By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s Governing Body will decide Thursday whether to expand its Axon technology contract to nearly $4.4 million over 90 months, adding 25 more body cameras, AI-assisted translation and virtual reality use-of-force training to the police department’s toolkit. The council meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers, with […]
+Communities
District 2 dรฉjร vu: Wymer opens search for new council seat
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. District 2 has a vacancy on the horizon. Councilor Jeremy Lenentine announced Aug. 19 he’s resigning for family considerations, with his last day in office set for Nov. 12 โ handing Mayor Paul Wymer the job of finding a replacement under the same fast-track process that seated Councilor David Mann […]
Bernalillo job fair serves up careers โ and tacos
Job seekers in Bernalillo won’t have to look far this week โ a career and resource fair rolls into the Recreation Center Thursday with employers, blood donors and free tacos all under one roof. The Bernalillo Community Career & Resource Fair runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27 at 370 Rotary Park Road, according […]
Speed cameras bring in millions as public safety costs already outpace City’s new record budget
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. โ On the streets of Burque, itโs a tale of two financial realities: Automated speed cameras are bringing the city millions in revenue, while increasing police and fire costs are continuing to outpace the city budgetโs projections. According to the cityโs third quarter fiscal year 2026 revenue and expense report […]
Council president says city put the cart before the horse on $40.5M hotel deal
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. โ In Duke Cityโs Sawmill neighborhood, residents have fought for a say in what gets built around them. Now, City Council President Klarissa Peรฑa is warning that the council’s decision to approve a 20-year, multimillion-dollar tax break for a major hotel before its site plan is finalized leaves the historic […]
Grand re-opening: UNM Art Museum unlocks its doors after a year of organization and improvement
By Sara Atencio-Gonzales, The Paper. โ For an academic year, the galleries of the University of New Mexico Art Museum (UNMAM) looked different. Instead of exhibitions, the spaces became working areas filled with artwork, museum staff and students. Now, after a year spent behind the scenes, the galleries are open to visitors again. The UNM […]
Interim chief gets Bernalillo Fire job
By Rodd Cayton In a decision free of fanfare, the Bernalillo Town Council has named Bryan Picchione as the next fire chief. The unanimous vote makes permanent the position for Picchione, a lieutenant who had been serving as interim chief since the spring, when Chief AJ Bonnettโs term wasnโt extended. The 12-year department veteran has […]
Sandoval County Commission to award $6.9M landfill road contract, recommend new state rep
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County is about to pave the way โ literally โ for its new landfill, and hand the governor a name for an open seat in the Legislature, all in one Wednesday night meeting. Commissioners are set to award a $6,916,821.80 contract to Albuquerque Asphalt Inc. to build out 28th, […]
Rio Rancho’s speed cameras are racking up tickets โ and maybe too much cash
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho drivers are getting caught speeding at a record pace, and the city may soon have more camera-generated cash than it knows what to do with. The city’s newer speed camera network โ 10 mobile towers citywide plus three red towers installed on Highway 528 in June โ has […]
Stansbury demands answers on Project Jupiter’s water use, gives agencies a Friday deadline
By Kevin Hendricks, NM Political Report Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury is giving state agencies until Friday to publicly account for how Project Jupiter, the sprawling AI data center campus near Santa Teresa, will meet its water needs. Stansbury’s office sent a formal letter Monday to five state officials demanding answers on the project’s water rights, permits […]



