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A Placitas man was facing 18 counts of animal cruelty charges after the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office found dozens of dogs and five horses in varying states of health on his property in Feb. Reporter Jesse Jones has an update in this week’s feature story on why the charges were dismissed for the second time.

New in Sandoval County this week


Animal Cruelty Case Against Placitas Man Dismissed, Again

Case was dismissed after witness violation during a virtual trial

By Jesse Jones

A magistrate judge dismissed animal cruelty charges for the second time against a Placitas man, who was initially charged on Feb. 26 after authorities said they found dozens of Australian shepherds and five horses on his property. Paul Jaramillo, who faced 19 total misdemeanor charges — 18 counts of animal cruelty and one count of […]

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One injured in hot air balloon crash in Rio Rancho

By Kevin Hendricks

The Rio Rancho Police Department said that officers responded to a hot air balloon crash early Wednesday morning. According to RRPD, the balloon crashed as it was attempting to land on the old golf course.  “The balloon struck a large tree in an open field suspending the gondola approximately 25 feet above the ground,” RRPD […]

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UNM SRMC reaches ‘tentative’ deal with health professionals unio

By Kevin Hendricks

After more than two years of public feuding, the University of New Mexico Sandoval Regional Medical Center and the United Health Professionals of New Mexico division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which represents UNM SRMC workers, reached a tentative contract agreement, the union announced Friday. The medical center and the union were finally […]

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Make the Rio Grande Again

Agreement aims to protect river from pollutants flowing through urban arroyos

By Jesse Jones

To protect the Rio Grande and manage stormwater runoff, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority signed an agreement Oct. 8 to construct the Middle Venada Water Quality Facility. The $2.1 million facility will capture 96% of stormwater runoff from the 16-square-mile Venada watershed, preventing trash, sediment and pollutants […]

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There are even more stories in the Signpost’s print version. Make sure to pick it up on newsstands today.



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Kevin Hendricks, AKA Steak Sauce, has been covering news in New Mexico for 18 years, including coverage of Sandoval County since 2023.