The Bernalillo Town Council this week unanimously approved the top five ranked projects for the 2026-2030 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan (ICIP), with an estimated cost of $31.95 million. At the June 24 council meeting, Mayor Jack Torres and the council identified and ranked their top five priorities on the ICIP wish list for state funding, […]
Jesse Jones
The ‘30,000-foot’ Timeline for the New Emergency Call Center
The Sandoval County Regional Emergency Communication Center (SCRECC) Board held a work-study session June 25 in preparation for a presentation to the Sandoval County Commission. The board discussed the transition plan for July 1, 2025, which involves relocating the call center from its current location inside the Rio Rancho Police Department to the Sandoval County […]
Pueblo of Santa Ana Doubles in Size by Reacquiring Ancestral Land
The Pueblo of Santa Ana officially reacquired 60,000 acres of ancestral land in a historic trust signing ceremony with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on June 12 at the Prairie Star restaurant in Santa Ana. The land, once called the King Brothers’ Alamo Ranch and historically known as Tamaya Kwii Kee Nee Puu by […]
Bernalillo Educator Leads Charge to Curb Trash via Recycling
A Bernalillo elementary educator is leading a school-wide effort to curb trash by implementing a recycling program to instill environmental consciousness and sustainability within the school and the community. In response to the absence of a recycling program in the Bernalillo Public Schools district, Jose Cervantes, a third-grade teacher at W.D. Carroll Elementary, has galvanized […]
The Merc Gets New Life
After a period of decline and subsequent closure, The Merc, a unique grocery store located in the Homestead Village Plaza in Placitas, is set to reopen with revitalized energy under a new partnership. The reopening will mark the return of a community hub that has been more than just a place to shop for locals. […]
County Commissioners Take Out the Trash
At a meeting June 12, the Sandoval County Commission ordered the cleanup of several properties filled with rubbish and debris to restore public health and safety. The county’s Planning and Zoning Department was tasked with enforcing the cleanup of six properties. Five of the properties are adjacent to each other, situated on the same block […]
Aging Pipeline in Placitas Gets Repairs
Placitas residents, represented by the Las Placitas Association (LPA), have longstanding concerns about an aging crude oil pipeline running through their community. Recent repairs have sparked renewed anxiety over safety and environmental risks. The 66-year-old Tex-New Mex crude oil pipeline is owned by MPLX, a company formed by Marathon Petroleum Corporation that operates energy infrastructure […]
‘It Brings Everybody Together’
Last month, just before school let out, Carroll Elementary School in Bernalillo came alive with vibrant sights and sounds for its annual Cultural Day. The event brought together students, teachers and the community to celebrate diverse cultures through music, dance and art. For over a decade, Cultural Day has been a tradition at the school, […]
Driving Growth
Bernalillo’s new director of economic and community development says she hopes to revitalize the town and its Main Street. Christina Jones was appointed as the town’s economic development officer in February, succeeding Mike Kloeppel, who served in the position for seven years before becoming the town’s recreation director. Originally from Albuquerque, Jones has lived in […]
Rio Rancho Billion Dollar Solar Project Nears Completion
Rio Rancho is about to become a major renewable energy source for New Mexico as work on a billion-dollar, two-phase solar project nears completion. Clēnera, a privately held renewable energy company based in Boise, Idaho, is the developer of the Atrisco Solar and Quail Ranch Solar projects located just north of Double Eagle II Airport. […]
