D.C. Blitz
In this week’s Chile Street:
Major Democratic names weigh in on New Mexico's gubernatorial race
Biden to visit the Land of Enchantment again
Poll shows Ronchetti with slight lead in tight race
ABQ woman charged with stealing $8K in plants
State weighs covid vaccine requirement for schools
And much more!
Good morning! Today is Friday, Oct. 28. Here’s a look at the past week in New Mexico news.
D.C. Blitz
Vice President Kamala Harris visited New Mexico this week to join Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on stage at the University of New Mexico to discuss reproductive rights, Megan Gleason with Source New Mexico reported.
Although Tuesday’s event wasn’t touted as political, elections came up more than once.
The high-profile visit came on the heels of Lujan Grisham stating she would “absolutely” pursue codifying Roe in state law if re-elected, as Nash Jones reported for KUNM-FM and Source NM this week.
“I’ve made clear that the reason abortion is safe and legal in New Mexico is because I’m the governor,” Lujan Grisham said. “New Mexico will continue to be a place that supports women’s health in all aspects and be a beacon for women all across the country.”
The White House on Thursday announced that President Joe Biden will be visiting New Mexico next week as well. Although details on the president’s itinerary are scarce, officials said he would be attending events with the governor and other state and local officials.
Another Democratic heavyweight tossed their support behind Lujan Grisham on Thursday as well. Her campaign posted a video from former President Barack Obama urging New Mexicans to vote for Lujan Grisham.
This bump of support from D.C. comes as a new poll shows that Lujan Grisham is trailing Republican challenger Mark Ronchetti for the first time this election, Angel Salcedo of KOAT-TV reported.
The poll, conducted by the Republican-funded polling firm Trafalgar, shows Ronchetti leading Lujan Grisham 46.6 percent to 45.5 percent.
While Trafalgar is funded by Republican interests, it does have a high-accuracy record, Salcedo reported.
Early voting is underway now. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Read Gleason’s story here (no paywall): sourcenm.com/2022/10/26/vice-president-visits-with-nm-governor-in-abq-to-reiterate-importance-of-protecting-abortion/
Read or hear Jones’ story here (no paywall): sourcenm.com/2022/10/20/gov-lujan-grisham-says-she-will-absolutely-pursue-codifying-roe-in-state-law-if-reelected-2/
Read or watch Salcedo’s story here (no paywall): koat.com/article/poll-reports-ronchetti-ahead-of-lujan-grisham/41770836
Other Top Stories
Woman charged with stealing $8K in plants — ABQ police say a woman enlisted the help of her boyfriend and young daughter to steal more than $8,000 worth of potted plants from five different Albertson’s stores over the span of a year and a half, Natalie Wadas with KRQE-TV reported.
Watch or read the story here (no paywall): krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-woman-charged-with-stealing-more-than-8k-in-plants-from-multiple-albertsons-stores/
Rio Rancho neighborhood confused after city removes crosswalks — Residents of a Rio Rancho neighborhood say the city removed multiple crosswalks in their area after they asked the city to add blinking signs to those crosswalks to make it safer for kids walking to and from school, Marilyn Upchurch with KRQE reported.
Watch or read the story here (no paywall): krqe.com/news/new-mexico/rio-rancho-neighborhood-confused-after-city-removes-crosswalks/
Musician carjacked outside Albuquerque church — A local musician was carjacked and her violin was stolen as she left practice with the Albuquerque Philharmonic Orchestra at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. However, the thief attempted to sell the violin at a local shop, and she was able to get it back in perfect condition.
Watch or read the story here (no paywall): kob.com/new-mexico/albuquerque-woman-carjacked-outside-of-church/
State weighs covid vaccine requirement for schools — A state Department of Health advisory committee has taken up recommending whether to mandate the Covid-19 vaccine for public school students, Daniel Chacón of the Santa Fe New Mexican reported.
Read the story here (paywall): santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/new-mexico-to-consider-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-for-schoolchildren/article_d8e62b68-53b5-11ed-a966-2b467f7efe20.html
‘Stranger’ Airbnb
You can now spend the night in a home made famous in Netflix's "Stranger Things" through Airbnb.
The Byers' family home can now be rented on the popular app, though in real life it belongs to the Asher family and is located in Albuquerque near Montgomery and Tramway, Alexa Skonieski of KRQE reported.
But the home is more than just an exterior shot icon. The Asher family has painstakingly replicated the interior of the home to look just like it does in the popular show.
Watch or read Skonieski's story here (no paywall): krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/bookings-fill-up-fast-at-albuquerque-stranger-things-airbnb/
Rent the home through Airbnb here: airbnb.com/rooms/567642192860738483?source_impression_id=p3_1666536888_lGIRUFc5wgzptkQl
That’s it for now. Have a great weekend!
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