Kevin Hendricks, Editor, Author at nm.news

People vote at the Sandoval County admin building in November. (Kevin Hendricks)

Badges, ballots and bandwidth: Placitas forum previews sheriff, commission and secretary of state races

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Placitas voters who packed the Placitas Community Library on Oct. 6 got a preview of who wants to patrol their roads, run their elections and decide what gets built along N.M. 165. Both Sandoval County sheriff candidates spoke at the nonpartisan forum: former Sheriff John Paul Trujillo, a Democrat, […]

Sports

PHOTOS: Goatheads collect their firsts — except the one that counts

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — The New Mexico Goatheads checked nearly every box on their inaugural weekend — first goal, first lead, first overtime — except the one fans wanted most. The Idaho Steelheads swept the three-game opening series at the Rio Rancho Events Center, winning 4-1 Friday, 4-3 in overtime Saturday and 5-2 […]

The City of Rio Rancho issued a scam alert Oct. 15, after someone reported a suspicious email that impersonated city staff and requested information about city programs and activities. Other versions of the email may be circulating, the city warned.

Courts & Justice

Don’t take the bait: Scammers pose as Rio Rancho city staff in phishing emails

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor 9 hours agoOctober 19, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Scammers are fishing for Rio Rancho residents’ information by posing as city staff, and city officials want you to check the hook before you bite. The City of Rio Rancho issued a scam alert Oct. 15, after someone reported a suspicious email that impersonated city staff and requested information […]

Sandoval County voters head to the polls Tuesday for the June 2 primary — and more than 16,300 ballots are already in the books after early and absentee voting closed Saturday, May 30.

Politics & Elections

Meth, fentanyl found on Sandoval County absentee ballots; clerk says no workers exposed

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor October 16, 2026October 16, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Sandoval County election workers found methamphetamine and fentanyl on multiple absentee ballots Friday morning. County officials say no one was exposed, and every affected vote will still count. Initial tests flagged the drugs in election mail at the county’s Bureau of Elections warehouse, County Clerk Anne Brady-Romero reported. Local, […]

Albuquerque Housing Authority’s apartments at Broadway and McKnight added 54 affordable units to the city’s housing stock when AHA cut the ribbon on the project in 2023. AHA is accepting pre-applications for its Public Housing program through Oct. 31 and for Section 8 vouchers from Oct. 16 through Nov. 15. (Courtesy of Albuquerque Housing Authority)

Housing & Homelessness

Knock, knock: Albuquerque Housing Authority opens doors to Section 8 and public housing applicants

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Albuquerque-area renters searching for an affordable place to live have a limited window to get in line for federal housing help, and the deadline for one program is already approaching. The Albuquerque Housing Authority opens pre-applications for its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program on Friday, Oct. 16, and […]

Courts & Justice

Cyberattack freezes Bernalillo’s online services, but the water stays on

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Bernalillo residents can’t pay water bills online or visit the town’s Motor Vehicle Department after a cyberattack froze the town’s public-facing computer systems over the long holiday weekend. Officials say nobody will lose service or pay late fees while the town recovers. Mayor Jack Torres said the town’s IT […]

Politics & Elections

Early returns: Nearly 5,000 Sandoval County ballots cast as voting expands Saturday

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. — Nearly 5,000 Sandoval County voters have already cast ballots for the Nov. 3 election. Starting Saturday, everyone else gets a lot more places to do the same. Early voting expands to 21 more sites across the county on Oct. 17, including five in Rio Rancho. Until now, the only […]

Moriarty shoppers will have to take their bargain hunting elsewhere for now after a vehicle crashed into the Dollar General on Route 66 Wednesday morning, closing the store until further notice.

Community News

Vehicle crashes into Moriarty Dollar General, closes store until further notice

By Kevin Hendricks Moriarty shoppers will have to take their bargain hunting elsewhere for now after a vehicle crashed into the Dollar General on Route 66 Wednesday morning, closing the store until further notice. Moriarty Fire Department crews responded at about 10 a.m. to the store at 705 U.S. Route 66, according to a department […]

A New Mexico voter heads to the polls at Tijeras Village Hall. A federal judge ruled this week that voters' personal data, including Social Security numbers, will stay protected from a DOJ lawsuit. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/City Desk ABQ.

Politics & Elections

Poll position: State spells out who can — and can’t — hang around while you vote

By Kevin Hendricks — New Mexico voters just got a cheat sheet — the legal kind. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Attorney General Raúl Torrez released a joint advisory Tuesday spelling out election deadlines, who belongs at a polling place and what crosses the line into voter intimidation. Only poll workers, voters, credentialed […]

Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas

Politics & Elections

‘Work isn’t finished’: Olivas seeks reelection to BernCo commission

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor October 13, 2026October 13, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas is seeking a second term representing District 5, which covers much of east central Albuquerque, including Uptown and Four Hills, and all of the East Mountains. He faces Republican Thomas Riley on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Olivas, a Democrat, defeated radio station owner Byron Powdrell in the June […]