By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Horse lovers can now grab tickets to the 2026 Horseshoes & Heels Gala, the annual fundraiser keeping rescued and rehabilitated horses fed, trained and cared for at the Stables at Tamaya. The Nov. 28 gala at Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa kicks off with a 5 p.m. cocktail reception, […]
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 in+Arts & Culture
Hopi carver turns cottonwood root into art at Coronado Historic Site Aug. 2
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Cottonwood root becomes detailed Hopi figurines Aug. 2 as carver Randy Brokeshoulder demonstrates his craft at Coronado Historic Site. Brokeshoulder, who carries Hopi, Navajo and Absentee Shawnee heritage, works from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2, finishing each figure with natural pigments, yarn, feathers and horsehair. He’s the great-grandson […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Police presence at Rio Rancho High School? Just training, officials say
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho High School families flooded the office with calls this morning after spotting a heavy police presence on campus — but administrators say there’s nothing to worry about. Principal Millan Baca sent a letter to families confirming multiple law enforcement agencies are running a scheduled training exercise at the […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County rejects redistricting ruling, says current maps are legal
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. A state judge ordered Sandoval County to redraw its commission district boundaries, ruling the county’s 2021 map failed to consult tribal nations and didn’t give Native American and Hispanic voters an equal say. Now the county says the judge got it wrong — and the maps aren’t changing anytime soon. […]
Posted inRio Rancho
New District 4 councilor, final FY2027 budget approval on tap for Rio Rancho’s Thursday meeting
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s District 4 council seat has sat empty since Paul Wymer traded his councilor badge for the mayor’s gavel in May. That changes Thursday, when the Governing Body votes to confirm attorney David Mann as Wymer’s replacement. Who’s getting the seat, and why Mann, a 12-year District 4 resident […]
Posted inNM.news
Fewer crimes, more tickets: Inside the RRPD’s 2025 Annual Report
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s overall crime numbers dropped again last year, but drivers didn’t get the same break — and the city’s 911 center answered 30,000 fewer calls after splitting from the county, according to the Police Department’s newly released 2025 Annual Report. Crime down, but not everywhere Reported offenses fell to […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County commissioners to weigh $34.4M in bond asks, ethics overhaul and a new assessor Wednesday
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County voters could see three General Obligation Bond questions on their November ballot — for libraries, fire training and a beefed-up Bureau of Elections building — after commissioners hear a mill rate study Wednesday night. It’s one of several consequential items packed into a meeting that also tackles who […]
Posted inElections & Politics
Miyagishima bows out of gubernatorial race, throws support behind Gregg Hull
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Ken Miyagishima is out of the governor’s race — and he’s taking his supporters straight to Gregg Hull. The longest-serving mayor in Las Cruces history announced Friday he’s ending his campaign and endorsing the former Rio Rancho mayor, folding a southern New Mexico coalition into Hull’s bid. Miyagishima and running […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Betting on sovereignty: Heinrich fights to protect tribal gaming from prediction markets
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., led a dozen Senate Democrats in a July 17 letter urging leaders of two Senate committees to add tribal and state gaming protections to pending cryptocurrency legislation, arguing the bills as written would let prediction markets offer sports and casino-style betting nationwide while sidestepping tribal […]
Posted inRio Rancho
PHOTOS: Rio Rancho leaders, friends and family turn out to support The Paper.
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Thank you, Rio Rancho! The Paper. threw a party Thursday and the City of Vision showed up in full force. To the friends, family, elected officials and local leaders who danced, noshed and networked with us at The BLOCK — thank you. The turnout crossed party lines and government levels. […]