New Mexico

New Mexico city bans homeless people from alleyways

Published

1 year ago

July 12, 2024

New Mexico city bans homeless people from alleyways

Albuquerque is taking a new approach to address homelessness by permanently closing alleyways in the city’s International District.

The initiative, led by City Councilor Nichole Rogers, aims to reduce crime and improve safety in areas heavily affected by homelessness, drug use, and related issues.

The Context

The effort to close these alleyways comes amid a broader national debate on how cities handle homelessness.

A homeless woman pushes a cart along the street on June 03, 2019 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the United States, with a sluggish economy, a growing…

Spencer Platt/Getty Images Entertainment/GC Images

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of local ordinances allowing cities to ban homeless people from sleeping outdoors in public spaces, including streets and alleyways.

This ruling has given cities like Albuquerque the legal backing to implement stricter measures against encampments on public property.

What We Know

Councilor Rogers is spearheading the initiative due to the persistent issues related to crime and homelessness observed in the area.

“There’s not one magic fix to any of these issues,” Rogers told local news station KRQE, noting the alleyway behind the Circle K gas station on Central Avenue and San Pedro Drive as a significant problem area.

According to Rogers, the lack of housing, mental health resources, and substance abuse services are at the root of these issues.

The city has previously seen success with similar measures. For example, the alley behind Buffett’s Candies on Lomas and Louisiana was closed off, which significantly reduced crime and illegal activities, KRQE reported.

The project involves closing three alleys identified by police and fire departments based on high call volumes. “Am I for every alley being shut down or closed? No. But we have to do something because people are suffering,” Rogers told KRQE.

Newsweek has reached out to Nichole Rogers for comment.

What’s Next

Rogers hopes to replicate this success in other so-called problematic areas within the International District. She emphasized the importance of beautifying these alleys and adding lighting to deter unwanted activities.

The funding for these closures comes from capital outlay dollars allocated for public safety and community enhancement.

The cost of installing permanent fencing ranges from $30,000 to $90,000, depending on the size of the alley, according to KRQE.

Despite these efforts, Rogers and city officials recognize that closing alleys is not a comprehensive solution to homelessness.

In response to critics, Rogers invited them to join the efforts in finding solutions. “This is an all hands on deck crisis and we need to be thinking of it that way and we need to be thinking about it, how do we alleviate suffering?” she told KRQE. “Regardless of why someone is suffering, if you’re unsheltered you’re suffering.”

The remaining alleys slated for closure are on Central Avenue and Louisiana Boulevard behind the KFC and on California Street and Linn Avenue near the New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

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New Mexico

New Mexico Star Habtom Samuel Finally Earns His First NCAA Cross Country Title

Published

9 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

New Mexico Star Habtom Samuel Finally Earns His First NCAA Cross Country Title

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 22: Habtom Samuel #713 of the New Mexico Lobos runs during the Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on November 22, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

When it comes to championship racing, timing is everything.

New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel certainly knew this heading into the NCAA Cross Country Championships at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Missouri, on Saturday.

Making matters more pressing, though, was the fact that the University of New Mexico junior had finished second at nationals over the prior two seasons—in 2024, in fact, he lost one of his spikes and still finished second overall.

This time, though, he didn’t want to leave a doubt.

And that’s exactly what Samuel did, unleashing a spectacular move with 1,500 meters left to pull away from the field and claim his first individual win in a time of 28:33.9 over 10,000 meters. Meters from the finish, Samuel drew out his arms and weaved his way to the finish, soaking in the moment.

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

“I said to my coach, ‘I’m going to surprise you guys today,’” Samuel told reporters afterward. “I wanted to be patient. I understood the game and made a good decision.”

Samuel’s 1,000-meter split over the ninth kilometer was 2:37.4, a time that equals out to a 4:13 mile. That surge mattered in the long run, because it put distance between him and his competition. In fact, it put him three seconds on Wake Forest’s Rocky Hansen and Oklahoma State’s Brian Musau, and four seconds on Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich and five on Washington State’s Solomon Kipchoge.

“I kind of planned on not coming with the guys through 400 (meters) or something,” Samuel said. “I know some guys at 1,500, maybe they gonna kick me out, so I prefer to just run longer and just run hard. That was my plan.”

Hansen, the first American collegian to finish and one of just two inside the top 10, was second in 28:38, while Kipchoge was third in 28:40.1. Musau was fourth, while Oklahoma State’s Fouad Messaoudi and Kipngetich were fifth and sixth.

All were vying for the win down the stretch.

How The Men’s NCAA Cross Country Championships Shook Out

It wasn’t all bad news for the Oklahoma State men, though.

The Cowboys totaled a low of 57 points, winning their second championship since 2023 under head coach Dave Smith.

The win was also a bit of validation for the 19-year head coach, who in the days leading up to the championship was involved in a somewhat heated discussion about the use of international athletes on NCAA rosters.

In a story by the Desert News that published before NCAAs, BYU coach Ed Eyestone commented on the proliferation of overseas companies specializing in the signing of African runners to U.S. colleges for fees, saying “I always felt I’d be embarrassed to have seven foreigners on the team.”

Oklahoma State’s top four runners on Saturday were recruited and signed internationally, while its fifth, senior Ryan Schoppe, joined the Cowboys from a Texas high school in 2020.

Smith was apparently not happy with the comment and countered in a pre-race press conference.

“I have no problem with anybody running their program within the rules and doing things the way they should be done,” Smith said. “If I believe that someone doesn’t like a rule or doesn’t like a situation in the NCAA, don’t b**** about it. Go change it. Get involved. Get involved in the sport. Get involved in leadership and make change the way change is supposed to be made. Otherwise, shut up and coach your team. That’s what I think about this stuff.”

Elsewhere, New Mexico’s men slotted in second overall in the team race with 82 points, while one of the pre-race favorites, Iowa State, was third with 158 points. Syracuse and Oregon were fourth and fifth, respectively.

COLUMBIA, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 22: Doris Lemngole #109 of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs during the Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course on November 22, 2025 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Amy Kontras/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Doris Lemngole, Jane Hedengren Battle In Women’s NCAA Cross Country Championships

In the women’s race, a two-way battle emerged between defending NCAA champion Doris Lemngole and BYU star freshman Jane Hedengren.

After leading for the first half of the race, Hedengren succumbed to Lemngole’s press at about the 3,000-meter mark, though she stayed on the runner’s hip almost until the near end.

It wasn’t until the final last meters–about less than 800 meters to go–that the 23-year-old Lemngole finally began to leg past Hedengren.

The Alabama junior went on to claim her second straight national title over 6,000 meters, this time crossing the line in 18:25.4. She’s the first repeat champion since Villanova’s Sheila Reid in 2010 and 2011.

Hedengren was vying to become the first freshman since Suzie Tuffey in 1985 to win a national cross-country title.

Florida senior Hilda Olemomoi was third in 18:46.4, while BYU’s Riley Chamberlain was fourth in 18:47.0.

The NC State Women Win Their Fifth Cross Country Title Since 2021

Next brought home NC State’s title run.

Between Hannah Gapes and Grace Hartman, who finished fifth and sixth, the two juniors led the Wolfpack to their fifth national title since 2021 under head coach Laurie Henes.

NC State, which nabbed a three-peat from 2021-2023, scored 114 points and outlasted BYU’s own bid for a repeat.

The Cougars were second with 130 points, securing their fifth first- or second-place finish since 2019 under head coach Diljeet Taylor.

Oregon was third overall with 153 points, while New Mexico was fourth and Florida fifth at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

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New Mexico

Deyton Albury scores 13 for New Mexico in 80-78 win over Mississippi State in Hall of Fame Classic

Published

1 day ago

November 21, 2025

Press Room

Deyton Albury scores 13 for New Mexico in 80-78 win over Mississippi State in Hall of Fame Classic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Deyton Albury scored 13 points for New Mexico, including the go-ahead layup with 30 seconds left in an 80-78 win over Mississippi State in the Hall of Fame Classic consolation game on Friday night.

Albury’s layup came off a turnover on a bad pass, sending the Lobos (4-2) on a fast break before Uriah Tenette was fouled. Tenette hit both shots from the free-throw line with seven seconds left to end the game.

Thomislav Buljan earned his third double-double of the season, finishing with 19 points and 21 rebounds, breaking a freshman program record for most rebounds in a game. Tenette added 13 points, and Antonio Chol had 12.

Mississippi State (2-3) was led by Josh Hubbard, who scored 29 points and dished out four assists. He shot 11 of 25 from the field and six of 13 from beyond the arc. Jayden Epps added 21 points.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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