ALBUQUERQUE, NM – From a serial killer’s guilty plea to a motel’s multi-million dollar revamp, here are Friday’s top stories in the Albuquerque area.

First, 55-year-old Paul Apodaca recently pleaded guilty to three cold case murders from the 1980s, following a 2021 confession. He admitted to killing three young women and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. The families of the victims had the opportunity to address the killer at the sentencing.

In another story, a man was filmed helping Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputies arrest him during a suspected DWI stop. It was revealed that this was his seventh DWI arrest, as he now faces aggravated DWI and other charges.

Meanwhile, Albuquerque residents are experiencing scattered rain and snow showers, with a winter weather advisory in effect for certain areas until 11 PM. However, the storm is expected to clear out by Saturday, leaving behind sunny skies and warmer temperatures for the weekend.

Additionally, the Imperial Inn near downtown Albuquerque has reopened after undergoing a multi-million dollar revamp. Residents are pleased with the transformed space, which now offers 16 renovated suites and 52 spruced-up rooms for overnight stays.

Lastly, the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque has been selected to host video gaming’s 6th Annual Latinx Games Festival in September. The festival will feature panel discussions, breakout sessions, an e-sports tournament, and a rare opportunity to play one of the rarest games ever made – E.T. the Extra Terrestrial.