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 those events please visit Local News Releases.
USDA Seeks Public Comment on More Revised Conservation Practice Standards
Albuquerque, N.M., March 27, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to 49 national conservation practice standards through a posting in the Federal Register. The proposed revisions posted this week with the public comment period closing April 23, 2020.
The 49 updated national conservation practice standards include:
Cibola County, NM - On March 28, 2020 at around 2:30 a.m. the New Mexico State Police responded to a double fatal five-vehicle crash on eastbound Interstate 40 at about mile post 73 near Grants, NM.
The initial investigation indicates a 2020 Volvo Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) driven by Saydiev Otabek (26) of Rego Park, NY was traveling east on Interstate 40. Eastbound traffic ahead of the Volvo was at a standstill due to snow packed and icy roads with minor crashes in the roadway. The Volvo CMV failed to stop and collided with the stopped traffic at a high rate of speed.
(Albuquerque, N.M.) – Today, the PNM Resources Foundation announced it collectively gave $210,000 to sixteen nonprofits for their work in improving the quality of life for the nearly 2,500 homeless in New Mexico. Each nonprofit grant recipient has programs making an impact throughout the state that reduces homelessness and shares the PNM Resources Foundation vision of moving New Mexico forward together.
Santa Fe County, NM – On March 27, 2020 at around 10:00 p.m. the New Mexico State Police responded to a hit and run crash in which a pedestrian was struck and killed on Highway 14, mile post 43 near the Santa Fe Detention Center.
Officers arrived to find Kevin Michael Poirier (45) of San Diego, CA had been struck by a vehicle that fled the scene. Poirier was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by the Office of the Medical Investigator.
The investigation indicates Poirier was walking south on Highway 14 and was struck by what investigators believe to be a south bound 2015 Ford Pick-up Truck. After striking Poirier, the truck fled the scene. The truck will have front end damage and will be missing a mirror.
“As we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to take a moment to recognize our Vietnam War veterans on this day: March 29…National Vietnam War Veterans Day.
March 29 is the day our nation recognizes the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home from their service in Vietnam.
Today many in our nation may debate the merits of that war. However, in issuing a state proclamation declaring the day as “National Vietnam War Veterans Day” in New Mexico, I think there should be no debate about recognizing and thanking the men and women who served in Vietnam—and thanking their families—for their sacrifices made when answering the call for military service.To our Vietnam War veterans, “Welcome Home.” Attached is an official Governor’s Proclamation declaring March 29 as Vietnam War Veterans Day throughout the state.”
SANTA FE —The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s Construction Industries Division offices will be closed to the public beginning next week to minimize social contact that could spread COVID-19.
Division offices will be closed indefinitely, beginning at the start of business Monday, March 30. Working from home, office employees will continue responding to inquiries and reviewing plans.
The change is to protect contractors, their employees, project owners, employees of the department’s Construction Industries Division and the public at large from spreading the novel coronavirus while still allowing projects to move forward.
For contractors unable to submit electronic plans, a single employee will be at division offices to accept paper plans on the following schedule:
Statewide, NM – The New Mexico State Police has been made aware of rumors going around the state that law enforcement is making traffic stops to determine if a person is an essential worker or if their travel is essential.
This is FALSE. The New Mexico State Police is not making traffic stops to ensure the public or their travel is considered essential. New Mexicans can leave their house while following the guidelines of the Emergency Public Health Order. The order prohibits mass gatherings and says that groups can be no larger than five (5) people and you must maintain a six (6) foot distance between others.
“Our goal as a law enforcement agency is to protect those communities and the state in which we live. We are in this together and keeping everyone healthy is all our responsibility.” Said Tim Johnson, Chief of the New Mexico State Police.
4-H member John Turner participates in a “Technology and Design” project session during the COVID-19 closure of his school. Thirty youth participated in the initial video-conferencing sessions about the basics of creating digital presentations, graphic design, digital illustrations, sound design, animation and game design. Sessions were offered twice a day for 10 days. (NMSU photo)For some youth, the COVID-19 closure of their school building is a time to learn about technology and design tools that they can use to create digital projects.
New Mexico State University’s 4-H Youth Development department is offering daily video-conferencing sessions to 4-H members where they learn the basics of creating digital presentations, graphic design, digital illustration, sound design, animation, and game design.
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Editor's Note
New classified for Silver City church seeking office manager.
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