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.
Announcement Made at Round One Investment in Iowa
STANTON, Iowa, Dec. 12, 2019 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced the availability of a second round of $550 million in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reconnect Pilot Program funding appropriated by Congress. The application window for this round of funding is set to open Jan. 31, 2020. Secretary Perdue made the announcement alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds while congratulating the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company of Stanton, Iowa, for receiving $6.4 million in first-round Reconnect Pilot Program funding to connect 477 households, 35 farms and 21 businesses in Montgomery and Page counties.
Position is critical to restoring New Mexico’s natural resources
SANTA FE — Today, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is pleased to announce the appointment of Maggie Hart Stebbins as New Mexico’s Natural Resources Trustee.
As Trustee, Hart Stebbins will be responsible for leading state efforts to ensure contaminated, injured or damaged natural resources are restored for the betterment of the environment and the benefit of New Mexicans and visitors to our beautiful lands. She replaces NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney, who has served in an acting role since January 2019. Secretary Kenney and Hart Stebbins will work closely together to implement the Office of Natural Resources’ mission.
“Commissioner Hart Stebbins has already proven herself an ardent advocate for our environment and for our citizens,” Secretary Kenney said. “I am confident she will fight to ensure that those responsible for contamination of natural resources are held accountable and that affected resources are restored.”
Valley Drive/ Avenida de Mesilla Intersection Project
Las Cruces: The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) along with AUI INC. (Contractor) want the City of Las Cruces to know the department values your opinion.
Purpose: To provide specific project information regarding construction, project specifications and answer questions regarding the timeline of the project. We want this project to meet your needs and provide the safest route to your destination. The public is encouraged to ask questions, provide comments and to address any concerns they may have as it relates to this project.
Investments will Help 640 Businesses Boost Their Bottom LineIncluding Four Businesses in New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, NM Dec. 12, 2019 – Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $237 million to help farmers, ag producers and rural-based businesses lower energy costs. The Department is providing 640 awards to applicants in all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Western Pacific. USDA is providing the funding through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
“Businesses grow and create more jobs when their energy costs are lower,” LaVoy said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural businesses, because we know that when rural America thrives, all of America thrives.”
Mimbres, NM, December 11, 2019—The Wilderness Ranger District have turned the Forest Service horses and mules into the area of Terry Canyon. This pasture, off of Forest Road 4078V, is part of the Sapillo Allotment and is used by the Forest Service in cooperation with the permittee, The Nature Conservancy. The FS horses and mules are pastured between mile markers 18-22 and Lake Roberts on the north side of Highway 35.
District Ranger Rachelle Huddleston-Lorton states “It is vitally important, to both the health and safety of the public and the health and safety of the livestock, that all gates are closed when you exit the pasture.” If the gates are left open the horses and mules can wander onto the highway. This area is open to the public. All gates are identified with signs referring to the livestock in the pasture.
For information on the Gila National Forest, check out our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/gila.
Forest Products firm will boost economy of Northeast New Mexico
CIMARRON – The State of New Mexico is investing $350,000 in Lance Forest Products LLC, which is relocating a sawmill business to Cimarron as part of an effort to reinvigorate the timber sector in Northeast New Mexico.
Lance Forest Products is expected to hire at least 40 employees for the sawmill operations, with about an equal number of employees under contract to log the forests and deliver the timber and other products. Lance Forest Products will be located in Colfax County where another mill was destroyed by fire. The company is relocating from Northern California.
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced on Wednesday that she will be holding a community town hall on education in New Mexico ahead of the 2020 legislative session. The governor will be joined by Early Childhood Education and Care Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky, Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart, and Higher Education Secretary Kate O’Neill.
The town hall will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. at the APS Berna Facio Professional Development Complex at 3315 Louisiana Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
Childcare for children ages two and older will be available and snacks will be provided. The event will be streamed live online and open to the media. The URL for the live online streaming will be available on the governor's Facebook page.
Questions for the governor and cabinet secretaries on education may be submitted ahead of time at governor.state.nm.us/townhall/.
Santa Fe, NM–- Attorney General Hector Balderas today joined a bipartisan coalition of 56 attorneys general from every state, territory, and the District of Columbia in calling for Congress to permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs. Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
“The opioid epidemic has ravaged our communities and torn apart New Mexican families, so public officials must use every tool we can to prevent dangerous drugs from continuing this destruction,” said Attorney General Balderas. “My office will continue to fight to ensure that New Mexico has the resources it needs to recover from the generations we have lost to this epidemic.”
In the letter, the Attorneys General urge Congress to pass S. 2701, the Federal Initiative to Guarantee Health by Targeting (FIGHT) Fentanyl Act, a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Joe Manchin (D-WV).
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