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.

Human Services Department to receive $5.6 million in additional funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected HSD as a recipient of supplemental funds to support the LIHEAP program  

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected HSD to receive additional grant funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which currently provides utility assistance to 20,957 lower-income households across the state.  

HSD is receiving $5.6 million in additional grant funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of its initiative to distribute $1 billion in supplemental LIHEAP funding throughout the country.  

“We are grateful to our federal partners for their continued support to lower-income New Mexicans by providing additional funds to HSD and tribal communities across the state.” said Kari Armijo, Interim Acting Secretary for the New Mexico Human Services Department.  

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EMNRD names new Mining and Minerals Division Director

Albert Chang comes to EMRD from the City of Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department

SANTA FE, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) is welcoming Albert C.S. Chang as director of the Mining and Minerals Division (MMD).

“Albert Chang has a wonderful mix of professional experiences that make him the ideal person to lead MMD as it continues its mission to ensure the responsible use, conservation, and reclamation of land impacted by mining across our state,” said EMNRD Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst. “We are happy to have him joining our team.”

Chang, who is both a licensed engineer and a licensed attorney, comes to EMNRD from the City of Albuquerque, where he is currently serving as deputy director of the Environmental Health Department.

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NMDOT Traffic Report for week of March 5 to 12, 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 

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Revised Construction Update: Northbound I-25 On-Ramp Now Open at Exit 75; Southbound I-25 On/Off-Ramps, Northbound I-25 Off-Ramp & Broadway Street

West of NM 187 To Remain Closed Through About Mid-April 2023

Update as of March 3, 2023

NOTE: All construction is weather permitting and is subject to changes without notice.

To minimize the impacts on businesses, residents and travelers, crews opened the northbound I-25 on-ramp at Exit 75 on Thursday, March 2, 2023. The southbound I-25 on-ramp and off-ramp at Exit 75, the northbound I-25 off-ramp at Exit 75 and Broadway Street west of NM 187 will remain closed through about mid-April 2023 as construction continues on Phase 2 of the I-25 Williamsburg Bridge Replacement Project.

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EMNRD has certified more than $10 million in solar tax credits for 2022

Once the program reaches its $12 million annual cap, no additional 2022 credits can be issued

SANTA FE, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) has issued more than $10 million worth of tax credit certificates to New Mexico residents who installed solar energy systems in their homes in 2022. By state law, the agency is authorized to issue a total of $12 million in tax credits for the 2022 tax year.

“The Solar Market Development Tax Credit has proved extremely popular,” said Louise Martinez, director of EMNRD’s Energy Conservation and Management Division, which administers the program. “We are roughly $2 million shy of reaching our cap for the most recent tax year. So, we encourage anyone who installed a solar system in 2022, but has not yet applied for the tax credit, to submit their applications immediately.”

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State to end COVID-19 public health emergency 

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday announced that today’s renewal of the COVID-19 executive order will be the final extension. It will remain in effect until March 31, 2023, and then will be allowed to expire.  

“While we’re still seeing COVID cases, our preparedness and collaborative work have helped turn a once-in-a-century public health emergency into a manageable situation,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham. “We are working diligently across state agencies to make sure New Mexicans continue to be supported as federal COVID programs wind down.”   

New Mexico’s pandemic response saved tens of thousands of lives while ensuring the state’s economy remained poised for growth. New Mexicans now have the tools needed to continue fighting COVID-19, including vaccines, testing, treatments and other mitigation measures like masking, indoor ventilation and social distancing.  

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Office of Broadband Access and Expansion Announces Third Wave of Connect New Mexico Pilot Program Funding

Deadline for Grant Application Submission Extended

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) recently extended the deadline for Wave Three of the Connect New Mexico Pilot Program (“Pilot Program”). The application period will close on April 3, 2023.

The Pilot Program aims to bridge the digital divide and foster socioeconomic progress by providing infrastructure grants for broadband deployment to unserved and underserved communities across New Mexico. The $123 million pilot program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act’s Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund. OBAE launched the program in August 2022 and announced Wave One awards in November. An initial set of Wave 2 awards will be announced later in March and April. 

OBAE invites existing and emerging Internet providers to participate and encourages partnerships between local and tribal governments.

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State announces major investments in Cybersecurity

SANTA FE — Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico is set to receive nearly $13 million in federal funding over the next four years for Cybersecurity enhancements to better protect networks from outside attacks and bolster the protection of Personally Identifiable Information.

In September 2022, through an executive order the Governor established a Cybersecurity Planning Committee. The committee represents cyber and IT leaders from the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), local school districts, counties, municipalities, judicial and legislative representatives. The committee’s primary objective is to develop a statewide cybersecurity plan.

“The state faces increasingly sophisticated cyber campaigns that threaten our security and our privacy, and we are acting quickly to protect New Mexicans with a robust cyber security infrastructure,” said Governor Lujan Grisham. 

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