It was a windy election day in Rio Rancho Tuesday but it wasn’t the winds of change that were blowing. Rio Rancho voters chose continuity Tuesday, electing District 4 City Councilor Paul Wymer as the city’s next mayor in the April 14 runoff election. As of 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, Wymer was ahead of retired teacher […]
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Posted inEast Mountains
This time, it’s a ‘no’
Village councilors in Tijeras Monday officially rejected a zoning change they had previously chosen to set aside in the face of overwhelming public pushback. Mayor Jake Bruton told the Route 66 Independent the council erred by letting a public hearing on rezoning 58 acre property near I-40 and State Route 14 conclude without taking a […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Local firefighters arrested, held in assault on mentally ill man in Estancia
By Pat Davis –– Two Estancia residents are facing serious felony charges after allegedly taking justice into their own hands and severely beating a homeless man last month. On the evening of March 25, 2026, an Estancia man, who is also a supervisor in the county fire department, allegedly attacked a male, who is described […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
Suspect in custody after shooting, manhunt shuts down Rail Runner, cancels Bernalillo school
A man is in custody after an early-morning shooting near U.S. Highway 550 in Bernalillo triggered a multi-agency manhunt Tuesday that shut down Rail Runner service and forced Bernalillo Public Schools to cancel classes for the day. Bernalillo police responded around 4:49 a.m. after a 911 caller reported someone firing at their vehicle on westbound […]
Posted inCorrales
Corrales council moves to end vague ‘that’s how it’s always been’ road decisions
Village councilors in Corrales are seeking to make their decisions on road projects clearer. The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting includes possible approval of a policy governing road paving, repair and maintenance procedures for the village. The topic moved to the forefront of Corrales debate in February, after several residents of Perea Road took issue with […]
Posted inSandoval County
Greater access to the Great Outdoors
A pair of Sandoval County projects will share in the latest round of state trail grants. Los Amigos de Valles Caldera and the Pueblo of Santa Ana’s Tamaya Wellness Program will receive $46,000 and $99,999, respectively, from the Outdoor Recreation Division of the Economic Development Department of New Mexico. Los Amigos de Valles Caldera says […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho voters choose their next mayor Tuesday — here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls
Rio Rancho voters head to the polls Tuesday to choose the city’s next mayor — and the choice couldn’t be clearer. District 4 City Councilor Paul Wymer, a licensed architect and planner with more than 40 years in Rio Rancho, faces Alexandria Piland, a retired union teacher and former Sandoval County Democratic Party chair, in […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho runoff on pace to top March turnout — if Election Day holds
Rio Rancho’s mayoral runoff is on pace to exceed total turnout from March’s six-candidate municipal election — a potentially historic result for a race that typically draws far fewer voters. The city clerk’s office reported 10,230 early votes cast in the runoff, representing 12.5% of the city’s 81,919 registered voters ahead of Tuesday’s election. That […]
Posted inEdgewood
Pushback prompts Edgewood to pause new employee Non-Disclosure Agreements — but not for long
By Pat Davis — A surprise mandate issued this week for all employees to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements in order to work for the Town of Edgewood should now be considered more of a “first draft” for a future requirement, town leaders told the Independent, after city workers balked at signing them. Several town employees contacted […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho governing body rejects Orchard Park master plan over holdout lots, park concerns
Rio Rancho’s Governing Body rejected a proposed 278-home subdivision Thursday night after councilors raised concerns that the development skirted ownership requirements and shortchanged future residents on park space. The Orchard Park Master Plan, proposed by AMREP Southwest on 43 acres north of Northern Meadows near Wilpett Drive NE and Progress Boulevard NE, failed on a […]