Kevin Hendricks, Editor, Author at nm.news

Albuquerque stopped drawing water from the Rio Grande on April 24 and processed its last surface water three days later — leaving the city running entirely on groundwater reserves months before summer heat peaks, a Water Authority spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. (Roberto E. Rosales)

A lifeline for the Rio Grande: 650 million gallons released to rescue parched river

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor September 1, 2026September 1, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Albuquerque’s cracked, dry stretch of the Rio Grande is getting a temporary reprieve — though the agencies behind it are clear this is a science project, not a fix. The Water Authority and a coalition of partners released roughly 2,000 acre-feet — more than 650 million gallons — of San […]

Darren Vaughan of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish told the Corrales Comment that as of Oct. 20, authorities have opened 34 complaints related to bears in Sandoval County and 51 in Bernalillo County. This bear was found in Rio Rancho's Cabezon neighborhood this summer. (RRPD)

Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho’s bear summer continues: Another animal relocated from neighborhood

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s summer bear surge continued Tuesday when police and state wildlife officers tranquilized and relocated an animal roaming the Cabezon neighborhood. Working alongside the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, RRPD safely tranquilized the animal Tuesday morning and confirmed it will be relocated to Northern New Mexico. Officials say this […]

Rio Rancho

Debate over privacy concerns continues as council backs new police tech deal

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho police will roll out 25 new body-worn cameras, automatic evidence tagging and virtual reality training after the Governing Body voted Aug. 27 to consolidate three separate Axon contracts into one 90-month agreement. Lt. Brandon McKinney told the council the deal bundles existing TASER, body-worn camera and Fusus real-time […]

Rio Rancho

Treating the pack: How the Bark Bar is winning over Rio Rancho’s dogs

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. There’s a food truck rolling through Rio Rancho and Albuquerque where the entire menu is off-limits to people. Bark Bar, launched about six months ago by Chad Rutter, serves handmade “pup cups” and treats built exclusively for dogs — and the owner believes it’s the first business of its kind […]

Rio Rancho

New RioTECH center puts students in the driver’s seat for future careers

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho high schoolers can now train on professional-grade auto shop equipment without leaving campus — or paying tuition — after CNM and Rio Rancho Public Schools cut the ribbon Aug. 28on the new Transportation Systems Technology Center at RioTECH. The 43,800-square-foot facility becomes the new home for CNM’s Automotive […]

An automated license plate reader. (Roberto E. Rosales)

Rio Rancho

Rio Rancho residents urge city to cut ties with Flock camera network

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Four Rio Rancho residents pressed the governing body Aug. 27 to pull the plug on the city’s Flock Safety camera network, arguing that 19 cameras logging every passing license plate amounts to warrantless mass surveillance — not the crime-fighting tool police describe. Joaquin Montoya, speaking on behalf of privacy advocacy […]

Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith was honored before New Mexico United's match on Aug. 26. (Julian Paras)

Statewide News

From Dexter’s dirt roads to the winner’s circle: Mike Smith comes home a legend

by Kevin Hendricks, Editor August 27, 2026August 27, 2026

By Kevin Hendricks and Julian Paras Mike Smith has ridden in 29 Kentucky Derbys, won a Triple Crown aboard Justify and collected more Breeders’ Cup victories than any jockey in history. But ask him what he carries with him after more than four decades in the saddle, and the answer has nothing to do with […]

Sandoval County

Billions in growth: Sandoval County faces staffing shortfall amid property boom

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County property values keep climbing — up nearly $1 billion on residential improvements alone in the past year — but the office pricing them out says staffing hasn’t kept pace with growth. New Assessor Ed Olona, appointed by commissioners in July after his predecessor resigned amid a dual-paycheck scandal, […]

The Corrales Growers' Market opens at 11 a.m. Sunday at Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., with local produce, honey, baked goods and artisan goods through Nov. 1.

Sandoval County

August ends on a high note in Sandoval County: Here’s what’s happening this weekend

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. August doesn’t go quietly in Sandoval County. The final weekend of the month brings a four-time New Mexico Music Award winner to The BLOCK, a Vegas legend to Quezada’s and free trivia and a classic movie to close it all out Sunday. Friday: Eryn Bent closes out August at The […]

Callie the dog (center) is joined by Angelita Sampaio (right), Best Friends Animal Society Senior Specialist, Network Partner Mobilization, and Sandoval County Animal Care team leaders, Kimberly Jaramillo, Assistant Director, and Mark Webb, Supervisor, to celebrate the NO-KILL SHELTER designation.

Sandoval County

Sandoval County animal shelter earns no-kill status again

Sandoval County Animal Care Services has once again been named a no-kill shelter, a distinction the county has held for several years running, according to a press release from the county. The Best Friends Animal Society, a national nonprofit that works with more than 5,500 shelters and rescue groups to end shelter killings, announced the […]