By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper Rio Rancho drivers tired of squeezing through Northern Boulevard’s current lanes will get their first look at the finished expansion design during a virtual public meeting Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. The city, working with the New Mexico Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, will walk residents […]
Rio Rancho
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Legal dead end: NM Supreme Court closes door on late ballot swaps
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Thursday that neither Matthew Wayne Herman nor Anthony Allison will appear on the November ballot, siding with county clerks in Sandoval and San Juan counties and closing out a two-week legal fight over how late a political party can replace a candidate who drops […]
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Rio Rancho’s bear summer continues: Another animal relocated from neighborhood
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s summer bear surge continued Tuesday when police and state wildlife officers tranquilized and relocated an animal roaming the Cabezon neighborhood. Working alongside the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, RRPD safely tranquilized the animal Tuesday morning and confirmed it will be relocated to Northern New Mexico. Officials say this […]
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Debate over privacy concerns continues as council backs new police tech deal
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho police will roll out 25 new body-worn cameras, automatic evidence tagging and virtual reality training after the Governing Body voted Aug. 27 to consolidate three separate Axon contracts into one 90-month agreement. Lt. Brandon McKinney told the council the deal bundles existing TASER, body-worn camera and Fusus real-time […]
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Treating the pack: How the Bark Bar is winning over Rio Rancho’s dogs
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. There’s a food truck rolling through Rio Rancho and Albuquerque where the entire menu is off-limits to people. Bark Bar, launched about six months ago by Chad Rutter, serves handmade “pup cups” and treats built exclusively for dogs — and the owner believes it’s the first business of its kind […]
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New RioTECH center puts students in the driver’s seat for future careers
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho high schoolers can now train on professional-grade auto shop equipment without leaving campus — or paying tuition — after CNM and Rio Rancho Public Schools cut the ribbon Aug. 28on the new Transportation Systems Technology Center at RioTECH. The 43,800-square-foot facility becomes the new home for CNM’s Automotive […]
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Rio Rancho residents urge city to cut ties with Flock camera network
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Four Rio Rancho residents pressed the governing body Aug. 27 to pull the plug on the city’s Flock Safety camera network, arguing that 19 cameras logging every passing license plate amounts to warrantless mass surveillance — not the crime-fighting tool police describe. Joaquin Montoya, speaking on behalf of privacy advocacy […]
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Rio Rancho police credit ALPR cameras with dozens of arrests, vehicle recoveries
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho’s automated license plate reader network has grown to 19 cameras citywide, and police say the system — all of it run through vendor Flock Safety — is paying off in stolen vehicle recoveries and arrests. Police told councilors during an Aug. 18 work session that the most recent […]
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Big investments ahead: Council reviews police tech, well rehab, townhomes
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 […]
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District 2 déjà 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 — handing Mayor Paul Wymer the job of finding a replacement under the same fast-track process that seated Councilor David Mann […]