New Mexico’s child welfare agency has failed to protect children in its care for years — and used state confidentiality laws to hide it, according to a new investigative report from the New Mexico Department of Justice. Attorney General Raúl Torrez released the report Wednesday and filed a lawsuit in Santa Fe District Court seeking […]
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 inCorrales
Back to dirt: Mayor Hashimoto reverses unauthorized parking prep
It’s not a parking lot, Corrales Mayor Fred Hashimoto says. It was never a parking lot, and likely will never be a parking lot. Hashimoto told the Corrales Comment that he ordered village public works staff to remove subsurface materials commonly laid onto dirt before parking-lot construction from part of the Gonzales Field. He said […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Federal judge dismisses Rio Rancho lawsuit but plaintiff says the fight isn’t over
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Rio Rancho of enacting ordinances without following its own procedural rules — but the lead plaintiff argues the court never actually ruled that the city did anything right. U.S. District Judge Sarah M. Davenport granted the city’s motion to dismiss March 31, ruling the federal court lacked […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho runoff early voting pace outstrips March election
Rio Rancho voters are turning out for the mayoral runoff at a faster early-voting pace than they did for March’s six-candidate election — but both candidates warn that low turnout, not momentum, could decide who becomes the city’s next mayor. More than 4,700 residents cast ballots in the first five days of early voting, March […]
Posted inLocal Government
Family sues Sandoval County, medical provider over 29-year-old’s fentanyl overdose in jail
The family of a 29-year-old woman who died of a fentanyl overdose while in custody at the Sandoval County Detention Center has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and its private medical provider, alleging staff ignored her severe mental health crisis and failed to prevent lethal drugs from circulating in the jail. The […]
Posted inRio Rancho
The 528 sits down with Rio Rancho’s next mayor — before you vote
Rio Rancho voters are already casting ballots to choose their next mayor — and The 528 sat down exclusively with both candidates to ask what they plan to do with the job. Early voting runs through Saturday, April 11, ahead of the April 14 runoff election between District 4 City Councilor Paul Wymer and Alexandria […]
Posted inRio Rancho
High-flying thrills and stand-up laughs: Your Rio Rancho weekend preview
The City of Vision is kicking off April with a high-flying celebration as the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters arrive in Rio Rancho, anchoring a weekend of professional comedy, local markets and youth STEM programs. From the hardwood of the Rio Rancho Events Center to community hubs on the city’s south side, here is what’s happening in […]
Posted inCorrales
The sound of silence: Corrales council takes next step in drafting noise ordinance
It will be at least a few months before Corrales has a new noise ordinance, Mayor Fred Hashimoto says. Hashimoto told the Corrales Comment that the village has been working with a sound engineer as it attempts to develop suitable rules. Village councilors took up the longstanding issue anew last summer, identifying enforceability and the […]
Posted inCorrales
Corrales gets fiber: Will Ezee deliver on promises of communication and cleanup?
Mayor Fred Hashimoto says he’s pleased that Ezee Fiber has made performance and transparency pledges to the village, but he wants to see if the company can deliver on those promises. Hashimoto told the Corrales Comment Ezee Fiber representatives met with village staff about a week ago to discuss the project. Among the commitments the […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho wins millions in state funding for parks, police and roads
Rio Rancho walks away from the2026 New Mexico Legislature with nearly $4 million in state capital outlay funding, covering upgrades to parks, police equipment and city roads — and in several cases, more money than the city asked for. The legislature funded all but one of the nine priorities the city’s Governing Body approved in […]