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.
New Partnership with Louisiana State University NCBRT/ACE
Spaceport America, NM – Spaceport America and the Louisiana State University National Center for Biomedical Research and Training/Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education (LSU NCBRT/ACE) jointly held an emergency response preparedness training exercise at Spaceport America on March 10 -13, 2020 for the Spaceport America team and statewide first responders.
The goal of the training course, titled “A Prepared Jurisdiction: Integrated Response to a CBRNE Incident,” was to allow Spaceport America personnel and about 150 first responders throughout the state of New Mexico, the opportunity to cross train and understand the capabilities of each agency.
SANTA FE – In response to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s March 11 declaration of a public health emergency, Superintendent of Insurance Russell Toal has issued an emergency rule prohibiting health insurers from imposing cost sharing, including copays, coinsurance and deductibles, for testing and health care services related to COVID-19. The rule also covers pneumonia, influenza, or any disease or condition that is the subject of a public health emergency.
“Gov. Lujan Grisham has made clear that New Mexico will take aggressive, proactive steps to contain and prevent the spread of COVID-19. A key part of that strategy is ensuring access to free, high-quality care, including testing and treatment,” said Superintendent Toal. “We thank New Mexico insurers for cooperating with OSI in the formulation of this rule.”
Additionally, Superintendent Toal issued two orders related to oversight of insurers during a public health emergency.
SANTA FE, N.M. – The state of New Mexico is adjusting its business loan guarantee programs in order to make capital available to business owners whose operations are severely impacted by the COVID-19 health emergency, Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced today.
Secretary Keyes said that national and international impacts from the virus might affect businesses as they see fewer consumers and a tightening of the supply chain.
“We know business owners are resilient and the EDD is looking to help out wherever we can to keep a business operating and save jobs,” Secretary Keyes said.
Information on the programs are available on the COVID Business Assistance page on the EDD website.
Slowing down the rate of new COVID-19 cases is critical. Here’s how you can play your part.
By Mary Elizabeth Dallas
Since the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, Americans have been bombarded with a flurry of bad news: the Boston Marathon has been postponed, Broadway is going dark, President Trump initiated a 30-day travel ban from Europe to the United States, the NBA and NHL have suspended the current seasons, MLB spring training was also halted and the NCAA announced that its “March Madness” basketball tournament would be cancelled.
WASHINGTON (March 12, 2020) – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) today sent a letter with Senate Democrats to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, requesting that the USDA proactively work with all state agencies to ensure the availability of waivers that provide flexibilities for Child Nutrition Programs in the event of school closures.
Senator Heinrich continues to be engaged with New Mexico state agencies, including the New Mexico School Nutrition Association, to ensure that necessary lines of communication and funding are available as federal, state, and local officials continue to address and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
“In response to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, public school systems across the country are planning for the possibility that they will need to close schools,” the senators wrote.
(Washington, D.C., March 13, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue yesterday swore in Devon Westhill to serve as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Following the swearing in, Secretary Perdue issued this statement:
Additional test results returned this afternoon; Department of Health actively investigating all presumptive positives
SANTA FE – New Mexico health officials on Thursday afternoon announced a sixth New Mexico resident tested presumptive positive for COVID-19, adding to the five presumptive positive tests this week.
Per the state Department of Health, the most recent case is a Santa Fe County woman in her 50s with known recent international travel to Italy. She is at home in isolation.
The other five presumptive positive tests in New Mexico were:
ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- Attorney General Hector Balderas today issued a consumer advisory warning New Mexico consumers about possible price gouging in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has recently reached the state. Price gouging is the practice of a seller unreasonably increasing the price of goods or services from its regular and usual price.
"Increasing prices on necessities like medical supplies, hand sanitizer, masks, and other items because our citizens are in fear of the coronavirus is simply unconscionable," said Balderas. "Anyone increasing prices in order to illegally profit from this emergency will be prosecuted."
It is against the law in New Mexico to misrepresent the price of goods or services or to take advantage of consumers' situation to a grossly unfair degree.
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Editor's Note
New classified for Silver City church seeking office manager.
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