By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) faces a lawsuit following the July incident of a 15-year-old U.S. citizen traveling alone toward the Mexican border. The state agency maintains that its decision to pursue reunification with the youth’s mother took legal precedence, while Attorney General Raúl Torrez contends […]
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 inRio Rancho
Small town, big ticket: Roy hosts nearly the entire GOP slate of candidates
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Roy, New Mexico has fewer residents than most Rio Rancho neighborhoods. On July 26, it hosted nearly the entire Republican statewide ticket anyway. Rio Rancho resident Nancy Jinks organized the “Meet Your Candidates” forum at the Harding County Fairgrounds, securing commitments from U.S. Senate candidate Larry Marker, Congressional District 3 […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho council locks in $452M budget, trims City Hall wish list to balance books
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.Rio Rancho’s governing body closed the books on fiscal year 2027 July 23, unanimously approving a $452 million budget that survived a late round of belt-tightening after last year’s savings came in lighter than city hall hoped. The vote on Resolution R57 sends the final budget to the New Mexico Department […]
Posted inCorrales
Corrales K-8 welcomes familiar face as new principal
By Rodd Cayton A Corrales resident has been named head of the village’s public school. Albuquerque Public Schools has hired Ryan Kettler, whose career has spanned roles including superintendent, principal, and adjunct professor, as the new principal at Corrales K-8 School. He has worked extensively in area school districts, including previously in APS, as assistant […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County appoints new assessor following controversial Gallegos resignation
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County has a new Assessor. Commissioners appointed Edward Olona to the post at their July 22 meeting, filling the vacancy left by Linda Gallegos’ resignation amid a controversy over her collecting two taxpayer-funded salaries at once. Olona was sworn in on the spot. Commissioner Michael Meek brought the resolution […]
Posted inRio Rancho
District 4 gets its Mann: RRPS attorney sworn in as Rio Rancho’s new councilor after divided vote
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. David Mann is Rio Rancho’s newest District 4 councilor. The Governing Body voted 4-2 Thursday to confirm Mayor Paul Wymer’s pick, closing out a monthlong process that turned into a pointed debate over whether Mann’s day job — general counsel for Rio Rancho Public Schools — creates conflicts with a […]
Posted inElections & Politics
From afterthought to early player: New Mexico’s new role in 2028 presidential primary
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. New Mexico could leapfrog nearly every other state in choosing the next Democratic presidential nominee. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee voted Friday to recommend New Mexico as the fourth state to vote in the 2028 primary calendar, putting Hispanic, Native American and border-state voters in front of candidates before […]
Posted inEdgewood
Pirates and Vikings storm Edgewood for 7th Annual Summer Festival
Drums of the North and cannon fire return to Edgewood in August when the Pirate Viking Summer Festival sails back into Wildlife West Nature Park for its seventh year, promising two days of history, fantasy and full-throated adventure in the Southwest. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sunday, Aug. […]
Posted inMountainair
Mountainair mayor appoints Wayne Jones to fill late wife’s council seat
Mountainair’s Town Council will get a familiar face in a painful moment: Wayne Jones, husband of late Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Jones, has accepted an appointment to fill her vacant council seat, Mayor Peter Nieto announced on July 23. Nieto said filling the vacancy fell to him under municipal procedure following Gayle Jones’ death, though the […]
Posted inMountainair
Mountainair mourns Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Jones, a legend of NM municipal government
Mountainair is mourning the loss of Mayor Pro-Tem Gayle Jones, a fixture of New Mexico municipal government whose career touched three towns, two emergency responder uniforms and, by her mayor’s account, nearly everyone who ever needed a straight answer at Town Hall. Mayor Peter Nieto announced Jones’ death on July 22 in a statement to […]