🌱 APS Later Start Times + Student's Firearms Linked To Shootings

Hi all. It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Albuquerque Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy in the afternoon. High: 69 Low: 46.

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Here are the top three stories today in Albuquerque:

1. Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) will implement later start and end times for high school and middle school students but earlier days for elementary schools due to bus constraints. Most elementary schools will operate under two bell schedules beginning at either 7:30 a.m. or 8:05 a.m., high schools will start at 8:40 a.m., and middle schools will begin at 9:15 a.m. to allow for more productive sleep, which research suggests leads to better academic performance. The move is the result of a joint APS/Albuquerque Teachers Federation task force that recommended the change due to excessive tardies, lower test scores, and graduation rates for students with early start times. (Press Release Desk)
2. Michael Ramirez, an 18-year-old student at La Academia De Esperanza Charter School in Albuquerque, was arrested last week after attempting to sell guns to another student. Authorities believe that the firearms confiscated from his car may have been used in a dozen other incidents, including three drive-by shootings, and one of the guns was linked to a drive-by shooting at Sandia High School in November. A judge has ordered Ramirez to remain in jail until his trial, citing the danger of weapons being brought onto school campuses. (KOB 4)
3. Residents of Albuquerque’s east downtown neighborhood are calling for a long-term solution to address the "filthy" state of the Central and First underpass, which has become a magnet for people experiencing homelessness, people using drugs, and violent incidents. Despite temporary measures such as new lighting, loud music, and regular cleaning, neighbors report that they still encounter human feces, unknown puddles, and burnt trash. One resident is drafting a letter to Mayor Tim Keller’s office to demand a permanent solution to the problem, which has persisted for more than 20 years. (KOB 4)

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Today in Albuquerque:

• Comedy Open Mic At Dry Heat Comedy Club (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The United Family supermarket chain has donated more than 50,000 pounds of apples to address hunger in New Mexico and Texas through their participation in the "Take a Bite Out of Hunger" program, with 4,640 pounds going to Storehouse New Mexico. This program has been running for 13 years, and The United Family is grateful to be a part of it, recognizing the importance of fresh produce donations for food banks and their clients. (KRQE News 13)
• Are you looking for a new family member with four paws? Check out the list of adoption-ready pets in the Albuquerque area at the link! (Albuquerque Patch)
• Two new speed cameras have recently been implemented in Albuquerque at Avenida Cesar Chavez and 98th Street between Tower and Central. The intersections were chosen by city officials based on traffic data and high speeds in the area in hopes of improving safety. (KRQE News 13)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you soon with your next update.

— Michelle Paul

About me: Michelle Paul is a Utah-based writer and photographer with a professional background in content management and registered nursing. When not working on projects ranging from photo editing to copywriting, they enjoy traveling, video games, and expanding their skills.