The BLM announced updated regulations for the balanced management of America’s public lands, ensuring sustainability for the future on April 18. U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, who serves on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, issued a statement Thursday celebrating an announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior which finalized the Bureau of Land […]
Jesse Jones
Placitas residents concerned over proposed Forest Service plan
A proposed plan by the Forest Service to mitigate fire risks in the Sandia Ranger District has sparked concerns among residents and stakeholders in the Placitas Canyon. Jon Couch, who serves as the Commissioner of the Los Huertas Community Ditch and is an Associate Supervisor for the Coronado Soil and Water Conservation District (CSWCD), strongly […]
Rio Rancho City Manager’s Recommended Budget Includes Beefed-Up Public Safety and a Water Rate Hike
Rio Rancho’s city manager has recommended a $146.6 million budget that prioritizes investments in public safety along with upgrades to community infrastructure and efforts to retain city employees. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull and the City Council received City Manager Matt Geisel’s recommended budget for the 2025 fiscal year on April 15. Public Safety The […]
County Fire Chief Submits Plan to Improve Response Times
Honors and annual reports were on the table at the Sandoval County Commission meeting on April 10. Sandoval County Sheriff Jesse James Casaus and Chief Deputy Officer Allen Mills took the lead at the meeting by handing out awards and promotions to law enforcement personnel and presenting their 2023 annual report to the commission. Highlights […]
Councilor Sworn In and Water Rate Hike Approved
Monday’s meeting of the Bernalillo Town Council kicked off with a swearing-in ceremony for one incumbent councilor even as the official outcome of the race for another council seat remains unconfirmed. The council meeting began with Judge George P. Eichwald of the 13th Judicial District Court swearing in Councilwoman Sharon Torres-Quintana with her husband Paul […]
Dapson and List Win Rio Rancho Runoff Election
The runoff election for the Rio Rancho City Council on Tuesday finally decided who will take the helm for two council seats. Deborah S. Dapson, a local businesswoman received almost 53 percent of the votes (443 votes) for the District 1 City Council seat beating her incumbent opponent, former Rio Rancho mayor Jim Owen, who […]
Bernalillo Goes Green
The Town of Bernalillo has reaped the benefits of the green boom that ensued following the legalization of cannabis in New Mexico nearly two years ago. According to a press release from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in March, the state has surpassed $1 billion in cannabis sales since its legalization two years ago. The New […]
Bernalillo Proposes Water Rate Hike
The Bernalillo Town Council is considering a new ordinance to raise water rates for businesses that use a large amount of water. If passed, the town will be joining many local officials along the Rio Grande who are pushing back against companies that use excessive amounts of water. During the March 25 meeting, the council […]
Commission Approves Canvass for Municipal Office Elections
The Sandoval County Commission convened as the Canvassing Board, approved the canvass for the 2024 Municipal Office Elections for the City of Rio Rancho, the Town of Bernalillo and the Villages of Cuba and Jemez Spring on Friday, March 15. The clerks for the four municipalities presented their election results to the commission. Rio Rancho […]
County Contends With Emergency Communication Outage
During the week of March 3, the Sandoval County Regional Emergency Communication Center (SCRECC) experienced radio communication issues due to a windstorm, continuing the challenges in maintaining reliable emergency communication systems. On March 13, County Manager Wayne Johnson added an emergency item to the Sandoval County Commission agenda. It was to approve a service agreement […]
