🌱 Sunport Expands Service + Blue Line Transit Service Set To End

Hello, everybody. Michelle Paul here with your Tuesday edition of the Albuquerque Patch newsletter, filled with all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, today's weather:

Becoming windier and cooler. High: 48 Low: 30.

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Here are the top three stories today in Albuquerque:

1. ABQ International Sunport announced that it will offer new and expanded nonstop daily flight services to two destinations starting Sept. 5: the Long Beach Airport and the Baltimore Washington International Airport. Southwest Airlines will offer flights to Long Beach leaving at 12:30 p.m. and a new flight to Baltimore that leaves daily at 1:30 p.m. The Sunport will also soon have limited flight service to Orlando starting Jul. 15. (KOB 4)
2. Albuquerque's Transit Department is currently reducing city bus service, including ending the Blue Line or 790 ARTx, which travels from the Northwest Transit Center to the University of New Mexico area. During a public comment phase where the department sought public opinion on ending that route among 30 other routes, the Blue Line received the most comments from the public, encouraging the city to keep the line running. Currently, the transit department plans to end service to the line, but the City Council will vote on final approval during its meeting on Feb. 22. (Albuquerque Journal)
3. The family of Victoria Martens, who was murdered in 2016, has reopened a lawsuit against the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department. The lawsuit was initially filed in 2017 after the 10-year-old's death and alleges that police officers didn't respond appropriately to a tip from the Children, Youth, and Families Department five months before Martens' death. (KRQE News 13)

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Today in Albuquerque:

• Albuquerque African Violet Club At Albuquerque Garden Center (12:00 PM)
• ABQ Slams, Poetry, And Beer At Tractor Wells Park (7:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On the hunt for a new job or simply thinking about switching careers? Check out this roundup of job opportunities in and around Albuquerque, including open positions hiring now in customer service, sales, domestic services, and more. (Albuquerque Patch)
• Bring home a new furry family member today! Chulita is a 2-year-old American Pit Bull who is dog friendly and good with kids. She's been waiting for her forever home since last July! You can visit her at the Eastside Animal Shelter. (Albuquerque Animal Welfare via Facebook)
• Thinking of dipping your toes into the housing market? Check out the list of open houses happening this week in the Albuquerque area at the link. (Zillow)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— 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.