WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 11, 2018) - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:

"One hundred years ago, on November 11, 1918, soldiers on both sides along the Western Front laid down their arms, ending World War I. Since then, we have taken time to reflect on the service of the men and women who have served the United States in uniform.

"I am immensely proud of New Mexico’s rich history of defending our nation—from the Navajo Code Talkers and Bataan Death Marchers to Vietnam GIs and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. That legacy carries forward to today through the service of the men and women stationed at our military installations around the globe."

"We must be unwavering in our commitment to our servicemembers and their families. They deserve not just words of gratitude, but also the best care, benefits, and opportunities our nation can provide when they come home."

Read more ...

Mora County, NM - On November 9, 2018, at around 1:30 p.m. the New Mexico State Police was alerted to a vehicle pursuit traveling south on Interstate 25 from Colorado into New Mexico. 

Juan Moises Chavez (30) of Colorado Springs, CO was the suspect in an armed robbery and was actively fleeing from the Huerfano County Sheriff’s Office out of Walsenburg, CO. As the Silver Chevrolet SUV driven by Chavez entered New Mexico, officers from New Mexico State Police District 2 Las Vegas intercepted and took over the pursuit. 

Utilizing tire deflation devices, State Police officers safely stopped the pursuit on Interstate 25, mile post 364 near the Watrous exit.  Chavez brandished a firearm and barricaded himself inside his vehicle. State Police Crisis Negotiators and Tactical Team were called into assist, and all lanes of Interstate 25 were closed from the mile post 352 to the 387. After hours of negotiation, Chavez peacefully surrendered to State Police officers around 6:00 p.m.  

Read more ...

NM 192, Mile Post 2.1, Mesquite, NM

Mesquite: The New Mexico Department of Transportation District One office (NMDOT) has posted an alert for Wednesday November 14, 2018:

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will have intermittent personnel and equipment on the roadway for cattle guard removal starting Wednesday November 14. Traffic will encounter lane closures with a flagging operation. Construction hours will be Wednesday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and is expected to be completed by November 2018.

For updated information go to:

New Mexico Department of Transportation here.

Traffic Report for week of November 11 to 18, 2018

In all construction zones, motorists are asked to reduce speed, obey posted signs, and use extreme caution, as well as continue to be cautious of heavy equipment and construction personnel in the area. 

White Sands Missile Range Notification

For information regarding closures you may call WSMR at 678-1178 or 678-2222 for updates.  

Traffic updates are posted on the NMDOT traffic advisory web-site here and can be retrieved through our automated system at 511 in New Mexico or 1-800-432-4269 from any line.

Interstates:

I-25, Mile Marker 154 to 157.839, Lemitar 

Mountain States Constructors, Inc. (Contractor) is continuing with bridge replacement and roadway reconstruction on Interstate 25 in Socorro Co.  Traffic is diverted from southbound driving lanes to northbound driving lanes for the finalization of the project. A 12’ width restriction will be in effect throughout the project. Construction will be Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Construction is expected to be completed by winter 2018. 

Read more ...

Lea County, NM - On November 8, 2018 at around 9:42 p.m., the New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal rollover crash on State Road 248 at about mile post 5 near Eunice.

 The initial investigation indicates a 1996 Ford pickup, driven by Sheldon Guerito (22) of Shiprock was traveling westbound on State Road 248.  For unknown reasons the Ford pickup left the roadway and rolled.  Guerito sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator.

Alcohol does not appear to be involved and seatbelts were properly used. No further information is currently available.

DVS to Also Host Veterans Day Ceremonies in Angel Fire and T or C

New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) Secretary Jack Fox is scheduled to give the Keynote Address at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony in Albuquerque presented by the United Veterans Council and the city of Albuquerque on Sunday, November 11, at 11 a.m. at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial (1100 Louisiana Blvd. SE./just north of Gibson Blvd. SE).DVS will be hosting an 11 a.m. Veterans Day ceremony at its Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Angel Fire, and a 10 a.m. ceremony at its State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences. DVS Deputy Secretary Alan Martinez will give the Keynote Address at the Angel Fire ceremony. DVS Health Care Coordination Director Mitchell Lawrence will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the ceremony at the State Veterans Home, with the Keynote Address given by U.S. Army Colonel Stephen Ward, Garrison Commander at White Sands Missile Range.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an official national holiday honoring our nation’s men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

The holiday traces its beginnings to November 11, 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a non-binding proclamation commemorating the one-year anniversary of end of World War I. He referred to the date as “Armistice Day,” in honor of the armistice signed a year earlier between the Allies and Germany —on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month—to formally end the war.

Read more ...

Santa Fe, NM – The State of New Mexico and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have released a draft white paper which addresses state and federal regulatory management of produced water, along with opportunities to treat and reuse the water to help alleviate water scarcity issues across the state. The white paper is now available for public review and input.

In July 2018, the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department; Environment Department; and the Office of the State Engineer entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the EPA. The purpose of the MOU is to assess and clarify the existing regulatory landscape related to the way produced water from oil and gas extraction activities may be reused, or as appropriate treated and made available for non-oil and gas applications in New Mexico.

EMNRD has created a website to detail progress being made and facilitate stakeholder input here with links to the signed MOU and the draft white paper.  Comments may be submitted to  renewablewater@state.nm.us until December 10, 2018.  

Read more ...

Award part of $12 million total for Bureau of Reclamation water projects throughout New Mexico for 2019

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Supply Project will receive a total of $4.347 million from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (BOR) fiscal year 2019 budget. The project, when complete, will deliver a reliable water supply to Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, Grady, Elida, Melrose, Portales, Texico, and Roosevelt and Curry counties. An additional $7.65 million will be allocated to other projects along the Rio Grande, for Isleta Pueblo, and the Carlsbad area.

In October, Udall and Heinrich requested that BOR allocate additional funding to the Eastern New Mexico water project, along with other New Mexico water priorities, from an additional $99 million discretionary fund they secured through this year’s appropriations bill. The additional funding for the Eastern New Mexico water project will help complete construction of a pipeline to Cannon Air Force Base and Clovis. The $4.347 appropriation represents the largest single-year award from BOR to the Eastern New Mexico water project, bringing total federal funding to the project to over $20 million.

Read more ...