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.

NMSU chemistry professor receives 2023 DOE Early Career Award

Cory Windorff, assistant professor of inorganic chemistry at New Mexico State University, is one of 93 early career scientists across the country selected to receive a combined total of $135 million in research funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for a wide range of topics.


 
The 2023 Early Career Research Program awardees represent 47 universities and 12 DOE national laboratories. Windorff’s grant is among a handful received through the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). 


 
The DOE funding will provide $875,000 over the next five years to support Windorff’s research proposal titled “Probing Electronic Structure in Actinide-Transition Metal Nitride Clusters.”      


 
“It’s important to understand the electronic structure of metals so we can design more efficient catalysts for industrial processes,” Windorff said. “We can look at activating molecules like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide or nitrogen and that can help to give us synthetic fuels or ammonia. These are very big in industrial processes. What we find could be a different way to access those.”

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World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) 

World Agricultural Supply & Demand Estimates (WASDE) 

View the WASDE

Department of Health reports new cases of West Nile virus infections

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) confirms an increase in West Nile virus infections, with eight newly identified cases, bringing the total count to ten for the year 2023. Among these cases, two individuals are currently hospitalized, five have been discharged post-hospitalization, and three residents did not require admission. The initial two infections of the year were confirmed and reported in late July.

The most recent infections have been observed among residents in Bernalillo, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Torrance, and Valencia Counties. Additionally, the West Nile virus has been detected in eight horses and two birds across Doña Ana, Los Alamos, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Taos, Torrance, Union, and Valencia Counties. 

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BLM seeks public comment for Río Grande del Norte National Monument plan

TAOS, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management will begin a 30-day public scoping period on Friday, Aug. 11 to inform the upcoming environmental analysis of a resource management plan for the Río Grande del Norte National Monument. The plan will protect the resource values for which the monument was designated and provide for traditional, recreational, and other uses of monument lands and resources. The scoping period closes Sept. 10, 2023.

The monument was designated on March 25, 2013, by Presidential proclamation under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906. The monument, administered by the BLM Taos Field Office, encompasses a diverse array of nationally significant natural, cultural, and scientific values on 247,852 acres within Rio Arriba and Taos counties in northern New Mexico. 

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RPNM Statement on President Biden’s Visit to NM

President Joe Biden gave a speech at the Arcosa Wind Towers manufacturing facility in Belen New Mexico. 

The following is a statement from Republican Party of New Mexico spokeswoman Ash Soular in response to the President's speech:

"It’s disappointing President Biden used his trip to our beautiful state as nothing more than a photo opportunity. The President's speech was completely out-of-touch with the real issues New Mexicans face.

He didn't address our Governor's failing education system. He didn't address his Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s horrible decision to obstruct the financial future of Navajo allottees. He didn't address our border communities or offer them any solutions to stop the child traffickers, deadly drug smugglers, and cartels who are exploiting our open border. He didn't address our oil and gas workers, who produce the largest source of revenue in our state and whose jobs are threatened by his administration.

Instead, the President came to brag about his 'Bidenomics' which has only resulted in higher prices at the pump, escalating food costs and less money in the pockets of hard-working New Mexicans.”

New Executive Director Office of Outdoor Recreation

KarinaArmijoOffice of Outdoor Recreation begins next chapter with new Executive Director
Next era of outdoor recreation will blend new partnerships and proven programs

SANTA FE — The Office of Outdoor Recreation has a new Executive Director. Ana Karina Armijo, who most recently served as Marketing and Tourism Director for the Town of Taos, was hired to fill the role of Executive Director for the Office of Outdoor Recreation. Armijo will officially enter the role on Sept. 18, 2023.

Armijo first began her role with the Town of Taos in 2015. Since then, Armijo implemented a tourism promotion strategy that grew annual Lodgers’ Tax collections from $800,000 to $1.75 million.

One of Armijo’s significant accomplishments during her time with the Town of Taos was successfully implementing short-term rental policy changes that brought more equity and accountability for the community. Armijo directed the effort to create the short-term rental ordinance for the Town of Taos after the passage of House Bill 117 during the 2020 Legislative Session, which enabled local governments to collect Lodgers’ Tax from short-term rental properties. In addition, Armijo negotiated the first Volunteer Collections Agreement with Airbnb in the state, which resulted in a 20 percent increase in Lodgers’ Tax collection for the Town of Taos.

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Bush Valley Craft Club Annual Christmas Bazaar

BushValleyCraftThe Bush Valley Craft Club, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit club, will hold it Annual Christmas Bazaar for 2023 on Friday, September 1 from 9:00. a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Alpine Community Center, 12 County Road 2061, next to the library, Alpine, AZ 85920. 

Based in Alpine, AZ, residents and summer visitors meet each Monday during the summer to make handmade items for the Labor Day sale. Club members are busy year round creating all types of beautiful and interesting items for this annual event. 

In addition to the craft sale, there will also be a much anticipated bake sale with a variety of homemade treats. 

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Senate Republican Leader Releases Statement Ahead of Presidential Visit to Valencia County

SANTA FE — President Joe Biden will today visit New Mexico to tout the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. The Tax Foundation estimates that the bill will actually worsen inflation and kill about 29,000 full-time equivalent jobs over the long term. 

During his visit, President Biden will stop in Valencia County at a wind turbine manufacturer. Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (R-Belen), who represents the area, issued the following statement ahead of the President’s visit:

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