Non-Local News Releases
This category will feature news releases from out-of-area government agencies and representatives, as well as events that are not taking place in the four-county area of Grant, Catron, Hidalgo or Luna. For local events please visit Local News Releases.
NMSU names Cecil Rose as director of Black Programs
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 02 June 2023 02 June 2023
New Mexico State University's Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity has selected Cecil Rose as the new director of Black Programs. Rose began his new role at NMSU June 1.
Rose brings extensive insight and vision from his prior experiences in higher education to NMSU's Black Programs, one of five diversity programs under the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Diversity. He comes to NMSU from Oglethorpe University, where he has most recently served as the associate director of student success as of 2017.
"The Equity, Inclusion and Diversity division is thrilled to welcome Mr. Cecil Rose to the NMSU Aggie and Las Cruces communities. Mr. Rose brings with him an astute approach to supporting students, along with critical staff and faculty engagement," NMSU Vice President for Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Teresa Maria Linda Scholz said. "Mr. Rose will be an important part of the diversity programs' team of directors, as they work collaboratively on intersectional programming that creates a sense of belonging for the students they support. He will be a tremendous asset to NMSU's Black Programs."
IPANM Issues Statement on Chaco Canyon 10-Mile Buffer Declaration
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 02 June 2023 02 June 2023
IPANM (June 1, 2023) - The following statement has been released by Jim Winchester, Executive Director of the Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico regarding the Department of Interiors declaration of a 10-mile buffer zone around Chaco Canyon.
"The arbitrary 10-mile boundary imposed around Chaco Canyon announced today is discompassionate to generations of Navajo Allottees -- many living in poverty -- who will now lose out an estimated $194 million in potential royalties; is indifferent to the pleas of the Navajo Nation against a blatant government taking; is complete capitulation to pressure from outside environmental groups who simply want to outright ban all oil & gas drilling; and, is highly unethical due to Secretary Deb Haaland's own family conflict of interest due to her daughter's local political activism.
Rare Plant Removal Rule Strengthened
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
American Hart's-tongue fern added to state list of endangered species
Santa Fe – A rule governing the removal of rare and endangered plants in the state has been amended to help curb the decline of rare plant populations.
The previous rule, listed in Section 75-6-1 NMSA 1978, only prohibited “removal of endangered plants with the intent to possess, transport, export, sell, or offer for sale.” Now, the word “take” has been more clearly defined to be “destroy/remove/harm.”
This amended rule further authorizes the Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s Forestry Division to prohibit the taking, possession, transportation, exportation from the state, processing, sale or offer for sale, or shipment of listed plants or plant materials, except for permitted scientific purposes or propagation and transplantation activities that enhance the survival of endangered species. In cases where removal of these species is unavoidable, the amendment has created an “incidental take” permitting system.
President’s Investing in America agenda to invest $7.6 million in restoration work in New Mexico
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
SANTA FE, N.M. – As part of the President’s Investing in America agenda, the Bureau of Land Management will invest $7.6 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to increase fire resiliency and protect native vegetation on public lands in New Mexico. This funding will be focused in one landscape area called the Lower Pecos Restoration Landscape.
This funding is part of the BLM’s announcement to invest $161 million in ecosystem restoration and resilience on the nation’s public lands. The work will focus on 21 “Restoration Landscapes” across 11 western states, restoring wildlife habitat and clean water on public lands and strengthening communities and local economies.
These investments follow the release of the Department’s restoration and resilience framework to leverage historic investments in climate and conservation to achieve landscape-level outcomes across the nation. The Department is implementing more than $2 billion in investments to restore our nation’s lands and waters, which in turn is helping to meet the conservation goals set through the America the Beautiful initiative.
Heinrich, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Support Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research, are introducing the bipartisan Agrivoltaics Research and Demonstration Act of 2023.
“Agrivoltaics keeps farmland in production, generates clean energy, and strengthens rural economies,” said Heinrich. “The systems offer producers a way to diversify their income and make their operations more resilient. I’m proud to be introducing this legislation alongside Senator Braun – to support agrivoltaics research and scale these systems on farmlands from the Southwest to the Midwest."
“When we can help farmers and producers get more income out of their croplands, it’s a win,” said Braun. “This bill will research agrivoltaics – solar panel systems that can be deployed over crops that can benefit from partial shading during the day – and how they can help farmers get more out of their fields.”
NMSU researchers study solar tornadoes' impact, news conference in Albuquerque June 5
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
WRITER: Minerva Baumann, 575-646-7566, mbauma46@nmsu.edu
SOURCES: Juie Shetye, jshetye@nmsu.edu; Oana Vesa, ovesa@nmsu.edu
Imagine a tornado the size of Texas. Now imagine studying 86 of those tornadoes on the surface of the sun.
New Mexico State University Astronomy Assistant Professor Juie Shetye and Oana Vesa, astronomy Ph.D. candidate, are researching the impact of these massive storms both in the solar atmosphere and ultimately on Earth.
Vesa will give a poster presentation "Characterization of Chromospheric Swirls on the Quiet Sun," at the conference of the American Astronomical Society in Albuquerque. She will present her research between 9 and 10 a.m. Monday, June 5, in the exhibit hall of the Albuquerque Convention Center. She also will participate in a news conference about this research later that day at 2:15 p.m. at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Room 215.
Settlement approved in civil case related to 'Rust' movie set shooting
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
A stipulated order approving a settlement for a minor, a protected person, was entered today in a civil lawsuit related to the "Rust" movie set shooting. The case is Matthew Hutchins, et. al., v. Alexander R. Baldwin III, et. al., D-101-CV-2022-00244. A sequestered hearing regarding the settlement was conducted today in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe.
The order approving the minor settlement is a public record. Other documents and materials related to the settlement have been sealed by the court. The June 1 order approving the minor settlement and the April 16 sealing order are attached.:
Heinrich, Luján Welcome Air Force Decision to Make Kirtland AFB the Preferred Location For Space Delta 11
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are welcoming the announcement that the Department of the Air Force has selected Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. as the preferred location for Space Delta 11, a new training mission that will fall under the U.S. Space Force Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM).
“Landing the Space Delta 11 mission at Kirtland Air Force Base is a big deal for New Mexico. It will bring hundreds of jobs into our state and grow the space and defense ecosystem that we’ve been investing in for years,” said Heinrich. “New Mexico has world-class public and private space innovators and an exceptional workforce training pipeline. We are the ideal place to build our military’s future in space, and this mission gives us a real foothold to do that.”
"While New Mexico has always been at the forefront of space exploration, the selection of STARCOM's Delta 11 to be based in New Mexico marks a significant milestone in our journey towards becoming a key hub for cutting-edge space technology," said Luján."I'm thrilled to welcome Delta 11 and its advanced range and combat replication capabilities, which will not only enhance our national security but also provide unparalleled opportunities for local talent, job growth, and economic development. I look forward to the incredible possibilities that Delta 11 will bring to New Mexico."