The family of a 29-year-old woman who died of a fentanyl overdose while in custody at the Sandoval County Detention Center has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county and its private medical provider, alleging staff ignored her severe mental health crisis and failed to prevent lethal drugs from circulating in the jail. The […]
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How to explore Sandoval County by bike and train
By Riann Martinez, Rio Metro Regional Transit District If youโre looking for a new way to explore central New Mexico, why not combine a scenic train ride with a bike adventure? With the New Mexico Rail Runner Express and a looping network of cycling locations in Sandoval County, itโs easier than ever to hop off […]
Sandoval County communities mark Independence Day with parades, festivities
Sandoval County residents will have a few options for observing the Fourth of July holiday. Parades are scheduled for Corrales, Placitas and Rio Rancho. In Placitas, parade entrants will line up at Placitas heights at 9 a.m., with the procession starting at 10, traveling down State Route 165. Organizer Jim Madueรฑa said the parade has […]
Reading 9 to 5: Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library expands to Sandoval County
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order expanding Dolly Partonโs Imagination Library Program across the state. This program will ensure that every child born in New Mexico up to the age of five receives free, high-quality books each month through the book gifting initiative. โToday, weโre unlocking the potential of our youngest minds and […]
With 10 years on the air, Placitas radio station is looking ahead
Submitted by KUPR Many things hold together the fabric of a community; local radio is one of them. Serving Placitas and the surrounding communities is a tiny, low-power FM station that just celebrated its 10th anniversary. While an eclectic mix of music is at the center of the stationโs programming, KUPR is also deeply rooted […]
Las Placitas Association update: Buffalo Tract could go up for sale
News on the Buffalo Tract Project. The Las Placitas Association team has completed most of the work necessary to turn the project over to SWCA. SWCA is the company hired through a rigorous vetting process to update the Environmental Assessment of the Buffalo Tract for use as a recreational area. With constantly added recreation requirements/prohibitions […]
Introducing the elk to the world
Did you know thereโs an elk ranch in Placitas? If not, you have plenty of company, says Keith Allen West of the Elk Ridge Ranch on State Route 165. He said many in the community are unaware of its existence. The first Placitas Ranch Fest, which takes place Saturday, could change that. The event will […]
Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District celebrates 100 Years of service
The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD) is marking a significant milestone in 2025: its 100th anniversary. As the district enters the 2025 irrigation season, it celebrates a century of managing water resources in the Middle Rio Grande Valley, a task that has historically been met with numerous challenges and continues to face difficulties with […]
Award-Winning children’s author Daniel Vandever to visit Placitas Library
The Placitas Library will host award-winning childrenโs author and illustrator Daniel Vandever for a summer reading program on June 28 at 1 p.m. Vandever (Dinรฉ) is an entrepreneur hailing from Haystack, NM, and serves as the CEO of South of Sunrise Creative, a strategic communications firm dedicated to advancing education initiatives through a community-based approach. […]
Juneteenth: whatโs open, whatโs closed
Thursday is Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Texas. Sandoval County and some of its communities will be observing the holiday, meaning most services will be unavailable. Most City of Rio Rancho offices and facilities will be closed. Emergency and public safety services will operate […]



