Your city, your news: ‘The 528’ goes live in Rio Rancho as the city’s free news hub

In Rio Rancho, “The 528” isn’t just a highway (Pat D’Arco Hwy/NM 528); it’s the spine of the city. It’s how we get to work, where we first expect to find a new spot to eat and how we navigate our lives. 

Named after NM 528—the central artery that connects the city’s residents and commerce—the outlet arrives at a critical juncture for the community. As Rio Rancho continues to expand its economic footprint and population, The 528 aims to fill a vital gap in local reporting by focusing on “impact journalism,” stories that explain how municipal decisions directly affect the daily lives and pocketbooks of residents.

In an era when local media outlets are cutting out local government coverage, online outlets focused on civic life, like our partners at New Mexico Political Report covering the legislature and City Desk ABQ in Albuquerque, are filling the news gap with stories explaining who makes decisions and how we, as residents impacted by them, can play our part.

Now, residents of New Mexico’s fastest-growing city have one of their own with the launch of The 528 (riorancho.news), a digital news hub focused on all things Rio Rancho, but especially on what happens in City Hall and how it affects us all.

The 528 launches as early voting kicks off for the city’s March 3 election, with a robust slate of coverage, including deep dives into the District 5 City Council race, mayoral candidate profiles and analysis of local bond issues and campaign financing. By prioritizing transparency and accountability, the outlet seeks to foster a more informed and engaged electorate.

“I believe a strong community starts with well-informed citizens and that’s why this is so personal to me,” 528 Editor Kevin Hendricks said. “I’m a proud Rio Rancho resident and I started The 528 to cut through the noise, summarize complex topics and highlight the impact of local policies on everyday life in Rio Rancho.”

As a partner in the NM.News network, The 528 combines local “boots-on-the-ground” reporting with the resources of New Mexico’s largest locally owned news collective. This partnership ensures that Rio Rancho’s interests are represented not just locally, but within the broader context of Sandoval County and state-level politics.

Key features of The 528 include:

• Civic Watchdog Coverage: Real-time reporting on City Hall, School Board and Planning & Zoning actions.
• Impact Journalism: Narrative reporting that focuses on the human consequences of local legislation and economic development.
• Hyper-Local Focus: A dedicated space for Rio Rancho’s unique identity, separate from the Albuquerque media market.

“We believe that a healthy democracy starts at the local level,” Publisher Pat Davis said. “No one should have to pay to access information about their government so we keep all of our local civic coverage 100% free for anyone to access.”

Residents can access coverage for free and sign up for news alerts at https://riorancho.news/. Also, make sure to follow us on social media.

Welcome to The 528… Your road to local news.