Non-Local News Releases

In all construction zones, motorists are asked to reduce speed, obey posted signs, and use extreme caution, as well as continuing 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: 

I-10 Business Loop 22, Pine St. Resurfacing Project, Mile Marker 0 to 4.2, Deming

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) has planned road closures on U.S. 70 for Friday, May 8, 2026.

U.S. 70 will be blocked once beginning at 9:30 a.m. for approximately one hour and being lifted by 10:30 a.m. This block will be located at Blue Block (2 miles east of the access road - Mile Marker 172) and Brown Block (located at Mile Marker 192). San Augustin Pass and LC Gate are NOT affected. However, Nike Ave will be affected by this block.
All roadblocks are subject to change without notice. For updates, call WSMR at 575-678-2221 or 575-678-2222, visit the New Mexico Department of Transportation at www.nmroads.com  or call 511.

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Caballo Lake: Robert Resendez caught a few big blue catfish using cut bait on May 2.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office is seeking public input on a proposal from Freeport-McMoRan to disturb additional acres at the existing Santa Rita Mine. The 30-day public scoping period begins today.

The mine is an open-pit copper mining complex about 15 miles east of Silver City, N.M. Current operations cover approximately 10,000 acres, primarily on private lands. The BLM is now analyzing potential impacts of an additional 940 acres of public lands, recognizing the proposal includes 1,060 acres of private lands owned by Freeport-McMoRan. The proposal would facilitate the management of waste rock and would include ancillary facilities like roads, utilities, drainage and water storage.

Practical changes to retailer stocking standards promote more options all while reducing fraud and abuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

(Washington, D.C., May 7, 2026) — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the final rule regarding stocking standards for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring a broader variety of nutritious food is available to SNAP participants at authorized retailers across the country.

Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, the Food and Nutrition Service has taken action on nearly 3,200 retailers regarding current stocking standards, either for failing to meet them upon application or failing to maintain them once authorized. The latter results in disqualification from accepting SNAP benefits.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Utilizing an accelerated 14-day environmental review process, the Department of the Interior has authorized the Green Chile Natural Gas Pipeline's crossing through 16 miles of public lands in Doña Ana County. The pipeline would transport approximately 400 million cubic feet per day of natural gas from an El Paso Natural Gas Company existing pipeline to serve a data center on private land in the county.

With the environmental assessment now complete under emergency permitting procedures, the Bureau of Land Management is working with Transwestern Pipeline Company to finalize the rights-of-way authorization for the project. Once the rights-of-way are issued by the BLM, Transwestern may construct, operate, and maintain a 24-inch buried natural gas pipeline within a 50-foot permanent right-of-way and an additional temporary 30-foot right-of-way, including 12 work areas, for use during the construction phase. Disturbed construction areas will be restored as close as practicable to pre-construction conditions.

Additional information about the project is available at the BLM National NEPA Register. For further information, contact the BLM Las Cruces District Office front desk at 575-525-4300.

To see all of the New Mexico Department of Wildlife upcoming events and classes, please visit this website:

https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/calendar/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--qZJzGAJsG-DzouvVKGslxoKgZbvmZgT9tCKMUKhuyy6kG0hJEhD5jp8eVToAiMm0DXR2dfjxR_kYW13LO6QN9IY_rqBm2nulocc9t2MSWakxLd20&_hsmi=417549745&utm_content=417549745&utm_source=hs_email

Join Ruby Ward, Utah State University, and Adam Kantrovich, Clemson University, for a presentation on Tax Considerations for Producers under Financial Distress Selling Assets.  As producers under financial distress consider options such as selling assets, it is important to anticipate the tax liability. Ward and Kantrovich will discuss potential tax liability and resources that can be used to both mitigate and estimate the tax effects on cash flow.

Event - Tax Considerations for Producers under Financial Distress Selling Assets

Date – May 12, 2026

Time - 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Eastern