Two Rio Rancho community choruses are casting a wide net for new members as they prepare to launch their 2025 season next month. The Rio Rancho Youth Chorus and Children’s Chorus of Rio Rancho will hold their first rehearsal and informational meeting on Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Star Heights Recreation Center. The Children’s Chorus, […]
Westside Albuquerque
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
RioTECH unveils $50M campus for trades education
Not your typical high school. RioTECH, Rio Rancho Public Schools’ newest campus, opens next week with a focus on career-oriented education. The school hosted a community night Wednesday to show parents, students and others what it has to offer. Principal Kristopher Johnson is actually in his third year on the job. His first two years […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Back-to-school guide 2025: What Sandoval County families need to know
Sandoval County families preparing for the 2025-26 school year will find significant changes awaiting them, with two major educational facilities opening their doors for the first time and staggered start dates across districts beginning as early as Aug. 4. Rio Rancho Public Schools is seeing some major changes for the new school year. The biggest […]
Posted inPueblos, Westside Albuquerque
From controversy to candidacy: Former Belen police chief seeks Sandoval County’s top law enforcement job
A former police chief with a complex law enforcement background announced his candidacy for Sandoval County Sheriff, promising to expand drug enforcement and mental health crisis response for the county’s 154,000 residents. Victor Rodriguez, who previously served as a lieutenant with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, told supporters at a July campaign rally that he’s […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Veteran receives donated wheelchair after being ‘abandoned’ by VA
A Mountainair native and 13-year Army veteran received a donated wheelchair Saturday that his family desperately needed after encountering delays in the federal veterans’ system, highlighting challenges faced by disabled veterans across the state. James Greene, a Mountainair native who now lives in Rio Rancho with his wife Heather, was one of the first American […]
Posted inLocal Government, Westside Albuquerque
Sandoval County fire services consolidate finances
Residents of rural Sandoval County won’t notice a difference in how their fire service operates, county Fire Chief Christopher Bagley said July 23. But a resolution approved by county commissioners will mean behind-the-scenes rewards for all eight volunteer fire districts involved. “I can assure you that this is only an administrative procedure that will have […]
Posted inHousing & Homelessness, Westside Albuquerque
Sandoval County Fair opens Monday with week of rodeo, pow-wow and community events
The 49th annual Sandoval County Fair kicked off Monday in Cuba, bringing six days of rodeo action, 4-H competitions and cultural celebrations to residents across New Mexico’s fastest-growing county. The fair runs Monday, July 28, through Sunday, August 3, at the county-owned fairgrounds in Cuba, featuring this year’s theme “Home on the Range!” Daily admission […]
Posted inWestside Albuquerque
Rio Rancho police officer delivers DoorDash order after arresting driver
A Rio Rancho police officer went beyond the call of duty Tuesday, completing a food delivery after arresting the DoorDash driver on an outstanding warrant, demonstrating the community-focused policing approach that has helped the city achieve a 16% drop in crime over two years. Officer Steve Lucero hand-delivered a Chick-fil-A order to a surprised Rio […]
Posted inPueblos, Westside Albuquerque
Polling places list approved, but perhaps not final
Sandoval County election officials say they’ll keep looking for new places for voters to cast their ballots this fall. County commissioners voted July 23 to approve an updated list of polling places that drops (for now) seven locations used last year. Joey Dominguez, chief deputy county clerk, told commissioners that some voting sites are unavailable […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Sandoval County celebrates opening of dispatch center that can’t handle most 911 calls
Sandoval County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 24 to celebrate its new dispatch center, even as the facility remains unable to independently handle approximately 85% of 911 calls from the county’s estimated 42,000 non-Rio Rancho residents. The Public Safety Emergency Communications Center of Sandoval County can only directly receive approximately 15% of 911 calls—those from […]