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 those events please visit Local News Releases.

NMSU students win 2024 regional Outstanding Leadership Awards

The National Orientation Directors Association (NODA) named two New Mexico State University students as its Undergraduate and Graduate Outstanding Student Leaders of 2024 at its Regional Conference on March 16. The Regional Conference took place in St. George, Utah and included colleges from Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico.

The Outstanding Student Leadership Award was created to give special recognition to the students who serve as the backbone of campus orientation programs, letting their creativity and enthusiasm guide the path to success.

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T or C Roundabout Project Work on Southernmost Roundabout

Construction Update: Crews to Remove and Replace Concrete on Southernmost Roundabout For About Three Weeks Beginning Monday, April 1, 2024. See flyer below.

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Heinrich, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Capacity for Abortion Services

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senate colleagues to introduce the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act. This legislation would establish a federal grant program for health care organizations to expand their capacity to provide abortion services and additional reproductive care in New Mexico and other states where it remains legal. 

Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, nearly half of all U.S. states have adopted or attempted to adopt severe restrictions or bans on abortion services. As a result, the number of patients traveling out of state to access reproductive health care has nearly doubled, overwhelming clinics in states like New Mexico where abortion services are legal. 

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ORD Announces 12 New Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grants

134 projects in New Mexico funded since the program's inception 

SANTA FE, N.M. – The Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) of the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) announces the round 3 Trails+ Grant recipients. Projects awarded will expand equitable access to the outdoors and grow New Mexico’s outdoor recreation economy. 

Round 3 awards total $1,611,743 for 12 projects, bringing in an additional $1,567,237 in matching funding. Of the awarded projects, 75% are supporting rural and Tribal communities with grants ranging from $38,700 to the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance to $500,000 to the City of Las Cruces. 

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NMSU names Mónica Torres next interim president, launches new search

At a special meeting Thursday, the New Mexico State University Board of Regents announced that Mónica Torres, chancellor of NMSU system community colleges, will serve as interim president of the NMSU system while a new search is conducted for the next permanent leader. Torres will succeed current Interim President Jay Gogue, who has served in that role since April 2023. She assumes her new role on May 1.

“Dr. Torres is an accomplished and visionary leader with a deep commitment to student success and a wealth of institutional knowledge of the NMSU system,” said Regents Chair Ammu Devasthali in a message to the NMSU community following the meeting. “We’re already working to ensure a smooth leadership transition for our community colleges, and will provide more details about that soon.”

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Cohort completes Scale Up NM’s Business Model Sprint for tech startups

The Scale Up New Mexico program, funded in part by the United States Economic Development Administration and housed at New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Center, recently saw its first 2024 cohort complete a Business Model Sprint business acceleration program.

The accelerator initiative, aimed at equipping founders of tech startups in New Mexico with the essential knowledge and skills to establish a robust business framework, accomplished notable achievements. It enabled promising startups to advance significantly in comprehending their customer base, attaining product-market fit and formulating efficient sales tactics.

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NMSU students earn scholarships from National Retail Federation

 Two students from New Mexico State University were among a select group of college students from across the nation awarded scholarships by the National Retail Federation.

Hai Chau Le and Natalia Ochoa, both undergraduate students in NMSU’s Fashion Merchandising and Design program, earned competitive scholarships that included all-expense paid trips to New York City to attend the NRF’s annual conference and participate in its student program. The NRF is the largest retail trade association in the world.

Chau Le and Ochoa were the first students from NMSU to receive NRF scholarships and attend the conference, dubbed Retail’s Big Show, a multi-day event held every January.

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State Job Training Funds Awarded to Five New Mexico Companies

March approved JTIP funding could assist 70 trainees, 2 interns 

SANTA FE, N.M. – The Job Training Incentive Program Board approved awards to five businesses in March to assist with the workforce training of 70 trainees and two interns, Acting Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper announced today. 

The Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) is a powerful state tool to assist companies in hiring and training New Mexico residents. Funds become available on a reimbursement basis after the training is complete and the company has met the agreed-upon benchmarks of the program. The funding structure encourages participation in rural and frontier areas, as well as for companies hiring graduates of New Mexico higher education institutions. 

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