#Front Page - Rio Rancho Archives - Page 4 of 13

The Station Corrales is a new community-minded retail & gathering space to the village. Some of the stores open now are The Village Refinery, Moonflower Botanicals, The Enchanted Boxcar as well as the Stationary. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales for the Paper

A love letter to Corrales: Historic property transformed into family-friendly destination

by Rodd Cayton September 29, 2026September 29, 2026

By Rodd Cayton There are no trains stopping at The Station Corrales, but it’s still a destination. The long-vacant Corrales property, which includes some historic Santa Fe Railway buildings, recently hosted a grand opening celebrating its first tenants. Those business owners and one of the project founders spoke with the Corrales Comment about what visitors […]

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs the ceremonial shovel for Bernalillo Mayor Jack Torres during a groundbreaking ceremony for the town's new fire station on Sept. 28. (Rodd Cayton)

■ Courts & Justice

Honoring the past, protecting the future: Bernalillo breaks ground on Donato Sanchez Fire Station

By Rodd Cayton The past met the future in Bernalillo Monday morning. Town officials hosted New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other dignitaries at the closed Roosevelt Elementary School to break ground on a new Donato Sanchez Fire Station No. 1. The $10 million project is expected to be completed in about a year. […]

The National UFO Historical Records Center located in Rio Rancho. The center helps collect, preserve, and provide historical UFO materials to the general public and interested parties. It is located on the southern end on the campus within Martin Luther King Elementary school. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales for the Paper

■ Education

Vibes or value? RRPS board expands UFO archive deal, calls for student impact metrics

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho students will get a UFO club at RioTech and twice as many UFO lectures after the school board expanded its partnership with the National UFO Historical Records Center. The board also wants proof the deal helps kids learn. The Rio Rancho Public Schools board voted 4-1 to amend […]

The Luxe has its zoning. The Rio Rancho City Council voted 5-1 Thursday to rezone a Lomas Encantadas corner and a slice of neighborhood park for 55 apartments and two small shops. Fourteen residents had lined up to ask councilors to kill it.

■ Local Government

Controversial Lomas Encantadas vote postponed amid heated exchange and councilor apology

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. A Rio Rancho city councilor apologized to residents Thursday and named the Planning and Zoning Board’s chairman as the reason, after a hearing on the Lomas Encantadas rezoning two nights before ended in a delay, a shouted objection from the audience and a remark from the chairman that drew the […]

County Manager Wayne Johnson delivered Sandoval County's first formal State of the County address since 2020 Wednesday, using a "Six Years of Progress" slide deck to argue the county is "stronger, safer" than in July 2020 — and pitching the report itself as a new annual tradition.

■ Local Government

‘Stronger, safer’: Johnson’s first State of the County touts six years of gains

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. County Manager Wayne Johnson delivered Sandoval County’s first formal State of the County address since 2020 Wednesday, using a “Six Years of Progress” slide deck to argue the county is “stronger, safer” than in July 2020 — and pitching the report itself as a new annual tradition. Johnson said his […]

Drivers heading south on Western Hills Drive will have to take the long way around starting Monday, when the city closes the southbound lanes between Southern and Cabezon boulevards for a $2.3 million rebuild.

■ Local Government

Southbound and down: Western Hills lanes close Monday for $2.3M rebuild

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Drivers heading south on Western Hills Drive will have to take the long way around starting Monday, when the city closes the southbound lanes between Southern and Cabezon boulevards for a $2.3 million rebuild. Contractor TLC begins the first phase of work Sept. 28, according to the City of Rio […]

Mayor Paul Wymer and the Governing Body meet at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24 for a special work session, according to the city's agenda. On the list are an update on the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, the 2026-2027 planning calendar, and goals for City Manager Matt Geisel.

■ Local Government

Are we there yet? Rio Rancho leaders check the map on the city’s five-year road trip

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Rio Rancho residents wondering where their city is headed, and who’s holding the steering wheel, can find out Thursday when the Governing Body pulls over to check the map. Mayor Paul Wymer and the Governing Body meet at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 24 for a special work session, according to the […]

■ Local Government

Wine not? Rio Rancho council to decide whether a Northern Meadows home can uncork a licensed winery

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Life is short. That’s the Latin behind Vita Brevis, and Matthew Champlin has spent the better part of a year learning just how long it takes to turn a room in his Northern Meadows home into a licensed winery. The Rio Rancho Governing Body will decide Thursday whether to approve […]

Commissioners will vote on their intent to issue industrial revenue bonds for two battery storage projects on Exus Renewables North America land. Encino Storage LLC would build up to 110 megawatts, backed by up to $280 million in bonds. TAG II Storage LLC would build up to 90 megawatts in Rio Rancho Estates, backed by up to $230 million.

■ Local Government

Fully charged: Sandoval County to weigh battery farm bonds, bridge fix and road cash

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Sandoval County’s Wednesday agenda comes fully charged. Commissioners will vote on bonds for two battery farms, a design to replace a Rio Puerco bridge that’s the only way in and out for some residents, and about $5.5 million in state road money. Commissioners meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Bernalillo. […]

Superintendent Robert Dodd and three top administrators introduced the proposed name, Horizon 2040, at last week’s school board meeting. The plan would run from 2027 to 2032 while looking ahead to the Class of 2040, today's 4-year-olds in early childhood programs.

■ Education

RRPS wants your input on ‘Horizon 2040,’ a five-year plan to become NM’s top district

By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper. Parents, students and teachers will get a say in a new five-year plan for Rio Rancho Public Schools, starting with community meetings this fall. Superintendent Robert Dodd and three top administrators introduced the proposed name, Horizon 2040, at last week’s school board meeting. The plan would run from 2027 to […]