By Kevin Hendricks Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, is pressing the Department of Defense for answers regarding the recent transfer of more than 100,000 acres of public land in three New Mexico counties to the U.S. Army. In April, over 109,651 acres of federal land along […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inBernalillo County, Courts, Justice & Safety
Choosing the chief
By Rodd Cayton Bernalillo County is asking the public to help find the right person to serve as its next fire chief. Community members are invited to a community input session Monday. URE Consulting, a firm that specializes in executive recruiting services for police and fire agencies, plans to gather feedback from residents about their […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Torrance County
Torrance County firefighter named finalist for New Mexico 2025 Firefighter of the Year
Torrance County Fire and Emergency Services has announced that Firefighter/EMT-Intermediate Nicaea Spomer is a finalist for the New Mexico 2025 Firefighter of the Year Award. Spomer has served with Torrance County Fire and Emergency Services for two and a half years, demonstrating a strong commitment to the community, according to a press release from Torrance […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Shoplifting in Rio Rancho soars
By Jesse Jones Most crimes in the City of Vision are down, with shoplifting being one of the few exceptions. According to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report, shoplifting cases have increased by 13% since 2022, likely due to economic pressures and city growth. “Shoplifting is something that we’re always after,” Mayor Gregg […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Watch: Firefighter photos, video take you inside efforts to fight massive industrial fire in North Valley
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County firefighters battled a massive industrial fire in the North Valley Tuesday afternoon. The property contained large stacks of wooden pallets which burned quickly in the wind-driven incident. No firefighters or civilians were injured, though the property owner was evaluated and released on scene, according to fire officials. Fire officials documented their […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Motor vehicle thefts fall 27% in Rio Rancho in 2024
By Jesse Jones In Rio Rancho, car thefts and break-ins have dropped, likely due to police crackdowns. The City of Vision has seen an 11.4% decrease in property crime as a whole over the past two years. Motor vehicle thefts fell 27.5% and thefts from vehicles dropped 56.5%, according to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s […]
Reader-supported
Albuquerque Police Department finished with federal oversight after years of reform
By Rodd Cayton Federal oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department is over. The city and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a joint motion in federal court Friday to release the department from monitoring connected to high numbers of excessive-force incidents and police shootings. On Monday, U.S. District Judge James O. Browning officially dismissed the […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Rio Rancho sees decline in violent crime, despite surge in homicides
By Jesse Jones Violent crime in Rio Rancho is shifting — while homicides have risen, aggravated assaults and reported rape cases have dropped. New crime data from the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report paints a picture of declining violent crime in the area. Violent crime in Rio Rancho dropped about 20% from 2022 […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Rio Rancho
Falling Crime, Rising Population
By Jesse Jones Crime in Rio Rancho has dropped by just over 16% over the past two years, even as one of the state’s fastest-growing municipal populations continues to grow. According to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report, the number of reported offenses fell from 8,681 in 2022 to 7,283 in 2024, marking […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque bus driver suffers broken bones after being attacked by passenger
By Kevin Hendricks — A City of Albuquerque bus driver suffered broken bones after being attacked by a passenger on the bus last week near the University of New Mexico. According to the incident report from the Albuquerque Police Department, the male driver was on his route at the intersection of Central Ave. and University […]