Valencia County News-Bulletin

07/29/2025

The highest, final beam of the framing for the Valencia County hospital was placed this morning in a "topping out" ceremony. This marks the end of vertical building for the facility. The Christmas tree on the beam is to bring good luck to those working the site for the rest of the build and those who will use the building when it's complete. The beam was signed by members of the Bradbury Stamm construction team, the Valencia County commissioners, as well as representatives from the healthcare partners for the hospital - Lovelace Healthcare and CHC. The new hospital is being built at the northeast corner of Main Street and Sand Sage Road in Los Lunas.

07/29/2025

Notice: There will be sandbags available to pick up today from 1-4pm at the Impala Water Shop (Just West of Main St. off of Impala Dr.). Please note there is a 10 bag limit per household.

07/29/2025

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government has filed a complaint against the elected officials of the Village of Bosque Farms.

When can the public be kicked out of an open meeting?
That’s a question we’ve been considering after several calls to our helpline last week from people in one New Mexico town.
Obviously, a member of the public can be made to leave when they get violent or threatening. Also, if that member of the public disrupts the meeting.
But what if it’s more than one person? When is it OK to remove all members of the public from a meeting?
The short answer is never. It might be *necessary* to remove an entire audience, but it’s never okay.
The state’s Open Meetings Act was created to protect the public’s right to observe the government in action. That right should not be taken away lightly or without significant reason.
Yet at the town council meeting in question, the public was removed after one audience member exchanged words with the mayor and a few minutes later the crowd clapped for 2.5 seconds.
The mayor, through a representative, said he was justified in removing the public because they were “disruptive” and that he’d fulfilled the requirements of the Open Meetings Act by allowing the media to stay.
But the Open Meetings Act does not protect the media’s right to observe an open meeting. It protects the public’s right to observe an open meeting.
We felt so strongly about what happened that we filed a complaint against the town with the New Mexico Department of Justice.
While we await their determination, we remind all elected officials of this: The public has the right to be at an open meeting. You’re only there because they gave you a seat.

07/29/2025

“Our focus is still going to be on the belief that all students can grow,” said BCS Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez.

BELEN — With the last week of summer break on the horizon, Belen Consolidated Schools is beginning the 2025-26 school year with the focus squarely on student growth.

07/28/2025

⚠️ 💻⚠️

07/28/2025

☁️🌩️⛈️🤞

07/28/2025

Hurricanes earn pool plaudits as season ends

Belen

07/27/2025

There was no quinceañera party for the School of Dreams Academy last school year for the charter school’s 15th anniversary, but that doesn’t mean there was nothing to celebrate, said SODA Superintendent Mike Ogas.

LOS LUNAS — There was no quinceañera party for the School of Dreams Academy last school year for the charter school’s 15th anniversary, but that doesn’t mean there was nothing

07/27/2025

The 2025-26 school year promises to be a year of change in Los Lunas Schools with a brand new Peralta Elementary School, policy changes and other initiatives that will promote community involvement.

LOS LUNAS — The 2025-26 school year promises to be a year of change in Los Lunas Schools.

07/27/2025

High school football season approaches, schedules set

As someone once said, are you ready for some football?

07/27/2025

Maestas agreed to a plea deal in which he admitted to both possessing and manufacturing child s*xual abuse material, voyeurism and two counts of child abuse.

A Belen man who investigators said s*xually assaulted an underage relative and a neighbor and who was found in possession of copious amounts of child s*xual abuse material was sentenced

07/26/2025

The New Mexico Crisis and Access Line’s online Resource Hub makes it easy to access trusted, local support that fits your individual or family needs.

Resources Finding the right support should be easy. That’s why we provide a variety of resources to help individuals, families, and providers connect with the care they need. Whether you’re looking for mental health services, recovery support, crisis intervention, or self-care tools, we’re her...