By Kevin Hendricks Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and current New Mexico gubernatorial candidate Deb Haaland recently met with Land Grant communities in the East Mountains to discuss the protection of land rights, water and cultural traditions. During the meeting, Haaland stressed her commitment to safeguarding vital funding for rural infrastructure, wildfire resources, and […]

Kevin Hendricks, nm.news
Kevin Hendricks is a local news editor with nm.news. He is a two-decade veteran of local news as a sportswriter and assistant editor with the ABQ Journal and Rio Rancho Observer.
Vaccinations double as measles cases surge in New Mexico
Staff report New Mexico is experiencing a significant increase in measles cases in 2025, with 71 cases reported across five counties: Chaves, Curry, Doña Ana, Eddy, and Lea. In response, residents are getting vaccinated in record numbers. From the start of February through May 12, 27,123 New Mexicans received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) […]
Rio Rancho retains March elections and Voter ID after ordinance fails
By Kevin Hendricks March municipal elections and voter identification requirements will remain in place in Rio Rancho after the Governing Body voted against eliminating them and opting into statewide elections at its May 8 meeting. Ordinance 13 failed in a 3-3 tie vote following public opposition. The power of the people was on full display […]
Albuquerque orders Ezee Fiber to halt construction amid resident complaints
By Kevin Hendricks The City of Albuquerque has issued a cease and desist order to Ezee Fiber, demanding the fiber optic company immediately halt all construction activities within city limits. This comes after a surge in resident complaints regarding unsafe and incomplete work associated with fiber internet installations. This marks the second internet provider to […]
Moriarty Robotics team makes waves at World Championship after state victory
By Kevin Hendricks Moriarty High School’s newly formed NM-MESA robotics team has returned from the VEX V5 World Championship in Dallas after a remarkable debut season. The team started strong, winning the VEX V5 NM State Championship in early March, which earned them a spot at the World Championship held May 6-8. In Dallas, the […]
Former Albuquerque mayoral candidate announces run against Vasquez for congressional seat
By Kevin Hendricks A familiar name in Albuquerque politics is back on the scene after announcing his campaign to run for New Mexico’s second congressional district in 2026. After a failed run at Albuquerque Mayor in 2021, Eddy Aragon said he is running for Gabe Vasquez’s seat in the United States Congress next year. Aragon […]
Rio Rancho again ranks high on Livability.com’s Top 100 places to live list
By Kevin Hendricks For the third consecutive year, Livability.com has recognized Rio Rancho as one of the top 100 places to live in America. This year, Rio Rancho climbed to the 31st spot with a LivScore of 716, a jump from its 81st ranking and LivScore of 714 in 2024. The LivScore, curated by Livability […]
New Mexico Senator wins inaugural Kamala Harris Trailblazer Award
By Kevin Hendricks It was a night of firsts at Emerge America’s 20th anniversary gala in San Francisco on April 30, as former Vice President Kamala Harris returned to the national spotlight and New Mexico Senator Cindy Nava was honored as a “trailblazing alum” of the political organization. In her first public speech since leaving […]
Albuquerque bus driver suffers broken bones after being attacked by passenger
By Kevin Hendricks — A City of Albuquerque bus driver suffered broken bones after being attacked by a passenger on the bus last week near the University of New Mexico. According to the incident report from the Albuquerque Police Department, the male driver was on his route at the intersection of Central Ave. and University […]
New Mexico State Police Officer arrested for DWI, crash and leaving scene
By Kevin Hendricks A New Mexico State Police officer was arrested in Rio Rancho on May 2 and placed on administrative leave following allegations of driving while intoxicated, causing a crash and leaving the scene. Hugo Diaz-Amaya was arrested and placed on leave after the incident, which occurred around 3 p.m. near NM 528 and […]