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.

CYFD processes more than 900 back-payments to foster families and providers 

May 4, 2023 -- In the last three weeks, the Children, Youth and Families Department reimbursed more than $210,000 in 950 payments to foster families and providers, virtually eliminating a backlog that had some families waiting to be reimbursed for months. The issue was raised by multiple individuals at a CYFD roundtable in early April, prompting the changes.   

“An immediate priority I identified upon coming into this role at CYFD is a need to rebuild and strengthen relationships and how the department works with foster families,” said CYFD Acting Secretary Teresa Casados. “Foster families are such a critical part of how a child welfare system functions, and we have to make sure they are getting the resources they need to be successful.”  

The department is also currently revising the reimbursement process to make it more efficient and more user friendly, including an online portal for reimbursement requests for foster families, counseling and education services and other providers. 

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Wildfire Preparedness Is Year-Round  May 2023

Get to know Ready, Set Go! 

Santa Fe, NM – With the start of the 2023 wildfire season in New Mexico and Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday May 6, it is vital to have an emergency kit and an evacuation plan in place for you and your family.  

The 2023 Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round campaign that provides monthly wildfire preparedness tasks that follow the changing seasons. The May message from the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) Forestry Division,along with our partners, agencies and non-governmental organizations is, “Get to know Ready, Set, Go!.”  

Whether you live in the wildland-urban interface or in a rural area in the mountains, communication is key during wildfire season. Be sure to register with your local government’s emergency management office for text or email notifications and connect with your county or city’s social media. The Ready, Set, Go! New Mexico program provides tips and tools to prepare for a wildfire emergency and create a personal action plan.  

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Aggie Legend, ‘A’ Mountain awardees recognized at NMSU Founders Day

Founders Day at New Mexico State University is a time to commemorate all the things that make the university special, including its students, faculty and staff. NMSU’s Employee Council hosted the Founders Day event April 27.

“Founders Day is a time to celebrate our heritage and honor the history of our university, which was founded in 1888 as the state’s land-grant university,” said Susanne Berger, chair of NMSU Employee Council. “We also honor the Aggies who have contributed to NMSU’s mission of fostering learning, inquiry, diversity and inclusion, social mobility, and service to the broader community.”

This year, the Aggie Legend Award honored L. Neil Burcham, a retired professor in NMSU’s College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, who died in December 2022. Burcham was recognized for his lasting impact, contributions and achievements.

“Dr. Burcham was chosen as the recipient of this award because of the profound impact he had on hundreds of students and colleagues, as well as his contribution to the livestock industry in New Mexico and beyond,” Berger said.

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Insight from Mental Health Expert, Jennifer Covarrubias on Anti-Bullying Day

Anti-Bullying Day is observed annually every May 4. It is a day when the world pledges to end bullying in schools. Bullying is as old as human society. Sometimes, the signs are apparent and wilful. Other times, it is insidious and may exist where we least expect it — family, friends, or others close to the victim. 

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Clinical Director of Outpatient Services for the Mental Health Center of San Diego, Jennifer Covarrubias says “Children are at higher risk since bullies prey on the most vulnerable. Every child has the right to grow up without experiencing abuse, especially in places of learning designed to be safe spaces.” Jennifer also emphasizes that Bullying can cause feelings of rejection, exclusion, isolation, and low self-esteem, and some individuals can develop depression and anxiety as a result. In some cases, it can even develop into Acute Stress Disorder or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. 

Anti-Bullying Day raises awareness about bullying and how to support children who may be silently suffering from it.

NMSU’s spring 2023 Outstanding Graduate Award recipients embody diligence, focus, brilliance

The Alumni Association of New Mexico State University has announced the seven recipients of its biannual Outstanding Graduate Award, representing each college of the university, plus the Graduate School.

These Outstanding Graduate Award winners exemplify the best and brightest of the class of 2023 spring semester:

  • Paloma Y. Hernandez Perez, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Bachelor of Science in hotel, restaurant and tourism management
  • Kayla Moehn, College of Arts and Sciences, Bachelor of Science in genetics (genetics and biotechnology) and Bachelor of Arts in philosophy
  • Sylvia Ximena Porras, College of Business, Bachelor of Business Administration (economics)

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State Announces $2M in Capacity Building Grants for Local Governments

DFA to host webinar for local entities on May 12, 2023

SANTA FE – New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) announces the 2023 New Mexico Capacity Building Grants for council of governments and local and tribal governments to secure grant professionals. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham approved $2 million this year for local entities to secure grant managers or writers.

"We want to provide local governments with every necessary resource to access additional federal funding for their communities," said DFA Cabinet Secretary Wayne Propst. "Capacity Building Grants can serve as a valuable aid in obtaining experienced personnel to help local entities take advantage of potential grant opportunities. Our staff is ready to get these funds to local entities so they can hire the right people to find more grant possibilities."

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NM Hospitality Association Honors Three Hospitality & Tourism Professionals with 2023 Tourism Hall of Fame Award

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—The New Mexico Hospitality Association (“NMHA”) is pleased to announce its inductees for the 2023 New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame - the highest honor for New Mexico hospitality and tourism professionals who embody the ideals of professionalism, integrity, and service to the industry. The inductees for 2023 are Tom & Jerean Hutchinson, owners of La Posta de Mesilla, and Bill Lee, CEO of the Grant-McKinley County Chamber of Commerce. 

“These Hall of Fame inductees represent the best of our industry from around the state,” said NMHA CEO, Kathy Komoll. “They have dedicated years of commitment to building the hospitality and tourism industry, and we’re excited to spotlight their achievements.”

The 2023 Hall of Fame inductees will be honored at the NMHA Hall of Fame Dinner in Las Cruces on May 8 during the 2023 Governor’s Conference on Hospitality & Tourism Presented by New Mexico True. The Hall of Fame dinner is being sponsored by Visit Albuquerque.

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NMSU photojournalism students exhibit photos of small village life in New Mexico

It’s not just what you see but how you see it.

A small group of NMSU photojournalism students took their cameras to small towns in southern New Mexico as part of a project in photojournalism professor Bruce Berman’s classes in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies.

“I’m always thinking ‘what would I do if I were still a student?’ And I would want something real, not just academic,” Berman said. “So, I proposed the Small Villages Project, and they liked it.”

Berman spearheaded the “Small Village New Mexico” photo-documentary project more than a decade ago when he urged his students to begin documenting life in small villages along the Rio Grande Valley between Hatch and Anthony.

“I was able to get some really good shots and explore the villages,” said Hannah Hunter, a senior graduating in May with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies.

Read more ...

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