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 […]
Sandoval County
Posted inLocal Gov., Town of Bernalillo
Bernalillo hires new fire boss
By Jesse Jones The Town of Bernalillo has a new lead firefighter. Adam “AJ” Bonnett was sworn in as fire chief at the May 12 town council meeting after receiving unanimous support from the Councilors and mayor. Bonnett steps into the role at a time of steady growth and momentum for the department. After a […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Motor vehicle thefts fall 27% in Rio Rancho in 2024
By Jesse Jones In Rio Rancho, car thefts and break-ins have dropped, likely due to police crackdowns. The City of Vision has seen an 11.4% decrease in property crime as a whole over the past two years. Motor vehicle thefts fell 27.5% and thefts from vehicles dropped 56.5%, according to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s […]
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Rep. Cullen champions crime reform and education bills
By Jesse Jones Fresh off her first 60-day session, Rio Rancho Republican Rep. Catherine Cullen is highlighting legislative wins focused on empowering communities, cracking down on crime and improving New Mexico schools. Cullen, a former Rio Rancho Public Schools board member and associate real estate broker, sponsored or co-sponsored 25 bills during the session, with […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho sees decline in violent crime, despite surge in homicides
By Jesse Jones Violent crime in Rio Rancho is shifting — while homicides have risen, aggravated assaults and reported rape cases have dropped. New crime data from the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report paints a picture of declining violent crime in the area. Violent crime in Rio Rancho dropped about 20% from 2022 […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Falling Crime, Rising Population
By Jesse Jones Crime in Rio Rancho has dropped by just over 16% over the past two years, even as one of the state’s fastest-growing municipal populations continues to grow. According to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report, the number of reported offenses fell from 8,681 in 2022 to 7,283 in 2024, marking […]
Posted inRio Rancho, rio-rancho
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 […]
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Sen. Block reflects on key legislative victories, plans for future bills
By Jesse Jones Republican Sen. Jay Block of Rio Rancho, who represents Senate District 12, returned to familiar ground in April, giving Sandoval County commissioners a rundown of legislative wins and losses from the 60-day session. The freshman senator sponsored 37 bills during his first session, which included major wins like a $1 billion behavioral […]
Posted inNew Mexico Legislature #nmleg, Sandoval County
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 […]
Posted inPueblos, santa-ana-pueblo
Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa announces guestroom renovation, new staycation offer for locals
Staff report Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa has completed a $15 million renovation of its 327 guestrooms, the resort announced Tuesday. Located between Albuquerque and Santa Fe on the Santa Ana Pueblo, the resort’s upgraded rooms now feature designs inspired by local woven fabrics, pueblo pottery, and the colors of chile peppers and blue […]