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.

Free April Launch Pad Lecture is All About Enos: The Chimp that Circled the World

What: The monthly Launch Pad Lecture at the New Mexico Museum of Space History will feature Museum Educator Michael Shinabery. His topic will be “Enos: The Chimp that Circled the World” and will highlight the less famous but equally as important contributions made by Enos to human spaceflight.

When: Friday, April 7, 2023, at 9:00 am.

Where: New Mexico Museum of Space History, Alamogordo, NM. Take the elevator up to the second floor!

Why: The event is free and open to the public. Coffee and donuts are compliments of the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation.

The next Launch Pad Lecture will be held on Friday, May 5. The topic will be “Mesoamerica and the Moon: An Archeoastronomy Trip” presented by Museum Educator Andrew Colwell.

New Mexico Courts lifting mask and physical distancing requirements

SANTA FE – Masks and physical distancing will no longer be required after March 31 for any person inside a New Mexico courtroom or jury assembly area, the state Supreme Court announced today.

Additionally, jurors will no longer need to answer health screening questions to enter a courthouse. Courts will continue to make masks available to any juror who chooses to wear one, but they are not required.

The Judiciary is lifting its remaining health related COVID-19 protocols in recognition of changes in the pandemic and the March 31 expiration of New Mexico’s declaration of a public health emergency.

“As we move forward and resume normal operations, courts can fully use all available space in courtrooms and jury assembly areas to conduct more trials and hearings,” said Chief Justice C. Shannon Bacon.

Read more ...

Photo exhibit captures the world of hummingbirds

What: The delicate beauty of hummingbirds, their incredible movement, and the critical work they do as pollinators are all captured in a new photography exhibit at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. “Grace in Motion” features photography by Nirmal Khandan. The exhibit features 36 portraits of hummingbird species common to the region interacting with local flora.

When: The photography show opens with a reception from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on April 15. Admission to the opening reception is free. Regular Museum admission is required to see the rest of the Museum. The show will be on display through July 30, 2023.

Where: The Arts Corridor at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum at 4100 Dripping Springs Road in Las Cruces.

Who: The show features the work of nature and wildlife photographer Nirmal Khandan. A civil engineering professor and Ed & Harold Foreman Endowed Chair at New Mexico State University, Khandan began photographing birds in his native Sri Lanka and continued his hobby after moving to Las Cruces in 1998.

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NMSU graduate student makes history as Albuquerque’s first female fire chief

A few years into her teaching career, life took Emily Jaramillo in an unexpected direction.

One day in 2001, Jaramillo, then a teacher in Albuquerque, had invited a local firefighter to her class to speak about the fire service. As Jaramillo listened to the talk, she began envisioning a new career path – one she saw as challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

Recalling that moment, Jaramillo said, “Our guest speaker was talking about how the city was working to recruit more women, and that sparked my interest.”

Four years later, Jaramillo enrolled in the Albuquerque Fire Rescue Training Academy and set forth on a journey that recently led her to the highest echelon of the largest fire department in New Mexico. Earlier this month, Jaramillo began her tenure as the chief of Albuquerque Fire Rescue, becoming the first woman to lead the agency in its 123-year history.

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State Police Checkpoints and Saturation Patrols in Counties across the State in April 2023

Statewide, NM - State Police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver's license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during the month of April 2023.

We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.

These checkpoints are helping to change society's attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Hundreds of lives could be saved each year if every driver had the courage to make the right decision not to drive impaired.

Who: New Mexico State Police

What: Sobriety Checkpoints, Saturation Patrols, and Registration/Insurance/DL Checkpoints

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Golden Apple Extends Application Deadline for Scholars Program 

Accepting Application until April 15

NEW MEXICO - The Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching, a leading nonprofit committed to preparing, supporting, and mentoring aspiring teachers, extended the application deadline for the New Mexico Scholars program to April 15. 

Scholars will receive extensive classroom teaching experience, instruction from award-winning New Mexico educators, job placement assistance upon graduation from college, a stipend, and mentoring throughout their journey. The Scholars Program creates a new pipeline of great teachers to help address both the teacher shortage and support those to return to their communities to teach.

New Mexico residents who are high school seniors, freshmen or sophomores in college, or enrolled in community college are eligible to apply now at www.goldenapple.org/scholars-new-mexico.

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NM House Republicans call for federal investigation into DD waiver allegations

Santa Fe – On Wednesday, House Republican Leadership requested that the Inspector General for the US Dept. of Health and Human Services initiate an investigation into the NM Department of Health. The call for independent investigation arrives amidst reporting from the Santa Fe New Mexican and Candle Publishing detailing what the Governor calls a “horrific case of abuse.”

House Republican Leader Ryan Lane (Aztec), Republican Whip Greg Nibert (Roswell), and Republican Caucus Chair Gail Armstrong (Magdalena) wrote to HHS Inspector General Christi Grimm asking for an independent investigation into the disturbing disclosure of “at least thirteen cases of possible abuse, neglect, and exploitation of developmentally disabled individuals.”

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NMSU team selected for international finals of design competition

For the third consecutive year, New Mexico State University students will participate in the international finals of the Invent for the Planet design competition.

TF-575, a team of undergraduate students, recently took first place at phase one of the IFTP design competition, hosted by NMSU’s Aggie Innovation Space and Texas A&M University.

“I was very excited that we got into the final round,” said Olivia Belian, TF-575 member and mechanical engineering student. “I was not expecting it because there were so many other great projects. I am very proud of our team for this accomplishment.”

This annual event challenges student teams from around the world to design innovative solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing the planet. After competing at their local schools, select winning teams travel to Texas A&M in College Station, Texas, for the final round, which will take place at 9 a.m. April 20.

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