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.
New Mexico Counties Awards over $345,000 for Wildfire Risk Reduction
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 17 May 2023 17 May 2023
2023-2024 Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program Recipients
SANTA FE, NM - New Mexico Counties awarded over $345,000 to eleven grant recipients for community wildfire protection plan updates, fuel reduction treatments, and education efforts through the 2023-2024 Wildfire Risk Reduction Grant Program. Grant recipients include Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District (2 grants – education and fuels), Claunch-Pinto Soil & Water Conservation District, Dixon Community Fire District, East Mountain Wildfire Preparedness Association, Rio Arriba County, Socorro County, South Central Mountain RC&D Council, Taos County, Torrance County, and the Village of Angel Fire. The collaborative vetting process included the Bureau of Land Management, Forest Stewards Guild, NM Counties, NM Department of Game & Fish, NM Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, NM Forestry Division, NM State Land Office, and US Fish & Wildlife.
Wildfire awareness, mitigation, and resilience helps New Mexico communities respond to evolving ecosystems.
Traffic Alert: White Sands Missile Range - US 70 Roadblock
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
LAS CRUCES - The New Mexico Department of Transportation District One office (NMDOT) along with White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) have posted an alert for Wednesday, May 17, 2023.
US 70 will be blocked three times beginning at 7:55 a.m. and the second block will begin at 8:55 a.m., and the third at 9:55 a.m., lasting approximately 1 hour each. The blocks will be located at 'BLUE Block' (2 miles east of the access road - Mile Marker 172) and at 'BROWN Block' (Mile Marker 192). Nike Avenue will also be impacted by this block; however, Owen Road and Las Cruces Gate will remain open.
All roadblocks are subject to change without notice, please call WSMR at 575-678-2221/2222 for updates or go to New Mexico Department of Transportation: www.nmroads.com or call 511.
Students from T or C, La Loma take top awards at NMSU Innoventure Challenge
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
Students from across New Mexico and the region gathered at New Mexico State University this spring to participate in the final competition of the 2022-2023 Innoventure Challenge, an event for young entrepreneurs-to-be. The event is hosted by NMSU’s Arrowhead Center.
This year’s final event took place March 30 at the Corbett Center Student Union. The Innoventure Challenge is a year-long competitive event open to middle and high school students throughout New Mexico and the Borderplex region. During the school year, students are challenged to think like entrepreneurs and to design simple prototypes out of an approved list of materials, all in a four-week timeframe. This challenges them to quickly put their teams’ ideas to the test and create innovative products.
Three preliminary rounds are scheduled every school year, two in the fall semester and one for the early spring semester, with each round having its own theme. Across New Mexico, 385 students participated in the preliminary rounds for the 2022-2023 Innoventure Challenge.
Interstate 25 San Antonio Interchange Study
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
Second Virtual Public Meeting
The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is evaluating improvement alternatives on the Interstate 25 (I-25) San Antonio Interchange, which is approximately 0.5 miles west of San Antonio, New Mexico between Milepost (MP) 139 and MP 140. I-25 connects with US 380, which is the main road into the nearby community of san Antonio. The purpose of this meeting is to go over the improvement alternatives developed and the study team's recommendations. We appreciated your involvement in the first meeting this past November; however we want to hear your thoughts on the alternatives and study recommendations! Please join us on Thursday, May 18, 2023, starting at 6:00 pm to learn more and share your input!
How to Participate
Thursday, May 18, 2023, 6:00 pm (MT)
NM State Auditor Maestas and State Treasurer Montoya Issue Joint Alert to Local Governments Regarding Collateralization and Signatory Authority
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
SANTA FE – With recent high profile bank failures raising serious concerns about the need to safeguard money in banks, New Mexico State Auditor Joseph M. Maestas and New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya have issued a joint alert to all counties and municipalities throughout the State. Audits of state entities have caught the attention of the State’s top financial watchdogs, indicating that collateralization laws and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) guidance are inconsistently followed across the State.
In recent months, some local governments bypassed the collateral requirements by adding multiple employees or elected officials to bank accounts to secure $250,000 of FDIC insurance for each account signer. New Mexico state law requires banks to have proper collateralization to safeguard taxpayers’ money. Any amount of public money held in banks over the $250,000 insured by the FDIC must be backed by other forms of sureties.
Medical Cannabis Program adding insomnia as a qualifying condition
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health’s Medical Cannabis Program(MCP) announced Tuesday the addition of insomnia to the program’s list of qualifying conditions for enrollment starting June 1, 2023.
The announcement was made this morning at the MCP’s Medical Advisory Board meeting. A petition requesting insomnia be added as a qualifying condition was submitted for consideration at the board’s last meeting March 7, where the board members eligible to vote unanimously voted to support the recommendation.
In his written decision approving the advisory board’s petition, Department of Health Secretary Patrick M. Allen wrote:
Bureau of Land Management New Mexico seeks public comment for proposed November 2023 oil and gas lease sale
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
SANTA FE, N.M.– Consistent with the direction in the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office released an environmental assessment analyzing 11 parcels (595.55 acres) for the proposed November 2023 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale. These include six parcels located within Eddy and Lea counties, New Mexico (433.55 acres), and five parcels located within Pittsburg and Woods counties, Okla. (162.00 acres). The release of this environmental assessment starts a 30-day public comment period, which will end June 15, 2023.
The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in March 2023 and now seeks public comment on the environmental analysis. All parcels leased as part of an oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources.
Public comments are accepted electronically via the BLM Land Use Planning and National Environmental Policy Act Register (ePlanning). Comments received by other methods will not be accepted.
Heinrich, Luján Introduce New Legislation to Respond to Immediate Needs at Southern Border
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 16 May 2023 16 May 2023
New proposal would provide immediate assistance as Title 42 expires
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), to introduce a legislative proposal to respond to the immediate needs on the southern border. While not a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform, the Senators’ proposal would provide funding to federal officials and local communities responding to an increase in asylum seekers admitted into the United States as Title 42 comes to an end.
“Title 42 ending will have undeniable impacts, and it is vital that our local, state, and non-governmental organizations in New Mexico are fully equipped with the federal resources needed to ensure an orderly and humane process at the border,” said Heinrich.