clean.
On public safety, New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez announces a nine million dollar multistate settlement with Kia and Hyundai over car theft vulnerabilities, a big deal for Albuquerque where we have struggled with auto theft for years. The settlement means better anti theft technology on new models and potential restitution for local Hyundai and Kia owners whose cars were stolen or damaged. That could ease some pressure on neighborhoods from the Heights to the South Valley.
In the last day, Albuquerque police and Bernalillo County deputies report an otherwise relatively quiet Christmas Eve overnight, with extra patrols around shopping areas along Coors, Eubank, and Montgomery. One notable incident earlier this week involved a Sun Van rollover near I-40 and 98th Street on the West Side, where officers ended up in a foot pursuit after the crash. Investigators are still sorting out what led up to that, and we keep those involved in our thoughts.
On the feel good side, holiday spirit is strong. At Arroyo del Oso Golf Course, the long running Christmas Eve Balloon Glow lit up the Northeast Heights last night, with dozens of balloons tethered and glowing like lanterns. Organizers say it is their way of giving back to neighbors who open their yards during balloon season and offering comfort to those who find the holidays hard.
For jobs, local recruiters report seasonal hiring tapering off, but healthcare, tech support, and logistics around the Sunport and near Jefferson and Osuna remain active. Starting pay for many entry level roles sits in the mid to upper teens per hour, with some skilled positions above twenty. In real estate, agents say listings inside the Albuquerque city limits are holding around a median price in the mid three hundreds, with West Side and far Northeast neighborhoods still moving fastest as buyers look for space and views.
On the cultural front, many venues are dark for Christmas Day, but we look ahead to weekend events. Old Town Plaza will bring live music back tomorrow evening, with local bands mixing holiday tunes and New Mexico classics under the lights near San Felipe de Neri. The KiMo Theatre is gearing up for New Years performances, and breweries along the Rail Yards and in Nob Hill are posting their end of year lineups with local DJs and bands.
For schools, winter break continues, but a quick shout out to Albuquerque high school athletes. Recent basketball tournaments saw strong showings from teams across APS, with both boys and girls squads from the West Side and Heights picking up early season wins, setting the tone as district play approaches in January.
Sports wise, we watch our Lobos closely. The mens basketball team is in the thick of non conference play at The Pit, drawing big crowds off University Boulevard. Football recruiting news trickles in as well, with the program working to shore up key positions ahead of next season.
Community wise, the