Good morning, this is Albuquerque Local Pulse for Friday, October third. We wake up on the brink of the city’s signature weekend, with the skies set to fill with brilliant colors as the Balloon Fiesta returns. Old Town businesses are readying for thousands of visitors, hoping for a strong boost after a year of mixed fortunes. Traffic around Central, Rio Grande, and Alameda may be heavier than usual, with city crews preparing crowd control and cleanup details.Big news out of City Hall, as lawmakers wrapped up their special session in Santa Fe late yesterday. The House and Senate hammered out a package allocating over a hundred million dollars to make up for recent federal cuts, mostly in food assistance, health care, and public media. One major bill will free fifty million to stabilize rural hospitals and keep doors open, which could be critical for our neighbors beyond the city limits. There is also new flexibility for health insurance subsidies, protecting over six thousand New Mexicans from steep premium hikes if federal tax credits expire. While some representatives have objections about oversight, leaders say these changes are short-term fixes and will lapse without further action next spring, setting up likely debate in the next session.New Mexico was also hit yesterday by the Department of Energy canceling nearly $135 million in clean energy projects statewide. That means solar and grid upgrades in Bernalillo County will likely be delayed or downsized, and experts warn that utility costs could inch upward over the coming year.Turning to the weather, today begins crisp and breezy. We can expect mild sunshine, highs near seventy-four, and a gentle southwest wind. Balloon Fiesta pilots are watching conditions closely, with a green flag likely for morning launches. For outdoor plans along Tingley Beach or in the foothills, expect great walking weather through sunset. Rain chances return late Saturday but should not dampen this evening.Our job market is steady—unemployment remains just above five percent locally, with about four hundred new service and retail jobs open this week, especially downtown and along Montgomery. Real estate shows September home prices edging up three percent from last year, now around three hundred forty thousand near Winrock and less than three hundred in the Valley. Realtors report another strong week, with twelve hundred active listings citywide.Community events are everywhere. Along Central and in Civic Plaza, music and food trucks arrive for tonight’s Balloon Glow kickoff. Schools across Albuquerque host balloon pilots for the annual Albuquerque Aloft event, drawing crowds and waving kids before school starts. In sports, Lobos football rides high after a big win over New Mexico State in the Rio Grande Rivalry, and plans are in the works to renovate University Stadium. On the diamond, the Isotopes posted their upcoming schedule for next year and new coaching hires are confirmed this week.A quick note on crime for today. Albuquerque police responded overnight to an assault and arson near Mesilla and Central, searching for Richard Paul Seago Jr., who faces aggravated battery and arson charges. There was also a tense standoff at a hotel near the airport, where officers arrested a suspect firing a gun. Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported. Public safety alerts remain in effect for some Southeast neighborhoods—officials urge us to lock vehicles and report suspicious activity, especially near busy corridors.On a brighter note, a local nonprofit and its volunteers were honored this week for their tireless work reuniting lost pets with families. Locker 505 and dozens of volunteers kept spirits high, reminding us how committed our neighbors are to supporting each other.Thank you for tuning in to Albuquerque Local Pulse. Remember to subscribe for your daily update. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more, check out quietplease dot ai.For more http://www.quietplease.aiGet the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOtaThis content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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