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 local events please visit Local News Releases.
Gila Film School Showcase at Plaza Classic Film Festival this weekend
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 26 July 2023 26 July 2023
A sneak peek at New Mexico State University's Gila Film School Showcase is set to premiere at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 29 at the Plaza Classic Film Festival in the Philanthropy Theatre at the Plaza in downtown El Paso. The Showcase will include six of seven documentaries by a group of 13 student filmmakers in the Creative Media Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences.
"Tales of the Gila Trout" (directed by Patricia Soto), "Legacies of the Gila" (Noah Montes, Gayla Lacy), "To Love a River" (Nidia Jimenez, Sam Jaso, Jackson Markman), "Finding My Own Trail" (Lexi Minton, Cherish Pena), "What We Hold Sacred" (Araceli Hernandez and Dominic Vincent), and "Stewardship of the Gila" (Ingrid Leyva, Ezekiel Soliz, Sigidavid Trevizo) are the six films premiering at the festival. The seventh film is a documentary about the making of these films directed by two other students.
Last summer, the students took part in a 12-day trip to the Gila National Forest with cameras, microphones and thorough plans to create six short documentary films through the Gila Film School. Created by Ilana Lapid, associate professor in NMSU's Creative Media Institute and Kristi Drexler who earned her doctorate at NMSU, the school is the first of its kind documentary field school offered by NMSU as a two-part course that took student filmmakers on a 17-mile backpacking trek through the Gila National Forest with the goal to create films about people's relationships with wilderness.
These seven films will be a showcase to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the designation of the Gila as the nation's first designated wilderness area. Partnering with the U.S. Forest Service, the students were able to interview forest firefighters, wildlife biologists, and more for their short documentaries about the Gila.
Tickets for the showcase are currently available online for $4.
Supreme Court clarifies requirements for domestic violence order of protection
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 24 July 2023 24 July 2023
SANTA FE – New Mexico law does not require victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking to show an immediate threat of harm to obtain an order of protection, the state Supreme Court ruled today.
In a unanimous opinion, the state’s highest court held that New Mexico’s Family Violence Protection Act “does not require petitioners to provide a showing of imminent danger or injury” in seeking a court order protecting them from their alleged abusers.
“The statute is clear; the only predicate finding required is that domestic abuse has occurred. If the court finds that domestic abuse has occurred, it ‘shall’ enter the order of protection,” the Court wrote in an opinion by Justice David K. Thomson. “There is no language that indicates that a petition must state why a petitioner needs the order, or even language that requires proof of a petitioner’s need for the order.”
Supreme Court orders the release of a state prison inmate incarcerated after his sentence ended
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 24 July 2023 24 July 2023
SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court today ordered the release of a prisoner because of an improper sentence for a series of burglaries and thefts in Alamogordo.
The Court unanimously concluded that Rufino Torres was entitled to release because his sentence legally ended on Feb. 4, 2017. He was ordered to prison the following year after a district court revoked his probation. In addition, the Court ruled Torres had been subjected to an impermissibly long term of probation. Torres pleaded guilty in 2011 to 16 charges in a plea agreement consolidating four separate criminal cases.
"Petitioner shall be immediately released from custody upon the issuance of our mandate in this case," the Court wrote in an opinion by Justice Michael E. Vigil. The mandate is the order directing the district court to carry out the Supreme Court's directive.
Mayor continues to silence community with removal of public input
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 24 July 2023 24 July 2023
Mayor continues to silence community with removal of public input and now with an attempt to remove New Mexico’s youngest elected official
Anthony, New Mexico – Nearly 9 months after City of Anthony Trustee, Gabriel I. Holguin filed thirteen ethics violations against Mayor Diana Murillo with several entities including the New Mexico State Ethics Commission, Office of the State Attorney General’s Office, State Auditor’s Office, and State Treasurer’s Office; Mayor Murillo has filed a civil complaint with the Third Judicial District Court to remove Trustee Holguin. The move comes three months after Mayor Murillo removed public comment input from all council meetings; not allowing constituents time to address their representatives at the council meetings.
Trustee Holguin is being represented by Las Cruces attorney, Yvonne K. Quintana.
Former Representative Phelps Anderson Joins Board of Think New Mexico
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 23 July 2023 23 July 2023
Think New Mexico, a results-oriented think tank serving New Mexicans, is pleased to announce that former New Mexico Representative Phelps Anderson (I-Roswell) has joined its Board of Directors.
Phelps Anderson represented southeastern New Mexico for four terms in the New Mexico legislature, from 1977-1981 and from 2019-2023. During his recent service, he co-sponsored Think New Mexico's legislation to end predatory lending by reducing the maximum annual interest rate on small loans from 175% to 36%, and he also led a successful bipartisan effort to repeal the state tax on military retirement benefits.
Born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico, Phelps earned his B.S. in Agricultural Economics from New Mexico State University. He went on to work in a wide range of businesses, including manufacturing, banking, the oil and gas industry, managing the Double Eagle Restaurant in Mesilla, and serving as foreman of the Diamond A cattle company. He is currently the president of SunValley Energy Corp. and Rio Magdalena Investments.
NM tribal governments to benefit from Land and Water Conservation Fund
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 July 2023 21 July 2023
New Mexico’s local, state, and tribal governments to benefit from nearly $3.2 million dollars for parks and outdoor recreation through the 2023 Land and Water Conservation Fund
Santa Fe, NM – The State Parks Division (State Parks) of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) announces the receipt of $3,193,100 million in federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
Heinrich Cosponsors Bicameral Legislation to Expand Access to Contraception
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 July 2023 21 July 2023
The Convenient Contraception Act would provide the option of receiving one year of contraception instead of the current three-month supply
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and over a dozen of his Senate colleagues, along with U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), to introduce the Convenient Contraception Act, legislation that would improve access to contraceptive products, including over-the-counter contraceptives.
The bill provides individuals covered by private health insurance with the option to receive up to a full year of contraception at the time their prescription is issued instead of the current three-month supply or less that is standard in many states.
"Access to contraception is a fundamental right," said Heinrich. "By removing unnecessary barriers to contraception, this legislation helps protect the freedom of women to control their bodies and make their own health care decisions. I'm proud to lead this bill and will continue to stand up for the right to reproductive care."
"A woman's right to make her own health care decisions is sacred to me. I am proud to lead this first of its kind legislation to expand equitable access to contraceptives," said Fetterman. "Convenient and reliable access to contraceptives reduces unintended pregnancies, improves maternal health outcomes, and promotes equity. I will continue fighting to expand contraceptive access and protect reproductive freedom."
Traffic Report for week of July 23 to 30, 2023.
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 July 2023 21 July 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 CN1101231/32
La Calerita Construction LLC. (Contractor) construction, Phase 3 is expected to last about 4 (four) months, through September 2023, the following traffic impacts will be in place:
Traffic on North Date Street will be reduced to one lane in each direction (northbound and southbound) and will be shifted to the east (Northbound) lanes from north of New School Road to Ash Street. Motorists are encouraged to use extra caution in the construction zone, obey lower posted speed limits and allow extra time to reach their destinations. Regular work hours will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday although the contractor may work longer hours or on weekends as needed. Public Meeting scheduled for August 9th, 6 P.m. T or C Civic Center.