This Week's Issue - Education Special Report

"There are hundreds of non-fiction and fiction books at all grade levels for APS teachers to check out," reads the website for the Indian Education Department (IED), located on the fourth floor of Albuquerque Public Schools' Uptown headquarters. "The books are about Native American culture or written by Native Americans." The Indian Education Department, founded in 1974, supports all Native nations and Pueblos within the APS district and beyond. The department not only builds curricula for teachers and supports parents, but it also hosts various programs and events. A larger physical space to help better facilitate some of these efforts is in the works. Read more about this unique program and learn about the state of education in the Land of Enchantment in a series by Data Reporter Jayme Sileo . | READ MORE

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Here's what you'll need to know as you head into the weekend:

• Three mayors walk onto a stage...no, this isn't the start of a joke but rather the setup for Albuquerque Business First's second annual Bridging the Gap panel which took place at the soon-to-open venue The Block in Rio Rancho's Enchanted Hills. Panelists included Mayor Gregg Hull of Rio Rancho, Mayor Tim Keller of Albuquerque and Mayor Alan Webber of Santa Fe. Editor in Chief Meagan Nichols brings you the conversation. | READ MORE
• On Aug. 28, Turtleback Mountain Resort in Elephant Butte broke ground on phase one of its new three-phase community amenities project. The resort, located at 101 Clubhouse Drive, is over 1,000 acres and includes the Sierra Del Rio golf course, an 18,000-square-foot club house and 60 homes. Now, even more is in the works. New Mexico News Fund Fellow Brody Foster writes up the story. | READ MORE
• Phill Casaus left his post as editor of the Santa Fe New Mexican earlier this summer to start as the new executive director of communications and engagement for Albuquerque Public Schools — but it’s not Casaus’ first time working for the school district. “I had a really good experience here,” said Casaus, who had a previous stint as the executive director of the APS Education Foundation. “I didn’t leave the Foundation because I was unhappy with the Foundation or with APS. I left because I hadn’t gotten journalism out of my system.” Now, returning to the district in a new role, Casaus plans to put those journalistic skills to work in his new role. Read the latest from Data Reporter Jayme Sileo . | READ MORE
• A historic hotel and large ranch in Northern New Mexico are both closing, a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act letter filed with the state's Department of Workforce Solutions on Aug. 29 shows, with 58 employees affected. Express UU Bar LLC filed the WARN letter, noting two of its facilities — the St. James Hotel, and the UU Bar Ranch — will be closing "in their entirety." Senior Reporter Jacob Maranda gives you the details. | READ MORE

Coming up from Albuquerque Business First

Nominations:

• 2024 Inno Under 25 (deadline Sept. 9)

Events:

• Sept. 19: New Mexico Forward (Phoenix panel)
• Sept. 26: Business of the Borderplex (Las Cruces)
• Oct. 11: Elevate: Women's Business Summit (Santa Fe)
• Oct. 24: 2024 Diverse Business Leaders Awards

Lists:

• Sept. 13: Hispanic-Owned Businesses
• Sept. 20: Fastest-Growing Businesses
• Sept. 27: Largest Employers
• Oct. 4: Manufacturing Companies

Note: If you would like your business to be considered for any upcoming Lists, please email your contact information to Jayme Sileo at [email protected].

Our newsletter is curated by Albuquerque Business First's Managing Editor Wende Schwingendorf BA, MFA. If you have tips you'd like our reporters to check out, please reach out to her at [email protected], or to our Editor-in-Chief Meagan Nichols at [email protected].