A question posed in these pages last May — “Where’s the Pride in Sandoval County?” — is about to have an answer. Rio Rancho will host its first-ever Pride celebration on June 6, the result of a grassroots effort that came together after our sister paper, the Sandoval Signpost, reported that New Mexico’s third-largest county […]
Rio Rancho
Posted inElections & Politics, Rio Rancho, The 528 Rio Rancho
Continuity vs. change: Wymer, Piland offer Rio Rancho voters a clear choice in runoff
City Councilor Paul Wymer and former Sandoval County Democratic Party chair Alexandria Piland will square off April 14 in a runoff election to determine who will succeed Mayor Gregg Hull, with the two candidates presenting voters a clear choice between continuity and change. Wymer led the six-candidate March 3 field with 6,240 votes, or 45%, […]
Posted inLocal Government, Rio Rancho
From pipes to premiums: How Rio Rancho’s $63M water investment impacts you
The Rio Rancho Governing Body will hold a final vote Thursday on a $63.4 million water and wastewater bond ordinance that unanimously cleared its first reading last month, setting the stage for the city to move quickly on a sweeping infrastructure investment plan. If approved on second reading at the 6 p.m. meeting, the city […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho fire chief selected for elite national leadership program
Rio Rancho Fire Chief James Wenzel is one of 24 fire service leaders selected nationwide to participate in the 2026 Fire Service Executive Development Institute, a prestigious year-long leadership development program administered by the International Association of Fire Chiefs. Wenzel, who was in Baltimore last week for the program’s first on-site session, said the cohort’s […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Son arrested after mother suffers severe, bloody head injury in domestic dispute
A 33-year-old Rio Rancho man was arrested Sunday night after his mother was hospitalized with a serious head injury following a domestic disturbance at a southeast Rio Rancho residence, according to court records filed Monday in Sandoval County Magistrate Court. Officers responded at approximately 10:15 p.m. March 8 to the 500 block of Pecos Loop […]
Posted in+Arts & Culture
Boba Catch: Rio Rancho’s quirky new entertainment hub
By Noah Gollin, The Paper. — Boba Catch, the new entertainment center in Rio Rancho, feels almost too surreal to exist. It is a claw arcade and boba tea shop fitted with a Korean ramen bar, ice cream, and full-body VR simulators. A large, Transformers-esque animatronic robot greets you at the door. It is not […]
Posted inElections & Politics, Rio Rancho
Money talks: Rio Rancho mayoral runoff candidates lead in cash and votes
The two candidates who raised the most money in the Rio Rancho mayoral race are also the two headed to the April 14 runoff, according to campaign finance reports filed before the March 3 election and released publicly March 6. City Councilor Paul Wymer and former Sandoval County Democratic Party chair Alexandria Piland together raised […]
Posted inRio Rancho, The 528 Rio Rancho
Heads up, Rio Rancho drivers: Key road closure starts Monday for $8.4M project
A section of Broadmoor Boulevard will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday as crews work to connect a new water line as part of a multimillion-dollar road and utility improvement project. Access to Broadmoor Blvd. from Nicklaus Drive will be blocked from March 9 through March 16 while contractors complete a water line tie-in, […]
Posted inEvents, Rio Rancho, The 528 Rio Rancho
Your weekend lineup: Rock royalty rolls into Rio Rancho
Rock and roll royalty headlines a packed weekend in Rio Rancho and surrounding communities, with Heart bringing its “Royal Flush Tour 2026” to the Rio Rancho Events Center on Saturday alongside a slate of outdoor, cultural and local entertainment options. Ann and Nancy Wilson are set to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
New equipment, more tickets: Rio Rancho speed cameras issue thousands of citations in first 30 days
Rio Rancho’s new automated speed cameras issued nearly 6,000 citations in their first 30 days of live enforcement, with data showing thousands more violations still pending review, according to figures provided by program vendor Verra Mobility and reviewed by The 528. In 2024, the previous system issued a total of 18,739 speeding citations, averaging approximately […]