Non-Local News Releases

ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Department) has scheduled a public meeting with the Public Land User (Habitat) Stamp Citizen Advisory Committee.

Fish and wildlife habitat restoration project opportunities that have been jointly developed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and the Department will be presented. Members of the public are invited to attend this hybrid public meeting. An agenda will be posted on the Public Land User Stamp website prior to the meeting.

• Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 1 p.m.; continuing Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Attend in person at the Department's Northwest Area office, 7816 Alamo Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
  • Register in advance to attend virtually (Tuesday and Wednesday)

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment regarding potential changes to fees currently charged by hunting and fishing license vendors. 

Currently, all license vendors, including the Department, charge a fee of $1 per license sold. The passage of Senate Bill 5 by the New Mexico State Legislature during its 2025 session enables license collectors to "collect and retain a vendor fee for each license or permit issued; provided that the fee shall be just and reasonable; as determined by regulation of the State Wildlife Commission." 

Elephant Butte Lake: Valentin (Billy) Orrantia caught a striped bass on a lure on July 6.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: The lake is currently closed due to the Trout Fire. For more information, visit the official Trout Fire page on InciWeb.

Bill Evans Lake: The most recent report was received June 26. At that time, fishing for catfish was fair to good when using Green Garlic PowerBait.

Upgraded system eliminates dead zones, connects 78 agencies statewide

SANTA FE — In the rugged terrain of New Mexico, where a lost hiker or stranded motorist can quickly become a life-or-death situation, communication failures have long plagued emergency responders. Not anymore.

"Effective and hardened radio systems help keep first responders safe and connected," said Manny Barreras DoIT cabinet secretary. "Public safety radio isn't just technology it's the pulse of every emergency response."

The transformation is dramatic. Chris Starr of the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office Open Space Unit knows firsthand what the difference means.

"Before switching to the state's Motorola Radio System, we'd lose communication just a half mile into a search," said Starr. "Now, with enhanced coverage, integrated zones, and unified talkgroups, our fire, and search and rescue teams are instantly connected."

(Washington, D.C., July 10, 2025) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today published a final rule removing requirements for the use of discriminatory racial and gender preferences in USDA programs when these requirements are not required by an act of Congress. The Biden Administration weaponized USDA programs to willfully discriminate on the basis of race and gender. This was found to be unconstitutional by a Federal District Court and no appeal was filed, clearly an uncontroverted admission that it had acted illegally.

"We are taking this aggressive, unprecedented action to eliminate discrimination in any form at USDA. It is simply wrong and contrary to the fundamental principle that all persons should be treated equally. President Trump has directed the cabinet to scrutinize all programs for illegal and unfair discrimination, and as long as I am Secretary of Agriculture, when we find leftover Biden discrimination in our programs, we will hold those persons who have committed these insidious acts accountable and take swift action to correct these illegal actions," said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins.

First-time Accessibility Pilot Grants awarded to two entities

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is supporting a record 14 projects in the third year of the agency's Destination Forward Program.

A total of $1.8 million in grant funding will go to support the planning, design, construction and renovation of tourism-related infrastructure projects across the state.

"Thoughtful investments in tourism-related infrastructure are essential for proper destination stewardship," said Acting Secretary Lancing Adams. "Now entering its third year, Destination Forward is becoming an increasingly valuable element to our mix of programs that serve the needs of communities throughout New Mexico."

After 80 years of struggle for acknowledgment, the State of New Mexico  Department of Transportation is setting up a sign at the Stallion Gate entrance to the Trinity Site that recognizes the sacrifice and suffering of the Downwinders of New Mexico.  The sign dedication will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Stallion Gate entrance off Highway 380 east of San Antonio, NM.  Melissa Park, the Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2017) will be in attendance along with other dignitaries.  The sign was made possible via State House Memorial 8 passed in 2025 Legislative Session and sponsored by Representatives Ferrary, Lujan, Silva and Block.

(Washington, D,C., July 10, 2025) — Today, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Department of Justice, and Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued notice to all relevant program partners making clear its interpretation of the term "Federal public benefit" as used in Title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). The notice also identifies potential USDA programs that provide "Federal public benefits" within the scope of PRWORA. 

"The generosity of the American taxpayer has long been abused by faulty interpretations of 1996 welfare reform law," said Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins. "Today's notice makes clear its intent—illegal aliens should not receive government dollars. This effort is one of many by the Department of Agriculture to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of USDA's programs and policies."