Good morning, this is Albuquerque Local Pulse for Thursday, June 19th, 2025.We start with a major update from our courts. Two men received life sentences yesterday for the tragic 2023 shooting outside Isotopes Park that took the life of 11-year-old Froylan Villegas and left his cousin Tatiana paralyzed. That heartbreaking incident, which happened as families were leaving the stadium, led to a temporary gun ban in city parks and playgrounds. The convicted men, Jose Romero and Nathen Garley, will remain in custody for life plus forty-six years. District Attorney Sam Bregman praised his staff for pursuing accountability in a case that deeply affected Albuquerque. The sentencing brings a measure of closure, but the memory of that night still echoes in our city, and the court’s decision is being felt across neighborhoods this morning.Today marks Juneteenth, now an official holiday in Albuquerque. Most city offices, community centers, and senior meal sites are closed, but essential services like ABQ Ride, trash pickup, animal shelters, and the BioPark remain open. We encourage everyone to join citywide celebrations, including the ongoing Juneteenth exhibition at City Hall and special community gatherings throughout the day. Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery and serves as a moment for unity and reflection in our city. If you’re downtown, expect increased activity near Civic Plaza and local parks as neighbors come together for festivities and remembrance.On the cultural front, last weekend’s Juneteenth Festival brought local artists, families, and food trucks to Roosevelt Park. Albuquerque’s music scene continues to thrive with live performances scheduled all week at local venues along Central Avenue. If you missed Bobby V.’s headline set, you can still catch regional acts performing through Sunday as part of the city’s summer concert series.Weather-wise, we’re waking up to mild temps in the upper 60s, climbing toward a comfortable 85 this afternoon. Winds will stay light, and skies are mostly sunny. It’s a perfect setting for outdoor events, so expect parks and trails to be busy well into the evening.Turning to local government, the City Council met Monday at the Vincent Griego Chambers. Discussions focused on zoning and staffing resolutions affecting city safety services. While no major policy changes have been adopted this week, councilors emphasized transparency and community engagement, particularly around public safety and economic development issues.In the job market, Albuquerque continues to hold steady with new postings in healthcare, tech, and hospitality. Nearly 200 jobs were added last week, many centered around the Innovation District. Meanwhile, the real estate market remains competitive, with median home prices holding just under three hundred and fifty thousand dollars and quick sales in Nob Hill and the Westside neighborhoods.In local sports, high school state baseball champions were celebrated at Civic Plaza on Tuesday, drawing applause from proud families and fans. We also saw strong performances by Albuquerque United’s youth soccer teams, who advance to a regional tournament this weekend.Finally, a quick feel-good note: Volunteers from local businesses joined students at Highland High to beautify the campus gardens, creating a vibrant space for learning and gathering.This has been Albuquerque Local Pulse. We’ll see you tomorrow with more local updates.This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

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