2025 year in review Part 2: April to June

April

• A young Rio Rancho teen, Owen Pagano, died in a boating accident on Cochiti Lake and in the same month was remembered with a vigil. 
• Sandoval Academy of Bilingual Education (SABE) opened its new building on Quantum Road.
• The now-popular breakfast spot, Brekki Brekki, had its grand opening, already packed as soon as the doors opened.
• Rio Rancho High School basketball coach Wally Salata was dismissed from his position. In the same month, Steve Heredia was named the new coach.
• The Duke City Galdiators arena football team was sold and went on hiatus for the season.
• The Rio Rancho Schools Employee Union protested President Donald Trump's order to close the Department of Education. 
• A 16-year-old Rio Rancho High School junior varsity baseball player faced 15 counts of battery after he urinated in the La Cueva team's water jug. The District Attorney's Office later determined a crime was not committed.
• 2 Brothers Automotive Detailing and Upfitting opened its doors in Rio Rancho as a veteran-owned business serving not only the general public, but police in the area.
• Powerlifting programs from both high schools in Rio Rancho came close to placing at state but came just short of the achievement. One powerlifter from Rio Rancho High School overcame a failing pancreas to win back-to-back state titles, however.
• The Chamisa Hills housing and shopping development was approved by Rio Rancho's governing body in place the long-argued former golf course property.
• An RRHS student killed by a drunk driver last year was remembered during National Donate Life Month.
• Eric Masterson, former Sandoval County Fire Chief, was named as the county's deputy manager.
• Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull's campaign for New Mexico governor started to unofficially pick up steam.
• Rio Rancho Proud Moments ABA opened off of Unser Boulevard and Spring Road.
• The Sandoval County Sheriff's Office requested public help in identifying a female body found in 2023 they are calling Sandoval Star.
• A former U.S. Navy pilot talked to Cleveland High School Students about a UFO she saw.
• Mariposa's isolated community got its own restaurant after a year of waiting. Screaming Coyote, owned by Kellen and Francesca Wilson, took up residence near the community center there.
• A Rio Rancho soccer player from Mountain View Middle School got to play in a prestigious game in Spain.
• RRHS athletes signed on to colleges in a spring event. 

May

• RioTECH, a career and technical education campus in Rio Rancho, officially opened.
• Rio Rancho Market Street, the 100th United Family location along side Albertsons and Safeway locations, opened for business.
• The Rio Rancho Governing Body considered moving the municipal election from March to November. The move, which would have done away with ID verification and prolonged terms by more than a year, was ultimately not approved.
• Jamie Silva-Steele, previous Sandoval Regional Medical Center President, announced her leave from the position as the hospital merged with University of New Mexico Hospital downtown and several administrative positions were cut.
• Cleveland High School boys track and field took first at the Harper Invite, an Albuquerque meet.
• Charlie Vause, a runner from Rio Rancho High School, broke a course record.
• Professional hockey announced its to return to Rio Rancho.
• A local veteran donated colorblind correcting glasses to Rio Rancho High School students.
• Steve Mackie announced his retirement and the sale of Tenpins & More Bowling Alley after 25 years in Rio Rancho.
• Cleveland High School boys tennis took the district championship.
• Cleveland High School boys track and field won the Metro Tournament.
• High Schools in Rio Rancho and Bernalillo celebrated the graduations of the Class of 2025.
• The new ownership of Lectrosonics, a wireless systems manufacturer in Rio Rancho, was announced.
• A double murder trial against Elbert Turner, a man accused of killing a couple living on a neighbor's property and moving their bodies, ended in a mistrial. Turner was convicted of tampering with evidence but the jury hung on the murder charge.
• Rio Rancho Fire Chief James Defillippo announced his retirement and that Deputy Chief James Wenzel would be taking his place.
• The mother of Adrian Maestas, a murdered Rio Rancho teen, remembered him on Mother's Day.
• Two hundred National Guard members received a send off ceremony at Cleveland High School before they were deployed to Africa.
• Remains found in 2001 in Sandoval County were identified as 1950s wrestler and actor Keeble Wafford Sr., aka Kimo Mahi, of Hawaii.
• Cleveland High School boys and Rio Rancho High School girls track teams took state titles.
• After 15 years at Cleveland High School, theater tech teacher Keith Abrahamson retired.
• CNM and Rio Rancho Public Schools broke ground for a new facility geared toward automotive programming.
• The Duke City Gladiators considered a brand and name change.
• Bob's Burgers announced an expansion into Enchanted Hills as a drive-thru-only location.

June

• Mayor Gregg Hull postponed his official announcement for his gubernatorial campaign.
• A Rio Rancho teen participated in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., but was eliminated in the third round.
• A Bernalillo teacher sued the school district for wrongful termination.
• Rio Rancho Rockets, the local special Olympics team, earned several medals in the New Mexico Summer Games.
• Immigrations and Customs Enforcement made arrests at Rio Rancho's Walmart on Unser Boulevard. In the same month, Sandoval County denied being a sanctuary county even though it appeared on a list of designated communities. However, the county did not clarify any stance on ICE in the area, just that they would back law enforcement.
• The disruptive work by Comcast to get Rio Rancho connected to Xfinity fiber optics reached its 50% complete mark.
• A senior living complex opened on Stephanie Road.
• A teen from the Cleveland High School track and field broke a state record at the Great Southwest meet.
• The New Mexico Labor Board's decision that Sandoval Regional Medical Center violated the law regarding union negotiations was upheld by a judge.
• Beth Pendergrass, Rio Rancho Public Schools public information officer, passed away after years of battling cancer. 
• Lovelace broke ground for a new urgent care clinic in Bernalillo on NM 528.
• Cleveland High School's Anthony Del Angel was named Gatorade Player of the Year for baseball.
• Residents of Rio Rancho shared concerns with state Rep. Alan Martinez and the New Mexico Department of Transportation about a dangerous section of road on NM 528 at Pasilla Road.
• A retired Army sergeant was gifted with a house from Homes for Heroes.
• Rio Rancho residents sued the city of Rio Rancho for improperly approving ordinances.
• Chris Bagley was sworn in as Sandoval County Fire chief.
• Pre-football season got started with 7-on-7 matches at Cleveland High School.
• Three people were injured in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 25.
• Creative Crossroads, Rio Rancho Players and R4Creating started to move into a more permanent location in the Hilltop Plaza in Rio Rancho.