🌱Albuquerque Teen Changes Plea + New Proposals To Curb Emissions

Good morning, Albuquerque! Like many of you, the Patch team is taking some time off to enjoy the holidays, so there will not be a newsletter in your inbox tomorrow. We appreciate your understanding of this slight pause in our schedule, and I will be back on Monday with the next edition of the Albuquerque Daily! Now, here's everything happening around town today.

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First, today's weather:

Increasingly windy. High: 50 Low: 37.

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Here are the top stories in Albuquerque today:

1. Businesses are seeing a record number of job openings — but also a record number of people choosing to leave the workforce altogether. Economics experts say the number of people quitting their jobs recently in New Mexico is higher than the rest of the country, and some businesses in Albuquerque are wondering what to do next. (KRQE News 13)
2. One of the Albuquerque teens charged with the brutal murder of a homeless man has changed his not guilty plea to guilty. Timothy Chavez, who is now 19, took a plea deal during a virtual court hearing Wednesday. Chavez was just 15 when police say he and Anthony Gallegos, then 17, shot and killed Ronnie Ross on Menual near I-25 in 2018. (KOB)
3. City officials are proposing new rules aimed at curbing emissions in Albuquerque. If approved, the city would adopt the same high standards currently impose In California requiring dealerships to sell low or zero-emission vehicles starting with the model year 2026. (KRQE News 13)

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Today's Albuquerque Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Albuquerque!

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From my notebook:

• Albuquerque's Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency recently released the initial draft of its highly anticipated Rail Trail Framework Plan. Review the plan and send your thoughts by January 31. (Instagram)
• The Environmental Health Department in Albuquerque is hiring a Director of Environmental Health. A few of the duties include advancing efforts to improve environmental health and safety through strategic plans, goals, and policies. Apply today! (Instagram)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. See you all Monday for another update!

— Erica Zenn

About me: Erica Zenn is a Masters Student in Applied Psychology at the University of Southern California who originally hails from Chapel Hill, NC. With a bachelors degree from Cornell University, Erica is an expert verbal and written communicator who brings extensive experience in employee engagement and customer experience of companies. Erica is passionate about community building, and loves using her writing and communication skills to bring people together.