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Chefs Colin Shane (left), Rafael Zamora (center) and Sean Staggs celebrate when their secret ingredients are revealed Thursday night at the Pueblo Harvest Cafe. The three chefs competed in a timed cooking battle with ingredients that where undisclosed to them prior to the event.

Culture

Local chefs compete to support charities

Skylar Griego | February 1

Helping others never tasted so sweet. Albuquerque’s first local cooking tournament came to a conclusion Thursday night when judges announced the season one tournament winner during the championship round at Pueblo Harvest Cafe. 505 Food Fight is an after-hours tournament in which local chefs create dishes out of mystery ingredients presented to them the night of the competition. Those dishes are then judged for presentation, creativity and flavor.

Billy Hargraves plays League of Legends while Zach Cordova and Jason Denbigeh watch him play on Sunday, Jan. 24, 2015. They each live stream different games for at least 21 hours a week.

Culture

Local business lets gamers play for a profit

Thomas Romero-Salas | January 28

Video games have always been a passion for Jason Montoya and Simon Kubiak. The two longtime friends played video games on a regular basis growing up, and Montoya used to hold weekly tournaments at his parent’s house during high school. Those events got so big that eventually Montoya had to find an actual venue for hosting tourneys. That love for video games has now led Montoya and Kubiak to start up Stream House ABQ, the idea of the company is to give gamers a chance to actually become professionals by livestreaming games and creating YouTube content while living in Stream House.

The University of New Mexico Police Department has created subcategories to differentiate different types of sexual assault.

News

UNMPD changing the way they record sexual assault on campus

Denicia Aragon | January 27

The University of New Mexico Police Department is changing the way sexual assault crimes are being recorded and tracked down. Tim Stump, chief communications officer for the UNMPD, said new subcategories have been created to divide the different types of sexual assault that are being reported. He said there are now two new subcategories: forcible and non-forcible sexual assault. Both are further divided into rape, fondling, incest and statutory rape.

Camber Arnhart, a freshman Computer Science major, draws in her sketch book Monday afternoon in Hokona Hall. Amhart was one of three winners of the L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest.

News

UNM student wins prestigious international award for her artwork

Elizabeth Sanchez | January 26

A sophomore computer science major, is among the winners of the L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest. Camber Arnhart $500 for her submission of two digital art pieces and one traditional pencil piece. Arnhart said she is extremely grateful for her success and believes the contest will create new opportunities for her future.

Members of the Lobo football team bow their heads as speakers tell stories of Markel Byrd Sunday afternoon in the SUB Ballroom. Incorporated into the memorial service was an opening prayer and several slideshows featuring Byrd.

News

Memorial held for Lobo football player Markel Byrd

Chirrisse Bryce Owens | January 25

Hundreds of people gathered Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life of student-athlete Markel Byrd, the Lobo football player who died in a car accident in December. Among those in attendance was head football coach Bob Davie, the first person to speak and share his memories about Byrd. Davie remarked on the turnout for the memorial, which was held in the SUB Ballroom, saying it’s a confirmation of the impact Byrd, and his loss, has had on the entire community.

News

Maximum sentence handed down for driver in crash that killed 2 UNM students

Matthew Reisen | January 25

A local man was sentenced to a maximum of 18 years in prison for multiple charges for taking the lives of two UNM students and harming two others. Last week’s sentence stemmed from Joshua Leal’s role in the November 2014 car crash that took the lives of UNM students Briana Hillard and Matthew Grant, and put seniors Joseph Mendoza and Julia Thompson in the hospital. According to the District Attorney’s office, a plea agreement would put Leal in prison for a minimum of 12 years, with the remaining six at the discretion of the court. However, Judge Brett Loveless, who presided over the sentencing, imposed the full 18 years in the Department of Corrections.

News

UNM professor and human rights activist Sei Tokuda passes away at age 85

Denicia Aragon | January 20

Sei Tokuda, professor and chair of the UNM School of Medicine, recently passed away Jan. 2, after a year-long battle with various medical issues. He was 85 years old. Tokuda was an active staff member at the University who dedicated his life to protecting the human and civil rights of all individuals. Tokuda was honored with a Career Development Award from the National Institute of Health in June of 1968, when he was an associate professor in microbiology. The grant given with the award, totaling $125,000, paid his salary for five years. The Career Development Award is one of the oldest grants given by NIH, an organization originally designed to establish outstanding young professors and encourage them to stay in the field of medical education.

News

Administration working on budget as UNM renovates the campus as well as its image

Matthew Reisen | January 19

UNM administration has a lot on its plate this semester, from renovations and marketing to the University’s budget and the upcoming legislative session. President Bob Frank said one of the big issues facing administration is working on the University’s budget for next year, which determines salary decisions and funding for programs. He said all those things will happen between now and May.

Sarah Rahman speaks during the Muslim Women Speak Out program. The program was held inside the SUB where speakers were asked questions focused on the Islamic religion.

News

Panel of Muslim women speak at UNM to clear up misconceptions about their religion

Elizabeth Sanchez | January 19

A panel of 10 Muslim women answered questions and discussed various topics during Sunday’s lecture,Muslim Women Speak. The lecture topics were as diverse as the panel, which was composed of retirees, a biochemist/dentist, community activists, professors and business owners.

Cristal Everette co-owner of esQape it!, showcases the different thrift shop findings that help create the esQape it! experience. EsQape it! opened on Dec. 16, and is designed to have teams of people try to escape out of a room using clues and teamwork.

News

UNM alum opens Albuquerque's newest escape-the-room location

Elizabeth Sanchez | January 11

University of New Mexico alumna Cristal Everette and her husband recently unveiled their new small business, esQape it!, a unique gaming experience based on various escape rooms, an idea born from lessons she learned at UNM. Everette graduated in 1996 with a bachelor of science in medical technology. She said her experiences at UNM helped with her role as a business owner and ultimately led her to an organized job that keeps her “on [her] game at all times”.

News

Photo takeover: Stories told through still images

Daily Lobo photo staff | December 2

Each semester the Daily Lobo photo desk take over an issue at the end of the semester to tell a story visually. Here is this semester's edition from Di-Linh Hoang, Hannah Glasgow, Biraj Rawal, Derek Toledo and Nick Fojud.

News

UNM provides mattresses to needy

David Lynch | December 2

The UNM Hospital is expected to donate around 75 minimally used mattresses to local city shelters to provide a need for impoverished women and families with children, according to a UNM Health Sciences Center release. UMNH is replacing a number of its gently-used mattresses with new ones, according to the release, resulting in the generosity.

Businesses get ready for the holidays in Old Town Albuquerque on Monday night. Luminaria tours will be given in the weeks to come.

News

Holiday Time: New Mexico's holiday traditions enchant the land

Ryan Lotz | November 25

New Mexico is a land of enchanting traditions and beauty year-round, but much of the state’s rich heritage relates to life around the holidays. One of New Mexico’s trademark holiday decorations takes the form of luminarias, or farolitos, depending on what part of the state you're from. Consisting of sand and a candle in a brown paper bag, these decorations are common all over the state and offer a unique holiday style that is not commonly seen outside of the Land of Enchantment.

Raul Valencia helps a young mother register at the Toys For Tots registration at the Alamosa Center on November 19.

News

Holiday Time: Toy, food drives request donations, volunteers for holidays

Elizabeth Sanchez | November 25

Perhaps Saint Francis of Assisi was right when he said that when people give, they also receive something in return. At least, that sentiment resonates for Valarie Sheffey, a junior computer science major. “None of us was born in a bubble,” she said. “Our communities shape us into the adults we are now and give us opportunities. It is only natural we show gratitude by returning the favor.”

Johannah Maybach, left, and her boyfriend Andrew Stuntz volunteer at their first gift-wrapping event of the season at the UNM Continuing Education building. Maybach is a student from Ft. Lewis, while Stuntz studies at UNM.

Culture

Holiday Time: Gift program brings cheer to those in need this season

Jenna Stoff | November 25

Kalei Heartland greets the volunteers who walk into the UNM Continuing Education building with homemade cards, wrapping paper and a desire to do something positive for the community. As families enjoy free pizza and each other’s company, she smiles at the rows of tote bags filled with the presents she is going to hand out come Christmastime. What Heartland really wanted to do was inspire people to pay it forward, so she founded Gift Givers Anonymous six years ago. The program began as a small project and has since gone viral.

Barrels filled with donated books for The College of Education's annual book drive stand at Travelstead Hall on Nov. 18. The books go to participating teachers associated with the College of Education.

News

Holiday Time: College of Education donations grant the gift of literacy

Liam Cary-Eaves | November 25

In recent years the UNM College of Education has found a way to spread holiday cheer by giving students new reading material. Since 2011, the Center for Student Success has teamed up with the GSLA for an annual book drive, offering new and gently used books to K-12 students in the community. The “2015 Book Fiesta” has enticed donors by planting giant bins across campus for anyone willing to donate reading materials.

Clients sit outside St. Martin’s day shelter and soup kitchen, located in downtown Albuquerque, on Friday, November 2. St. Martin’s will see an influx of clients in the month of December.

News

Holiday Time: St. Martin's gives food, shelter, opportunity to those in need

Isabel Gonzalez | November 25

For a lot of people, the crisp autumn mornings are a friendly reminder that the holiday season is just around the corner. But for others, the falling leaves are a reminder of the harsh winter months to come. According to data from the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness, in 2013 there were almost 1,200 homeless people in Albuquerque. This number fell by more than 800 people after 2009, but there’s still work to be done.

News

Proposal: Online class fee adjustment will account for UNM Learn

Jyllian Roach and Denicia Aragon | November 19

For 15 years, every online class taken at UNM has a delivery fee of $100. But after Friday’s Board of Regents meeting, that fee may change — and not just for students taking online courses. Vice Provost of Extended Learning Monica Orozco Obando and Associate Vice President of the Office of Planning, Budget and Analysis Andrew Cullen will propose an end to the delivery fee for all online classes at UNM. What would replace it is a mandatory fee that all students would pay each semester, regardless of their enrollment in online courses.

Lobos forward/guard Sam Logwood defends the ball from Loyola University Chicago at the WisePies Arena on Wednesday night. The Lobos won 75-51.

Sports

Men's basketball: Lobos win game for Devon Williams, whose career is over

J.R. Oppenheim | November 19

The Lobos won this game for Devon Williams. Following New Mexico’s 75-51 victory over Loyola-Chicago in the Mountain West-Missouri Valley Challenge, head coach Craig Neal said Williams will not play basketball again after it was discovered he has congenital spinal stenosis. “Today was a really hard day,” a choked-up Neal said in his postgame press conference. “Wow. It was probably the hardest day I’ve had in a long time, telling one of your sons or telling one of your kids he can’t play the game they love.”

News

14-year-old UNM student achieving big goals

Matthew Reisen | November 18

One UNM student has achieved more than a large majority of the student body, and he’s only 14 years old. Noah Rodney, a dual credit student, said age should not be an obstacle for anyone when it comes to achieving their dreams. “If you set your mind to it, you can do whatever you want,” he said.