Rio Rancho residents packed a Nov. 13 city council meeting to voice sharp divisions over a resolution that would provide water services to a controversial hypersonic missile manufacturing facility, with speakers citing both national security imperatives and environmental risks. The resolution, which authorizes the city manager to negotiate water and potentially wastewater services for Castelion’s […]
Communities
Posted inLocal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
County greenlights legislative agenda targeting IPRA, dispatchers and detention officer retention
Sandoval County Commissioners made key decisions regarding legislative priorities, juvenile detention and preserving professional firefighting in the Cuba area Nov. 12. With the 2026 legislative session just weeks away, Commissioners chose to OK a set of the county’s priorities, which staff and lobbyists will pursue in Santa Fe starting in January. The commission also signed […]
Posted inLocal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Rio Rancho fire chief raises concerns about Project Ranger’s impact
Rio Rancho Fire Chief James Wenzel warned city councilors Thursday that a proposed high-hazard facility in Sandoval County could strain the city’s fire department resources and pose unique safety challenges. Wenzel told the council Nov. 13 that Project Ranger, planned for county property just outside city limits, will trigger automatic aid responses from Rio Rancho […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, Westside Albuquerque
Sandoval County selected for hypersonic missile manufacturing facility
A California-based defense contractor has officially selected Sandoval County as the site for a 1,000-acre hypersonic missile manufacturing campus that promises to bring more than 300 jobs with average salaries of $100,000 to the area. Castelion announced Nov. 17 it chose Sandoval County for Project Ranger, a solid rocket motor manufacturing facility that will be […]
Posted inLocal Gov., Pueblos
Newly elected Moriarty city councilors to prioritize training and transparency
On Election Day, Kenneth Snow and Robin Spalding were voted in to fill the two open candidate seats for the Moriarty City Council, beating out incumbent Bobby Ortiz amid an ongoing controversy about the city’s financial recordkeeping. Snow and Spalding are both new to the council, and the two are acquainted neighbors from childhood, Spalding said. […]
Posted inLocal Gov., Westside Albuquerque
Rio Rancho approves $1 million supporting controversial hypersonic missile facility
The Rio Rancho City Council closed out a marathon meeting Wednesday night by voting to contribute $1 million toward a road extension project linked to a planned hypersonic missile manufacturing facility outside city limits, but only after adding safeguards requiring formal agreements on emergency response and road construction before releasing funds. The governing body approved […]
Posted inNew Mexico Statewide News, Pueblos
In Dem. primary for governor, former Las Cruces mayor talks pro-oil, anti-minimum wage agenda
Ken Miyagishima is hoping to be the next governor, but many of the voters he needs do not know which party’s nomination he is trying to capture. For Miyagishima, the former five-term Las Cruces mayor, that dilemma was on display at a Nov. 6 campaign event in Roswell organized by the local non-profit group Many […]
Posted inEdgewood
Town of Edgewood employee resigns amid ongoing struggles with turnover
The Town of Edgewood grants coordinator put in her letter of resignation on Nov. 12 just before the Town Commission meeting amid an ongoing struggle with administrative staffing, including the town manager’s resignation last month. In Town Clerk-Treasurer Shaline Lopez’s report to the commissioners, she told them that earlier that morning, she had received a […]
Posted inWestside Albuquerque
Sandoval County Landfill offering free half-day Saturday
If the weather holds up, Sandoval County residents will be treated to a free half-day of dumping at the county landfill. From 8 a.m. to noon. Saturday, residents won’t be charged disposal fees at the landfill, 2708 Iris Road NE. Customers may make multiple trips, but are limited to dumping four tires, two TVs and […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Pueblos
Nearly 400 more teachers to receive student loan forgiveness for teaching in high-need schools, subjects
Nearly 400 teachers working in New Mexico classrooms will receive student loan forgiveness this year through the state’s Teacher Loan Repayment Program, officials announced. The state awarded funding to 387 new teachers, adding to the 529 educators already receiving benefits through the program, which launched in 2013 to attract more teachers to the state. The […]