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 […]
Local Government
Posted inRio Rancho
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 […]
Posted inCity Desk ABQ
Speed cameras bring in millions as public safety costs already outpace City’s new record budget
By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — On the streets of Burque, it’s 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 budget’s projections. According to the city’s third quarter fiscal year 2026 revenue and expense report […]
Posted inTown of Bernalillo
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 Bonnett’s term wasn’t extended. The 12-year department veteran has […]
Posted inSandoval County
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 — literally — 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, […]
Posted inEdgewood
Cleaning up the books: Edgewood manager says leadership fixing town’s accounting
By Rodd Cayton The Town of Edgewood is righting its fiscal ship, according to Town Manager Kelly Hamilton, with finance manager Amber Sanchez at the helm. She’s turning the Titanic away from the iceberg,” Hamilton told the Route 66 Independent. “She’s working diligently on getting us a clean set of books, so we have a […]
Posted inCorrales
New Corrales architect out to protect ‘gem’
By Rodd Cayton The selection of Siegel Design Architects LLC to provide professional services to Corrales was approved by the Village Council, but only after discussion of whether the spirit of the rules was being followed. Councilors OK’d the one-year professional services agreement, under which Siegel Design is to be paid $49,999.99 — a penny […]
Posted inRio Rancho
Rio Rancho child care access grows with two new facility approvals
By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho families looking for child care options will have two more choices soon, after the Governing Body unanimously approved site plans for a new La Esperanza preschool near City Center and a daycare facility near Southern Boulevard and Golf Course Road. La Esperanza expansion clears final vote The board […]
Posted inCorrales
The plan is in place: Corrales to send water outline to state engineer’s office
By Rodd Cayton The Village of Corrales has a 40-year water plan. The document, required by the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and crucial to the village’s water future, was approved at the Aug. 18 Village Council meeting. It projects Corrales’ long-term water supply needs and identifies conservation protocols for the village. Before […]
Posted inCorrales
New road rules to be mapped out
By Rodd Cayton The $10 fine for not having reflectors on one’s bicycle in Corrales is probably going away. The Village Council next month will review changes to its uniform traffic code, and one item to be considered is updating the fee schedule. Some fines haven’t been increased in decades, and Police Chief Victor Mangiacapra […]