A few things happened on the news front over the weekend that we’re deciding to wrap up the relevant details in quick summaries below:
—It looks like the controversial Albuquerque Rapid Transit project will likely get some federal cash after all. In Washington D.C., Congress has agreed on a spending plan to avoid a government shutdown that includes $50 million for ART. That’s $19 million short from what the city asked for, Dennis Domrzalski at ABQ Free Press reports.
—As of Friday, nine mayoral candidates qualified for the Albuquerque ballot. One more candidate, Stella Padilla, is roughly 500 valid signatures away from getting on the ballot. The Albuquerque city clerk’s office will finish verifying uncounted signatures by Tuesday.
The nine candidates are:
- Deanna Archuleta
- Brian Colón
- Ricardo Chaves
- Michelle Garcia Holmes
- Tim Keller
- Dan Lewis
- Wayne Johnson
- Gus Pedrotty
- Susan Wheeler-Deichsel
—State Democrats chose their new party leader on Saturday, electing Richard Ellenberg, the former chairman of the Santa Fe County Democratic Party. Ellenberg beat 24-year-old Juan Sanchez, the current vice chairman of the state Democratic Party.
