🌱 UNM Opens New Lab + Tiger Cub Arrives At New Home

Good morning, everybody! It's me, Michelle Paul, your host of the Albuquerque Patch newsletter — here to tell you everything that's fit to print about what's happening locally.

But first, today's weather:

Sunshine and patchy clouds. High: 52 Low: 31.

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Here are the top three stories today in Albuquerque:

1. The University of New Mexico celebrated the opening of its new $12 million clinical research lab focused on substance use and brain injury research. The building was funded with a $4 million construction grant from the National Institutes of Health and $8 million funding from the UNM Health Sciences department. (KRQE News 13)
2. The Bengal tiger cub that Albuquerque police officers found during a shooting investigation last month made his way to his new home in Colorado. The ABQ BioPark Zoo has been housing the tiger cub since he was found and has been preparing him to travel to The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, CO. The sanctuary reported that the tiger cub named Duke made it safely earlier this week. (U.S. News & World Report)
3. The Albuquerque Museum will be opening a new exhibition focused on Indigenous Art, Culture, and Community starting Feb. 4 and running through Jul. 28. The museum's new exhibit will feature a variety of art from over 35 artists. It will explore Santa Fe's Indian Market and its influence on the community. (KRQE News 13)

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Today in Albuquerque:

• Polystyrene (Styrofoam™) Collection Day At 6204 2nd St. NW, Unit D (9:00 AM)
• Roving With Perseverance: A New Mexico Field Geologist Goes To Mars At New Mexico Museum Of Natural History And Science (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Adobe Theater will showcase the play "Inherit the Wind" based on the Scopes "Monkey" Trial, which features 28 actors on stage, including Philip J. Shortell and Paul Ford, playing the lead roles of Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, respectively. The play will run from Mar. 3-26 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with a "Pay What You Will" performance scheduled for Thursday, Mar. 23 at 7.30 p.m. (The Adobe Theater)
• Grab your binoculars and come count some birds! Join the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden and community scientists from around the country for the Great Backyard Bird Count this morning, Feb. 18 at 8 a.m. (ABQ BioPark via Instagram)
• Looking for a new, relaxing hobby? Interested in finding out more about birds? Join the City of Albuquerque at the Cherry Hills Library for "Intro to the Outdoors: Beginning Birding Workshop" today (Feb. 18) at 2 p.m. (City of Albuquerque via Instagram)

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You're officially in the loop 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.