Latest news with #Griego
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
City rolls out new barricades for downtown Albuquerque weekend nights
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It's been a year since the city spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on barricades to help close off part of downtown Albuquerque on weekend nights. The city is now spending an even bigger chunk of money to add new barricades. Story continues below Entertainment: First-of-its-kind indoor pickleball facility coming to northeast Albuquerque Community: Albuquerque church leaning on faith after 2 members killed by their son Environment: What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon? After the turquoise drop-down arms installed in several areas along Central proved to be ineffective in keeping drivers out, the city invested $900,000 to bring in new steel barricades. Their hope is to keep pedestrians safe. 'I think that the primary thing that the city had in mind was keeping people safe,' said Maria Griego, Parking Division Manager. It's a stretch of Central Ave. between 3rd and 8th Street, closed off to drivers every weekend night in downtown Albuquerque. 'What APD tells us is they want to be able to have Central all the way from here to 2nd Street clear so that they can patrol the area on weekend nights. So we've been trying to find the most efficient way to block off all the numbered streets and block off Central so that APD has access to the Central corridor,' said Dan Mayfield, Department of Municipal Development. In 2023, the city purchased 32 of the dropdown arms for $300,000. But city officials said they weren't doing enough. When asked if the money was wasted on the arms, Mayfield replied, 'Oh no, not at all. We've been exploring ways for years to keep this area safe. And you know, we just try different things. It's iterations.' This year, the city went a different route, now bringing in the new barriers. City workers started dropping off the L-shaped steel brackets to the 14 areas along the blocked-off section of Central Ave., ahead of the weekend. 'These are much better looking. They're a lot sturdier and we think just a better system to keep traffic out of downtown,' said Mayfield. Griego said the city got its best value with these barricades, 'They are 700 pounds. They are built and also created to not be easily removed without the special tools that are needed to remove them and maneuver them around this, you know, around the work area.' Video from Meridian, the barrier manufacturer, show how effectively they stop cars from driving through. The city said Albuquerque is the first in New Mexico to get this kind of barricade, which they can move around for events in other areas of town. 'It'll keep the driver safe and minimal injuries to a driver. And then it also keeps the pedestrians safe. So it's, it's a win-win on both sides,' said Griego. City officials told KRQE News 13 that they've had white brackets on loan from Meridian for the past three weeks. This weekend will be the first time they're rolling out turquoise brackets, now owned by the city. Each bracket also has a slot for a sign, to say something like 'special event' or 'road closure', and could eventually be used for paid advertising. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"Never Too Late": Local news anchor fulfills dream of anchoring network news
CBS Colorado anchor Michelle Griego always dreamed of anchoring a network TV show since she was a child. As a kid, she anchored a kids' news show in Denver. "I was in a talent agency, I went on an audition to a kids' news show, got the part and then I just started anchoring for two-and-a-half years at the age of 11," Griego said. "I fell in love with storytelling. I fell in love with interviewing people and I just knew that's what I wanted to do." In the latest installment of "Never Too Late," Griego fulfills her lifelong dream with "CBS Mornings." On Thursday, she filled in for "CBS Mornings" featured host Vladimir Duthiers on "What to Watch." Griego has worked for CBS News for 20 years in both Denver and the San Francisco Bay area. But her most important job she said is being a mother to her three daughters, ages 25, 17 and 9. "I want to show my girls you can dream big and no matter where life takes them, it is never too late," Griego said. Our "CBS Mornings" series Never Too Late highlights stories of people conquering new challenges or embracing a second chapter at any age in life. Watch the 6-week run, showcasing "CBS Mornings" anchors and correspondents achieving their dreams — both big and small. Share your own Never Too Late story here for a chance to get featured on the show. Trump confronts South African president during White House meeting, repeats genocide claims Trump takes questions during meeting with South African president Rubio, Jayapal have fiery exchange about Afrikaner refugee's antisemitic tweet, student visas
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Coal's disappearance left Main Street empty. Artists saw a blank canvas.
At the monthly art gallery hop in Trinidad, Colorado, the crowds prove something important: The struggling community was a blank canvas all along. "The art scene is absolutely the focal point," said Mayor Karen Griego, a fourth-generation resident in the town of about 8,200 people. "I was really afraid for Trinidad, because I didn't know what we could do to turn it around." Trinidad used to be the capital of southern Colorado coal. After that went away, bleak times followed. As recently as 15 years ago, the vacancy rate on Main Street was 70%, according to the mayor's office. But then, the town's desperation turned to action. Residents organized workshops, galleries and artists' housing. Slowly, a new vision emerged: Paint it, and they will come. "We have people moving here to do their art, to sell their art," Griego told CBS News. Artists Leif Lathrop and Tracy Wahl moved to Trinidad six years ago. They say it was the community's emphasis on the arts that led them there. "Any place that I can go and I have an opportunity to do it and possibly flourish, that's where I'm gonna go," Lathrop said of his painting career. Josh Blanchard oversees the Colorado Creative Districts program. It offers grants, tech assistance and seed money for entrepreneurs and nonprofits, with an emphasis on small towns. He says 30 communities across Colorado have certified creative districts. "It has to include community buy-in," Blanchard told CBS News. As an arts hub, Trinidad now sees itself as a "baby" Santa Fe, New Mexico. For Wahl, a painter, the community's focus on the arts "creates an expectation of success" that builds upon itself once artists believe it's somewhere they can make a there's still more work to be done for rebuilding the community. "We didn't get in this situation overnight, and we're not gonna get ourselves out of it overnight," Griego said. Annual inflation rate in April hits lowest level since 2021, but still higher than Fed's goal Reporter's Notebook: Gen Z feels the weight of constant distraction How a Colorado coal town is revitalizing itself through art
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Forget peanuts and Cracker Jack, Isotopes unveil 2025's new batch of ballpark concession items
Mar. 25—Some kids lay in bed dreaming of standing at home plate and hitting a home run to the roar of a stadium crowd. Jim Griego's dream was about how to fry pork ends in just the right way to mix with red chile flakes and the perfect amount of maple syrup to feed all those screaming baseball fans. "Pig Candy is my favorite," said Griego, executive chef of the Albuquerque Isotopes, when talking Tuesday about one of his favorite ballpark food concoctions. Pig Candy was created two years ago and remains one of the best selling items at Isotopes Park. "It's an invention that I laid in bed for many nights trying to figure out," Griego said. "I love pork because it's such a versatile product. And I kept trying to think, how can you get sweet, spicy, crunchy, and it goes perfect with our main beverage here? We'll just call it a 'beverage.'" He can call it a "beverage." We'll call it by it's more common name: "beer". After all, what's taking in a game at the ballpark without a beer in one hand and an order of Pig Candy in the other? "We challenge them to come up with new and creative ways to elevate the culinary experience for the fan," said Isotopes General Manager John Traub, "Whether it's something savory, whether it's something sweet, whether it's whatever it's going to be, it's going to be delectable." So, with a grin on his face that resembled a cross between kid in a (pig) candy store and mad scientist revealing his latest invention, Griego on Tuesday led the Isotopes' annual presentation of new ballpark menu items — a collection of savory barbeque-based entrées and five new deserts sure to satisfy on a summer day at the yard. "I always ask my team, what should we do this year? What looks different? What are things you're seeing out there?" he said, standing in front of a plate chicken wings, a loaded brisket sandwich and several melting ice cream desserts. "And we'll sit down and talk about it, and then I'll start creating. ... This is the way I kick off my baseball season." Enough of the appetizers. Let's get to this year's new ballpark items — the ones hoping to stick around on the menu at Isotopes Park, like the home run 'Pig Candy' of 2023, and not get sent back down to the minors like some of the items of yesteryear, like the Tumbleweed Burger, a cotton candy green chile cheeseburger that took a swing and a miss in 2019, before Griego was working at Isotopes Park. New food entrées Each of this year's three new food items will be available in the Pecos River concession stand near Section 120. The Ballpark Sandwich: The headliner of this year's unveiling, the "Ballpark" is a brisket sandwich that combines several (you guessed it) ballpark staples from hot dogs to peanuts to pretzels and more. "It starts out with a pretzel bun," Griego explained. "It has smoked brisket. ... (and) South Carolina mustard barbecue sauce on that. On top of that, I have hot dog bacon (yes, hot dog bacon), and that hot dog bacon is made with a little teriyaki sauce. On top of that, we've got some white onions ... crispy pickles ... and beer nuts. "So we have everything that you can get at the ballpark, all in one sandwich." Spicy Roasted Half Chicken: "Coated in a flavorful dry rub, the chicken soaks in a combination of house blended spices, bringing a savory kick with every bite," the Isotopes said in a news release. "As it cooks low and slow, the dry rub caramelizes into a slightly crispy, flavorful crust, sealing in all the juiciness. ... Served with a side of red-chile-infused barbeque sauce." Hungarian Hot Smoked Paprika Chicken Wings: Air-fried chicken wings with Hungarian hot smoked paprika to bring "a deep, smoky mild heat" paired with a cucumber ranch dressing. New dessert options Dessert options are available at "The Sweet Spot" stand near Section 117. Fanfare Milkshake: Griego said this was his attempt at coming up with a "Bloody Mary milkshake" treat. The frosty dessert features a homemade ice cream cookie dipped in a milkshake with chocolate straws, marshmallow whipped cream, chocolate sauce at the bottom and, of course, a cherry on top. Ice Cream Nachos: Wafer cookies dusted with cinnamon and sugar and drizzled in chocolate and caramel sauce. Replace the traditional tortilla chips and forget queso, these get dipped in ice cream and whipped cream. Piña Colada Ice Cream Float: "This delectable float begins with a scoop of creamy soft-serve ice cream served in a delicious non-alcoholic Piña Colada and garnished with a pineapple wedge," said the Isotopes news release. "Topped with whipped cream and a cherry, this is a decadent delight." Brownie Sundae: It's a classic. It's ice cream on a chocolate brownie topped with a drizzle of caramel sauce and chocolate syrup. —
