Sandoval County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 24 to celebrate its new dispatch center, even as the facility remains unable to independently handle approximately 85% of 911 calls from the county’s estimated 42,000 non-Rio Rancho residents. The Public Safety Emergency Communications Center of Sandoval County can only directly receive approximately 15% of 911 calls—those from […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Vehicle fire temporarily closes Interstate 40 east of Moriarty
Sunday’s vehicle fire on eastbound Interstate 40, just east of Moriarty, led to a temporary shutdown and showcased the coordinated emergency response efforts that safeguard both residents and travelers. The Moriarty Fire Department responded on automatic aid to assist Torrance County Fire Department at approximately 6:30 p.m. Sunday at mile marker 195 on Interstate 40, […]
New Mexico sues chemical giants over widespread ‘forever chemical’ pollution
The State of New Mexico has filed a sweeping lawsuit accusing a number of major chemical companies of knowingly polluting land, water and communities across the state with toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer, immune dysfunction and even reproductive harm. The lawsuit, filed in June by Attorney General Raúl Torrez and the New Mexico Environment […]
Albuquerque native and UFC Hall of Famer arrested on gun charges
Albuquerque native and UFC Hall of Fame fighter Diego Sanchez was arrested early Friday morning on gun-related charges after allegedly firing a weapon from a moving vehicle near a traffic crash on Interstate 40, according to court documents filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. Sanchez, 43, was booked at 12:01 a.m. Friday and charged with […]
Crash on I-40 near Moriarty leaves one dead, two hospitalized
One person died and two others were hospitalized July 17 when a semi-truck crashed into an RV on Interstate 40 near Moriarty, forcing a temporary closure of the major highway that serves as a key route through the area. The crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. at mile marker 204 on westbound I-40, approximately eight miles […]
Silver and Turquoise Alerts coming to New Mexico cell phones
New Mexico residents will soon receive emergency alerts directly on their cell phones when Silver Alerts and Turquoise Alerts are issued for missing vulnerable adults, according to a New Mexico State Police press release. The alerts will be sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts system to ensure rapid, widespread notification to the public when a […]
Sandoval County dispatch center opens but Rio Rancho challenges its readiness
The Public Safety Emergency Communications Center of Sandoval County (PSECC) isn’t just a new dispatch hub, says Deputy County Manager Eric Masterson. The building, which began taking calls July 1, also represents an opportunity to create a culture of excellence from the ground up, he said. County officials say it’s the first large-scale dispatch center […]
Man shot at Rio Rancho’s Rainbow Park; two arrested
A shooting at Rainbow Park Thursday morning left one adult male hospitalized and prompted police to arrest two people for questioning, disrupting what should have been a typical summer day at one of Rio Rancho’s busiest family recreation areas. The incident occurred at approximately 9:40 a.m. at the 14.7-acre park located at 301 Southern Blvd. […]
Video: Home explosion rocks Albuquerque neighborhood
A northeast Albuquerque home is a “total loss” and the home next door sustained serious damage following an early afternoon explosion that rocked an otherwise quiet residential neighborhood Wednesday. Albuquerque Fire Rescue was called to the 9400 block of Woodland Ave NE just after 1:30 p.m. and arrived to find “a large incendiary explosion that […]
Albuquerque ramps up fireworks enforcement and safety ahead of July 4th
Burqueños can expect ramped-up patrols and enforcement over the Fourth of July holiday to curb illegal fireworks and prevent fires in high-risk areas like the Bosque and foothills. With recent arson activity and a rise in illegal fireworks, Albuquerque Fire Rescue and the Albuquerque Police Department are stepping up efforts to keep neighborhoods safe from […]

