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.

NMDOT Traffic Report for week of March 12 to 19, 2023. 

In all construction zones, motorists are asked to reduce speed, obey posted signs, and use extreme caution, as well as continue to be cautious of heavy equipment and construction personnel in the area. PLEASE NOTE: Conditions are subject to change without notice. Double fines for speeding in work zones may be in effect.

White Sands Missile Range Notification

For information regarding closures, you may call WSMR at 678-1178 or 678-2222 for updates.  

Interstates: 

Date St. Business Loop Roundabout Project, T or C 

La Calerita Construction, LLC. (Contractor) construction on Date, Phase 1 is expected to last about 2 (two) months, through early March 2023, the following traffic impacts will be in place:

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Museum Kicks Off Spring Break With Space Break – and a free Star Party!

What: The New Mexico Museum of Space History’s Rocketeer Academy is kicking spring break into high gear with three weeks worth of Space Break activities!

Tuesday, March 14 

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm 

Star Party – Spring Break Star Party supported by the Astronomy League and Museum Educators. Along with the usual array of telescopes, there will be big screen live viewing of astronomic objects along with a pass of the International Space Station. The ISS pass starts at 8:44 pm out of the southwest and ends at 8:55 pm, almost overhead. Maximum altitude will be 50 degrees and the station will be visible for over 5 minutes. The event runs from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm in the museum’s lower parking lot, weather permitting. 

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New Mexico breaks another enrollment record thanks to the Opportunity Scholarship 

Spring college, university enrollment up 6 percent over last year 

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today that spring enrollment at New Mexico’s public colleges and universities is up by 6 percent compared to last spring, continuing an upward trend following the passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act.  

According to preliminary data provided by the state’s public colleges and universities and compiled by the New Mexico Higher Education Department, overall college enrollment for the Spring 2023 semester increased by more than six percent over the same time last year. Prior to this year, spring-to-spring enrollment declined annually by 5 percent on average since 2016. 

“New Mexico continues to lead the nation in higher education access, and these numbers are proof that our bold investment in New Mexicans through the Opportunity Scholarship is changing the lives of tens of thousands of students and their families,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham.  

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PRC to host workshop with investor-owned utilities to discuss resource adequacy for upcoming peak energy demands

SANTA FE, N.M. —The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will hold a special workshop on Tuesday, March 14, to hear from the state’s three investor-owned utility companies (Public Service Company of New Mexico, El Paso Electric Company, and Southwestern Public Service Company) regarding resource adequacy in preparation of upcoming energy demands in the summer of 2023, the winter of 2023-2024, the summer of 2024, the winter of 2024-2025, and the summer of 2025. This workshop will be held in person and online. Members of the public are encouraged to attend.

Who: New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, investor-owned utility companies

What: Special Open Meeting Workshop 

When: Tuesday, March 14, at 1:30-3:30 p.m. MDT

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Department of Health terminates agreements with four providers delivering services to people on the developmental disabilities waiver

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health has terminated its agreements with four providers who deliver services to 708 individuals on the developmental disabilities waiver and is investigating allegations of misconduct that resulted in severe and life-threatening injuries to a client. The providers include: 

  • At Home Advocacy, Inc., Albuquerque 
  • A New Vision Case Management, Corrales 
  • Lynn Barbour, LLC, Albuquerque 
  • Sylvester & Company, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque 

“The egregious failure by these agencies to ensure the wellbeing of our disabled clients warranted immediate action to safeguard residents,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Patrick Allen. “Anyone charged with protecting the most vulnerable New Mexicans is held to the highest standard, and we will hold anyone that abuses that responsibility to full account.”  

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Applications Accepted for 2023 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program (ACEAP). Visit - http://astroambassadors.com/ 

This program, in its 8th year, brings amateur astronomers, planetarium personnel, and astronomy formal and informal educators to U.S.-funded astronomy observatories in Chile. While there, ambassadors receive behind-the-scenes tours of some of the world’s most productive and advanced telescopes, including in-depth information on their instruments and discoveries. Prior to the ACEAP Expedition, participants engage in professional development activities designed to improve STEM communication and education.

This unique professional development experience has become known for:

  • Providing unique access to facilities and people, and the astronomy ecosystem,

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NMSU to host NM TransCon April 12-14

New Mexico State University will host the 2023 New Mexico Transportation and Construction Conference, “Transforming Business as Usual into a Better Tomorrow,” April 12-14 at the Las Cruces Convention Center.  

The annual New Mexico Transportation and Construction Conference, NM TransCon, includes a technical program with four plenary sessions and 13 concurrent sessions, organized by leaders of the industry for industry professionals to stay up-to-date with trends and cutting-edge technologies in civil infrastructure. NM TransCon organizers anticipate 500 attendees and 37 sponsorships and vendors will participate.

New Mexico Lt. Gov. Howie Morales is the tentative opening speaker at 1:30 p.m. April 12, followed by New Mexico Cabinet Secretary of Transportation Ricky Serna.

Read more ...

NMSU goes in depth with Chicana/Latina Journal podcast, MALCS Radio!

When New Mexico State University welcomed the “Chicana/Latina Studies Journal: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social” (MALCS) to campus last year, a complementary tool for disseminating research also reached out to the community – a podcast on MALCS Radio!.

The podcast began in 2018 and was led by Daimys Ester García for five years. Over the past few months, she has trained NMSU counseling psychology doctoral student Sophia Daley to take over the podcast. The podcast invites each issue’s contributors to pláticas to speak about the work they created.

“So, we just had our fall 2022 issue come out in January,” Daley said. “For the podcast, we invite every contributor to talk about their writing experience, what it was like to submit to our journal, how the process went and what the piece has meant to them. So, it's a chance to hear more about them and the significance of their scholarship to C/LS Studies and their intentions behind the piece.”

Read more ...

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