Non-Local News Releases
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.
Heinrich, Ernst Lead Bipartisan Effort to Improve Agricultural Conservation Practices
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 24 August 2023 24 August 2023
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) announced a new, bipartisan bill to streamline the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) process for updating and adopting conservation practice standards that help farmers and ranchers improve soil health, build resilience to climate impacts, and achieve their conservation goals. The bill will close the gap between evidence-based NRCS best practices and emerging research and innovation, enabling producers to more quickly and effectively harness voluntary NRCS conservation programs on their land. The effort will provide more transparency for stakeholders and set a clear, standardized process for producers and the public to participate in improving conservation practices.
“Regenerative agriculture and soil health practices help farmers and producers make their working lands more resilient, something that is widely wanted and needed. As Congress negotiates the next Farm Bill, Republicans and Democrats agree that we must update the process for developing new conservation practice standards at the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and make that process more transparent and accessible for all. By leveraging innovation happening in New Mexico and across the country, producers can build more resilience into their operations and make a real difference in our fight against climate change,” said Senator Heinrich.
State presents the highest general fund revenue forecast in NM history
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 24 August 2023 24 August 2023
Estimated 3.5% recurring revenue increase with $3.48B in "new money."
Las Vegas, NM - State announces the highest General Fund (GF) revenue forecast in New Mexico history with $3.48 billion in “new money,” a 3.5% increase in recurring revenue for FY25. The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), and the Taxation and Revenue Department (TRD) presented the Consensus General Fund Revenue Outlook to the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee highlighting the unprecedented and historic revenue growth for the state.
“The robust general fund proves that what we are doing in New Mexico’s economy is working,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “As we see another record year of projected revenue, we will continue building a solid financial future for our state through meaningful and long-lasting investments, always with an eye on stewardship of public dollars and fiscal responsibility.”
Cookie Classic Golf Tournament is Saturday, September 16, 2023
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 23 August 2023 23 August 2023
Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest will be holding their 1st Cookie Classic Golf Tournament on Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Butterfield Trail Golf Club located at 1858 Cottonwoods Drive in El Paso, TX, 79925.
This event is open to the public. To participate, please visit gsdsw.org. Registration deadline is Friday, September 8, 2023.
Proceeds generated from the Cookie Classic Golf Tournament provide programs that teach practical life and leadership skills to girls. Your participation gives girls the materials they need to begin their life journey as "Girl Scouts who make the world a better place."
Three NMSU history professors publish books this year
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 23 August 2023 23 August 2023
Elizabeth Horodowich, Jamie Bronstein and Kenneth Hammond, history professors at New Mexico State University published books this year that range from China’s revolution to happiness in Britain to why early mapmakers thought America was Asia.
Horodowich, NMSU history professor and department head, is a historian of early modern Italy and global history and has published books in the past covering such topics. In her newest book, “Amerasia” Horodowich focuses on the historical, common thought that “America” and Asia were the same continent.
“I became interested in the idea of an imagined Amerasian continent when I was doing research for another book,” Horodowich said, “and I kept seeing the same pattern in the sources, which was European explorers and cartographers regularly “confused” the lands in the Western Atlantic with China and India.”
Dunn Solar Telescope tour gives visitors colorful experience
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 23 August 2023 23 August 2023
“Telescopes play with rainbows,” says volunteer Bill Wren to a dimly lit room packed with visitors of Sunspot Solar Observatory. The crowd is comprised of both young and old tourists who’ve flocked to the Observatory to tour one of the world’s greatest solar telescopes, the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), operated by New Mexico State University. Their eyes remain fixed on the slide show Wren has put together to illuminate the information he shares about the telescope, the Sun, and our long plight to fully understand its marvels.
Wren flips through screens depicting explosive coronal mass ejections, hot gas brimming on the Sun’s atmosphere, light spectrums, and the immensity of the Sun compared to the planets which orbit it, including ours. “It’s incredible, folks,” Wren says, explaining the connection between ancient solar science and modern technological innovations, like the DST.
Wren, who is recently retired from McDonald Telescope in Texas, worked a long career as a public information specialist—and eventually as special assistant to the superintendent—for over thirty years. He was responsible for leading educational outreach programs at the observatory, but his career offered him many other exciting opportunities, including working alongside astronomers, studying distant celestial objects, building telescopes, and promoting the value of dark skies to oil and gas companies. Even now, in his retirement, Wren finds himself drawn to supporting public education efforts, which is why he reached out to Sunspot Solar Observatory after moving to Cloudcroft, NM in 2021.
Seven Springs Kids' Pond closed due to McKinney Fire
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 August 2023 21 August 2023
The kids' pond at Seven Springs Hatchery, located four miles north of Fenton Lake State Park in Sandoval County, is closed because of firefighting efforts surrounding the McKinney Fire. The pond and surrounding roads are closed to allow for dipping of water and access for fire crews.
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists and hatchery staff are putting together a plan to prioritize the relocation of fish inventories currently at the hatchery should that become necessary.
BLM seeks public comment on oil and gas lease sale in New Mexico, Kansas
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 August 2023 21 August 2023
SANTA FE, N.M. – The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office today opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on 27 oil and gas parcels totaling 6,282.06 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in New Mexico and Kansas. The comment period ends Sept. 20, 2023.
The parcels we are analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment, are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2025795/510 .
As authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, we will apply a 16.67 percent royalty rate for any new leases from this sale. More information about the Act is available on BLM's online fact sheet.
PNM and parties reach unanimous settlement agreement
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 18 August 2023 18 August 2023
PNM and parties reach unanimous settlement agreement for customer rate credits to resolve remaining steps of San Juan coal plant retirement.
Rate credits add to existing benefits of coal plant retirement under Energy Transition Act for customers, environment, employees and impacted communities.
(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) – PNM reached a unanimous agreement with the parties in New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) and New Mexico Supreme Court (Court) filings resolving all remaining steps involved in the retirement of the San Juan coal plant under the Energy Transition Act. These steps include bill credits issued to customers and the issuance of lower-cost securitization bonds to fund the energy transition.
“We have been working towards this transition for many years and appreciate the collaborative effort from parties to reach a unanimous settlement to complete the final steps,” said Pat Vincent-Collawn, CEO of PNM. “As the solar and battery storage replacement power resources also begin to come online, we are seeing the full scope of the Energy Transition Act’s benefits for our customers, the environment, employees and the communities impacted by the plant’s closure.”