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 […]
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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
Rio Rancho pharmacist running for House
Ndidiamaka “Didi” Okpareke says she loves New Mexico and wants to be part of lifting the state that has given her multiple opportunities to meet its full potential. Okpareke is running as a Republican candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat in next year’s election, challenging Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury. Okpareke, 41, lives […]
Posted inOpinion & Analysis
Medicare 101
Submitted by Brenda Murray, a senior health advocate from Edgewood Medicare was introduced in 1965, but despite its long history still seems intimidating to many. If you find Medicare confusing, you are not alone. This article is meant to provide some basics about what Medicare does and does not do, its costs and how to […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Pueblos
University of New Mexico shooting leaves one dead, one injured with suspect still at large
Updates and Related Content Check back often for updates on this developing story. A shooting at the University of New Mexico’s central Albuquerque campus has left one person dead and another injured, prompting an emergency campus closure and a large-scale police response. In the early hours of Friday morning, UNM Police Department (UNMPD) responded to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Conservation & Climate, Pueblos
Video: Ruidoso avoids more tragedy as flash flood prompts 5 rescues
Emergency responders successfully rescued all five people trapped by Thursday’s flash flooding in Ruidoso, marking a far less severe event than the deadly flooding that killed three residents just 16 days ago. Heavy monsoon rainfall caused a major flash flood near the village of Ruidoso on Thursday afternoon, with the Rio Ruidoso cresting at 12.5 […]
Posted inLocal Government, Pueblos
Moriarty could owe employees $18,000 in backpay and thousands in IRS fines
By Connor Currier Moriarty City Clerk/Treasurer Deborah Liu told councilors and the mayor at Moriarty’s City Council meeting on Wednesday night that the city has failed to disclose thousands of dollars in fines from the IRS and has short-changed employees at least $18,000 in take-home pay because of lax internal controls going back years. Liu, […]
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 inEdgewood
Edgewood eyes unified approach to infrastructure with new advisory committees
By Connor Currier In a move aimed at strengthening the town’s infrastructure planning, Edgewood’s July 22 meeting centered on the proposed formation of two technical advisory committees: one focused on solid waste, and the other on water and wastewater systems. But a key suggestion from the town manager may reshape that plan entirely by combining […]
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 […]