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.

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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NMSU to conduct active shooter drill August 10, 2023

The New Mexico State University Police Department will conduct a multi-agency active shooter training and crisis management exercise in the afternoon Thursday, Aug. 10 at two locations on the Las Cruces campus: Aggie Health and Wellness Center and Rhodes-Garrett-Hamiel Hall.



To avoid any confusion during the exercise, NMSU is notifying the public and campus community ahead of time. The exercise is closed to the general public.



The training exercise will focus on emergency response to an active shooter incident on campus and is being staged by NMSU Police in collaboration with other area first responders and law enforcement agencies. It will involve a simulation of the NMSU Police response plan and will help assure a coordinated, timely and effective response and recovery in the event of a major incident. Students, faculty, staff and other community members are encouraged to reference the administrative regulations atNMSU ARP 16.10 regarding emergency preparedness and response.

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NMSA Featured as Partner Organization for Two Finalists

NMSA Featured as Partner Organization for Two Finalists of $160 Million U.S. National Science Foundation Federal Grant


LAS CRUCES, N.M. (August 4, 2023) – The New Mexico Spaceport Authority is officially one step closer to obtaining a portion of a transformational grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation which has the potential to set the agency – and the region - up as a key player in global technology areas for decades to come.


 
Announced Wednesday, August 2, by the NSF, both the Space Valley Coalition and UTEP were listed as one of 16 finalists from around the nation for the first-ever NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) competition. Comprising the only two finalists in the aerospace category, the proposals submitted by the Space Valley Coalition and UTEP were originally one of 188 which were submitted. That number was parsed down to 34 semifinalists in June of 2023 before the most recent round of cuts left the NSF with the 16 finalists.


 
Should either the Space Valley Coalition or UTEP emerge as a winner of the competition, each partner organizations who collaborated to create the entries have the opportunity to receive a portion of up to $160 million over the course of a decade.

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Phase 2 underway for NMSP website.

Statewide, NM- The New Mexico State Police has a new way to explore employment opportunities as it launches phase 2 of its recruiting website. The website, www.joinnmsp.com  allows those who are interested in becoming a New Mexico State Police officer to see what the state’s elite law enforcement agency has to offer.

The newly improved website offers an interface that provides prospective candidates with comprehensive information about the various roles, responsibilities, and benefits of our agency. The New Mexico State Police takes pride in being more than a typical law enforcement body. The updated website now offers individual bureau pages, which provide a closer look at the different career paths officers can step into after completing two years of service with the New Mexico State Police. 

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Safe Surrender event in Aztec, New Mexico

AZTEC –   – People with outstanding bench warrants from any magistrate court in New Mexico can safely surrender at the Aztec Magistrate Court, 200 Gossett Dr., Aztec, NM on Friday, August 11 from 3-7 p.m. and Saturday, August 12from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

“Statewide, there are 82,000 outstanding warrants in magistrate courts,” said Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) Director Artie Pepin. “Our goal is always to help anyone who wants to come back into compliance with the courts and the San Juan Safe Surrender event will make it a little easier for people to do that.”

The safe surrender event provides anyone with outstanding warrants an opportunity to avoid jail and other consequences by appearing before a judge. At the time of surrender, anyone who appears voluntarily will receive favorable consideration when requesting a new court date, payment plan, or any other option required to comply with the court order.

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LFC to meet in Las Vegas, NM, Aug. 22-24, 2023

Below is the tentative agenda for the Legislative Finance Committee meeting in Las Vegas, NM, Aug. 22-24, 2023. The PDF shows links to handouts, but this link: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Committee/Handouts?CommitteeCode=ALFC&Date=8/7/2023&ItemNumber=2 indicates that no handouts are available. Perhaps they will be closer to the dates?

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