A Republican candidate for New Mexico governor wants to eliminate the state’s gross receipts tax on retail sales entirely — and says the state can afford it right now. Duke Rodriguez, a former state cabinet secretary and hospital executive, made the proposal during Friday’s Albuquerque Journal Republican gubernatorial debate, arguing the state’s surplus reserves of […]
Kevin Hendricks
Kevin Hendricks is an editor with nm.news where he oversees Sandoval County newsrooms. A native of Southeast ABQ, he reported for the ABQ Journal and Rio Rancho Observer before joining nm.news in 2024.
Posted inPlacitas
Man charged with strangling wife four times, kicking puppy during domestic dispute
A Sandoval County woman survived four separate strangulation attacks — losing vision and nearly losing consciousness — before escaping a Placitas home and flagging down help on May 3, according to a criminal complaint filed in Bernalillo Magistrate Court. Sandoval County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the address at approximately 8:24 p.m. and arrested a 40-year-old […]
Posted inMusic
Award-winning Western folk duo brings free concert to Corrales this month
Corrales gets a free afternoon of award-winning Western folk music this month when Jim Jones and Mariam Funke take the stage at La Entrada Park. The concert runs 4:30–6:15 p.m. Saturday, May 30, and is presented by Music in Corrales, with co-sponsorship from Corrales MainStreet and the Village of Corrales. Admission is free; attendees are […]
Posted inElections & Politics
Three Republicans clash on crime, taxes and education in New Mexico governor’s race
New Mexico voters hoping to end years of Democratic control of the governor’s office got a close look at the field Friday, as three Republican candidates debated crime, taxes and education in a forum hosted by the Albuquerque Journal. Former Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, Albuquerque businessman Doug Turner and former state cabinet secretary Duke […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho honors fallen officers Thursday at Veterans Monument Park
Rio Rancho will honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty at the department’s annual Fallen Officer Memorial on Thursday morning. The Rio Rancho Police Department hosts the public ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 14, at Veterans Memorial/Monument Park, 950 Pinetree Road. Last year’s ceremony drew uniformed officers from RRPD, New […]
Posted inAlbuquerque
From green chile to film sets: New Mexicans describe the crushing weight of tariffs and war-driven costs
New Mexico families are spending hundreds — or thousands — of dollars more each year on gas, groceries and basic necessities, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich heard directly from those feeling it hardest Thursday at an Albuquerque roundtable. Heinrich gathered small business owners, food bank leaders, and workers at the Women’s Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Mother’s Day weekend overflows with events across the Rio Rancho area
Families, art lovers and anyone looking to celebrate Mother’s Day without spending a lot have a full slate of free and low-cost options across the Rio Rancho area this weekend — with events running all three days, May 8–10. Friday, May 8 The weekend opens at THE BLOCK, 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, where Float […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Speeding, racing and fatal crashes: Inside the effort to tame deadly NM 528
A street racing crash that killed a Rio Rancho man and left two others with severe injuries on NM Highway 528 has accelerated safety improvements that area residents have demanded for years — but the corridor’s most significant fixes remain years away. Rio Rancho police have assigned overtime enforcement details on NM 528 since the […]
Posted inSandoval County
Thrift store opens in Bernalillo to fund free home repairs across Sandoval County
A new resale shop in Bernalillo is putting its profits to work — funding free home repairs for low-income veterans, seniors, and families across Sandoval County. Rebuilding Together Sandoval County opened its ReBuild ReSale Store at 237 South Camino Del Pueblo on April 30. The organization describes it as a curated home and vintage marketplace […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho’s new mayor steps into office as city debates who’s really driving economic growth
Paul Wymer’s first full day as mayor of Rio Rancho didn’t start with a honeymoon. It started with a budget. Sworn in April 30, Wymer joined the governing body at 9 a.m. on May 1 for a special work session to review the city’s recommended fiscal year 2027 budget and a five-year capital improvement plan […]