Non-Local News Releases

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is reminding the public to be aware of increased bear activity while enjoying the outdoors this summer.

Officers across the state are seeing an increase in bear activity, including reports of bears entering urban areas and visiting campsites.  This pattern is part of a broader uptick in sightings throughout New Mexico, with reports emerging from communities including Jordan Hot Springs, Capitan, and other nearby areas.  Seasonal food availability continues to play a major role in bear movement.

Albuquerque, NM — Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of girls in what was a common sense ruling regarding women's school sports teams. Please see RPNM's statement below: 

Today's decision by the United States Supreme Court is a significant victory for fairness, competitive integrity, and the protection of opportunities for women and girls in athletics.

By upholding state laws that reserve girls' and women's sports for biological females, the Court recognized that states have a legitimate interest in preserving fair competition while remaining consistent with the Constitution and Title IX. The ruling provides much-needed clarity for schools, athletic organizations, and families across the country.

BY OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Catholic Archdiocese has agreed to pay $395 million to settle more than 500 lawsuits alleging child sexual abuse by church officials, plaintiffs' attorneys said Monday.

San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone will have to write an apology letter to each survivor as part of the settlement.

The settlement also requires the archdiocese to implement a series of child protection and transparency reforms, including creating a list of clergy accused of abuse, said Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing dozens of child sexual abuse victims.

(Washington, D.C., June 30, 2026) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Program that will provide temporary support for eligible beef processing establishments. Under SPUR, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide up to $500 million in payments to eligible entities to support stronger and more stable market opportunities for American ranchers.

"America's ranchers deserve a strong, competitive marketplace that rewards their hard work and preserves opportunity for generations to come," said Secretary Brooke L. Rollins. "Today, historically tight cattle supplies, the Biden administration's anti-cattle focus, consolidation in and foreign ownership of meat packing and the reemergence of New World Screwworm have created extraordinary market conditions that are placing significant pressure on our independent and regional beef processors. Through the Strengthening Processing for U.S. Ranchers (SPUR) Program, USDA is taking targeted action to preserve the independent processing capacity that ranchers rely on, strengthen competition across the American beef supply chain, and support rural communities across the country. This is another important step in our Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry by strengthening domestically owned processing capacity and ensuring America's cattle producers continue to have strong market opportunities and meet America's historically high beef demand. As we Make America Healthy Again, we are working to ensure American families have continued access to nutritious, high-quality American beef while promoting greater competition, a more resilient food supply chain, and long-term affordability at the grocery store."

ELEPHANT BUTTE — Today, Attorney General Raúl Torrez released a 224-page investigative report finding that New Mexico's Children, Youth and Families Department has systemically endangered the children it is sworn to protect — returning children to dangerous homes, obstructing oversight, and losing at least seven children to preventable deaths since the investigation opened in April 2025. Simultaneous with the report, AG Torrez announced a lawsuit to narrow the Children's Code confidentiality statute.

Senator Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) has introduced CYFD reform legislation every session since taking office in 2021, including bills to establish a best interest of the child standard (SB 207, 2023; SB 4, 2025), to narrow CYFD's use of the Children's Code confidentiality clause (SB 84, 2025), to create an independent Office of the Child Advocate (SB 373, 2023; HB 5, 2025), and to reform CYFD's reunification-first policy (2023, 2026 session).

Boaters, anglers and recreationists urged to follow safety rules during holiday weekend

SANTA FE – As the Fourth of July holiday weekend approaches, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife is reminding boaters and off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders to follow all state safety and environmental requirements while enjoying New Mexico's waters and trails. 

AIS stattion

Clean, Drain, Dry and Protect 

Our Waters

Changes to manual, handbooks to simplify direction, more quickly make management decisions

Washington, D.C., June 30, 2026—The U.S. Forest Service is inviting public comment on a proposed rule to modernize its directives system – the agency's internal documentation that guides how employees carry out their work. The proposal would redefine the agency's manual and handbooks to reduce procedural burdens, encourage innovation and return decision-making authority to employees closest to the land.

"Today, the Forest Service maintains more than 900 chapters of national guidance and thousands of additional regional and unit-level supplements," said Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz. "Half of these directives are more than 20 years old, and many exceed 100 pages in length. By streamlining our directives, we can empower local decision-making and innovation so that employees make smart, informed decisions that benefit the land and the American people."

Update on Wildfires within

Mountainair and Mt. Taylor Ranger Districts

Ox Fire in Manzano Mountain Wilderness - Rivera Canyon Fire in Zuni Mountains
Trough Fire in Mt Taylor Mountains

Albuquerque, NM – June 29, 2026 — Fire crews continue with suppression and mop up operations on multiple lightning strike fires within Mountainair and Mt Taylor Ranger Districts.

 Safety: The health and safety of firefighters and the public are always the first priority. Members of the public should avoid the fire areas.

Drones pose a serious risk to firefighting and can cause air operations to cease. The public is reminded that "If you fly, we can't!" 

Mountainair Ranger District- Manzano Mountain Wilderness: Ox Fire (Update)