By Rick Holben, East Mountain Historical Society Cerro Huerfano, or “Orphan Hill,” located near what is now Tramway Boulevard and Copper NE in Albuquerque, is a small rocky outcropping that was designated one of the western boundary markers of the Cañon de Carnué Land Grant in 1819. That year, Governor Facundo Melgares – who served […]
Author Archives: Kevin Hendricks
Kevin Hendricks is an editor with nm.news where he oversees Sandoval County newsrooms. A native of Southeast ABQ, he reported for the ABQ Journal and Rio Rancho Observer before joining nm.news in 2024.
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Moriarty High School robotics team wins state title, heads to World Championship
By Kevin Hendricks Moriarty High School’s newly formed NM-MESA robotics team has had quite a debut season, winning the VEX V5 NM State Championship in early March and qualifying for the World Championship in Dallas in May. The team is composed of freshmen, sophomores, and seniors with a focus on competition and small-scale robotics. It […]
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Mountainair gears up for Hall of Excellence and Pinto Bean Queen crowning
By Kevin Hendricks The Town of Mountainair is preparing for a big celebration on March 29 at the Dr. Saul Community Center. The annual Hall of Excellence event will honor distinguished citizens and the beloved Pinto Bean Queen competition will crown its 2025 winner. Mayor Peter Nieto announced the 2025 Hall of Excellence inductees earlier […]
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11-year-old from Torrance County in custody for role in the murder of Corrales cyclist
By Kevin Hendricks Police arrested another minor who is accused of intentionally crashing a stolen car into and killing a 63-year-old Corrales man who was riding his bike last summer in Albuquerque. The Albuquerque Police Department announced Tuesday that an 11-year-old is in custody for his role in the murder of Scott Habermehl, a longtime […]
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PNM again considering cutting the power in the East Mountains
The Public Service Company of New Mexico is again considering a Public Safety Power Shutoff in the East Mountains on March 18. Earlier this month, PNM announced plans to shut off power to 10,000 customers in the East Mountains due to high wind conditions that could create a fire risk. Later that same day, PNM […]
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State Senate confirms East Mountain’s Kenderdine to governor’s cabinet
On March 10, the New Mexico Senate confirmed Melanie Kenderdine as cabinet secretary for the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department. Kenderdine, who grew up in the East Mountains, graduated from Manzano High School and the University of New Mexico. In May, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Kenderdine as Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico […]
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Legislature Midpoint: One Step Forward…
Oh, New Mexico. It seems like we can only have one nice thing at a time, when it comes to the Legislature. Or maybe two. Good progress is being made with good government bills and healthcare reform. But then… There’s the economy. Three bills concern me greatly: a five-dollar minimum wage increase, which would make […]
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Proposed Border Office Bill Goes South in Committee
By Nicole Maxwell A bill seeking to create a temporary cabinet department on the southern border failed in committee Wednesday morning. SB 257, which would have set up a Border Security Office, failed in the Senate Rules Committee. “The purpose of this legislation is to create a temporary, four-year Office of Border Security in the […]
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East Mountain High is a Finalist for National Award
By Independent Staff East Mountain High School was named a Building Hope IMPACT Awards finalist last week. According to a press release, the Building Hope Awards celebrate the transformative power of education through four award categories: Community Engagement, Educational Innovation, Student Empowerment and the S. Joseph Bruno Model Charter Award, which has East Mountain High […]
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Diamond Tail Solar Project Approved Despite Local Opposition
By Kevin Hendricks Despite fervent opposition from local residents, the Sandoval County Commission last week gave the green light to a controversial solar power and battery storage development in the East Mountains. The 3-2 vote on Feb. 18 approved a zoning request that allows the Diamond Tail solar and storage project to proceed. The Diamond […]