Front Page News

Grant County, NM — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the lifting of the evacuation orders for Zones 1,2,3,4, 5, 6 and 7 and the re-opening of Highway 35. The Sheriff’s Office strongly urges non-residents to avoid the area entirely. The area remains at high risk for flooding, and numerous fire personnel and emergency responders are actively working in and around the affected zones.

There is still an area closure on the Gila National Forest in the vicinity of the Trout fire, and road access via Highway 15 remains fully restricted due to continued suppression repair. In addition, fire restrictions are still fully in effect throughout the region. Residents and visitors must comply with all fire safety regulations to prevent additional fire starts and support ongoing suppression efforts.

Silver City, NM, June 26, 2025—A Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) team, led by Mike Natharius, began making burned area surveys of the Trout Fire yesterday. BAER team assessments are rapid evaluations of post-fire conditions of the burned landscape to determine the level of risk from potential flooding and debris flow to values on National Forest System lands. If unacceptable risks are found the team recommends appropriate and effective emergency stabilization measures to reduce the risks to national forest lands and values. BAER emergency stabilization efforts are focused on the protection of human life and safety, property, and critical cultural and natural resources.

Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

Crews remain engaged on the Trout Fire amid thunderstorms and flash flooding

Daily Update for June 25, 2025

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 am – 8 pm)

Acres: 47,121                           Start Date: June 12, 2025             Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Cause: Lightning                Personnel: 1,395           Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber           Containment: 41%

Highlights: Containment increased to 41 percent on the Trout Fire as monsoonal moisture entered the region yesterday. Tuesday afternoon showers and thunderstorms developed within the fire area, and by mid-morning, the storm was tracking across the Black Range and areas to the north. The storms brought localized heavy rainfall of .10 to 1.5 inches, flash flooding along Highway 35, and sporadic lightning, creating hazardous conditions on the fireline. Crews are adapting their tactics as conditions change.

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: Freeport Declares Quarterly Cash Dividends on Common Stock

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced today that its Board of Directors declared cash dividends of $0.15 per share on FCX’s common stock payable on August 1, 2025, to shareholders of record as of July 15, 2025. The declaration includes a base dividend of $0.075 per share and variable dividend of $0.075 per share in accordance with FCX's performance-based payout framework. The payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board, which will consider FCX's financial results, cash requirements, global economic conditions and other factors it deems relevant.

By Frost McGahey
Investigative Reporter

[Editor's Note: Names of victims have been changed to protect their privacy.]

In documents obtained from the Human Rights Bureau of the NM Department of Workforce Solutions, three more claims of alleged sexual and race discrimination have been uncovered. In addition, a claim was filed for alleged retribution because a staff member supported a claim for sexual discrimination by another employee. Here are excerpts:

In May 2017, Rose Trent, Ph.D. filed a third compliant* of alleged sexual discrimination. She said the harassment started in July of 2016. (Otero was hired in February 2016). She claimed, "Otero offensively touched me. He placed his arms around me and pulled me close to him. Otero invades my personal space. He gets too close to me.

By Lynn Janes

The town of Bayard held a special meeting May 21, 2025. Attendance included Mayor John L. Ojinaga, Mayor Pro Tem Eloy Medina councilors, Frances Gonzales, Eloy Gonzales and Gilbert Ortiz (came in later). Martha Salas, city clerk, also attended.

Proclamations

Cobre High softball week. Ojinaga said Cobre has been putting Bayard on the map. This had been for the girls softball team.

Public input

Final Buck Fire Update Tuesday June 24, 2025

Reported date: June 11, 2025              Containment: 91 %        Cause: Lightning          Size: 57,753 acres
Personnel: 129            Fuels: Grass, timber                  Strategy: Full Suppression             Fire behavior: Minimal, Smoldering

Operations: Today, they are focused on monitoring and patrolling for any remaining heat in the area with the remaining resources. The roads group is continuing to repair and improve access routes that were heavily utilized during fire operations. Fire managers are also in the process of implementing a comprehensive suppression repair plan to address all impacted areas.

Southwest Area Complex Incident Management Team TEAM 4 – Andrew Mandell – Incident Commander

Containment increases as suppression repair work continues Scattered thunderstorms move across the Trout Fire, prompting flood watches

Daily Update for June 24, 2025

Fire Information Phone: 575-323-8964 (8 am – 8 pm)

Acres: 47,100                    Start Date: June 12, 2025                         Location: 12 miles north of Silver City, NM

Cause: Under investigation        Personnel: 1,400          Fuels: Grass, brush, and timber                   Containment: 33%

Highlights: Despite facing challenging conditions Monday, firefighters successfully increased containment on the Trout Fire to 33 percent. As scattered storms move through the region, crews remain committed to direct attack when safe to do so.