Rio Rancho Mayor-elect Paul Wymer takes his oath of office Thursday — and faces his first major budget decision the next morning. The public swearing-in ceremony is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Rio Rancho City Hall (3200 Civic Center Circle). Wymer’s term officially begins May 1. Wymer defeated retired teacher and former […]
Kevin Hendricks, Editor
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
Five candidates, one stage and a whole lot of agreement about how bad things are
Tuesday night at Rio Rancho Public Schools’ Training Center, five people who want to be your next governor walked into a room, agreed on almost everything and somehow still managed to make it interesting. The 2026 New Mexico Gubernatorial Primary Forum — co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Central New Mexico and the […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho’s District 60 candidates agree on taxes, split on crime at Chamber forum
Rio Rancho voters choosing between incumbent Rep. Josh Hernandez and challenger Zac Anaya in the June 2 Republican primary heard both candidates agree on what’s holding New Mexico back — and disagree on how far to go to fix it — at a forum hosted Tuesday by the Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce. On […]
Posted inSandoval County
Sandoval County Fire and Rescue adds 13 firefighters
Thirteen new firefighters joined Sandoval County Fire and Rescue following a graduation ceremony April 24 at V. Sue Cleveland High School. The Class 8 graduates represent the largest academy class in the program’s history. The new first responders completed a rigorous 14-week paramilitary training program that combined classroom work with field exercises in core firefighting, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Corrales opens its studio doors for 28th annual art tour this weekend
Corrales artists open their studios and homes to the public this weekend, giving art lovers across the region a rare chance to meet working artists face-to-face during the 28th annual Corrales Art Studio Tour. Ninety-three artists — including student artists from two Corrales elementary schools — will show work across 33 venues May 2 and […]
Posted inRio Rancho
SWAT standoff, 9 charges: Police say Rio Rancho woman fired gun at partner while children were inside home
A Rio Rancho woman faces nine criminal charges — including aggravated assault and child abuse — after police say she fired a handgun at her partner during a domestic dispute in the early morning hours of April 18 in the High Range neighborhood. Officers dispatched around 1:47 a.m. found live rounds and spent casings in […]
Posted inRio Rancho
All 5 NM governor candidates head to Rio Rancho for Tuesday forum
All five candidates running for New Mexico governor will share a stage Tuesday night in Rio Rancho, giving Sandoval County residents — including registered independents — a front-row seat to a cross-party primary forum. The Governor Candidate Forum begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Rio Rancho Public Schools’ Training Center Room, 500 Laser Road NE. […]
Posted inEast Mountains
East Mountain gallery reopens with spring show featuring new artists, fresh mediums
A Cedar Crest art gallery is reopening its doors this spring with a new exhibition that adds fresh voices and mediums to its roster of New Mexico artists. Enchanted Soul Art | Creatives’ Gallery & Shop resumed regular hours April 17, launching its Spring Re-Enchantment 2026 exhibition, on view through May 24. Featured artists include […]
Posted inWestside Albuquerque
Boom! The Unser-Paseo widening project is about to enter its loudest phase
Tens of thousands of Rio Rancho and Westside commuters who rely on the Unser Boulevard and Paseo del Norte corridor will hear — and feel — the next phase of construction starting Tuesday, as crews begin blasting through the basalt bedrock beneath one of the metro area’s most congested intersections. Controlled blasting is scheduled to […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho exempts employee benefits from bidding rules
Rio Rancho employees will see no gaps in their health coverage this summer after the city’s Governing Body approved a change to its procurement code Thursday that gives administrators more flexibility to secure insurance, benefits and retirement programs outside the standard bidding process. Financial Services Director Stephanie Yara told the Governing Body the exemption is […]