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 Cosponsors Legislation to Support Advancements in Agriculture Research and Innovation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to introduce legislation to invest in public research, develop regionally adapted seed varieties and animal breeds, and enable the U.S. to maintain a robust and resilient foodand agricultural system. This standalone legislation is also a part of Senator Heinrich's Agriculture Resilience Act, comprehensive legislation that sets a bold vision of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. agriculture by the year 2040.

Read more ...

Heinrich, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create Pathways to Stable Careers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced the bipartisan Apprenticeship Pathways Act, legislation to create pathways to careers for high school students by expanding access to apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeships offer a direct path to acquiring in-demand skills, and early exposure to industries can encourage more students to pursue careers in those professions. Expanding apprenticeship programs for high school students can help address workforce shortages and ensure a sustainable workforce pipeline. This legislation particularly focuses on apprenticeship programs for occupations with high need, including the building trades, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, telecommunications, and early childhood education.

Read more ...

Traffic Alert White Sands Missile Range

US 70 Roadblock

LAS CRUCES - The New Mexico Department of Transportation District One office (NMDOT) along with White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) have posted an alert for Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

US 70 will be blocked two times beginning at 6:25 a.m. and the second block will begin at 7:55 a.m., lasting approximately 1 hour each. These blocks will be located at 'BLUE Block' (2 miles east of the access road - Mile Marker 172) and at 'BROWN Block' (Mile Marker 192). Nike Avenue will also be impacted by this block; however, San Augustine Pass and Las Cruces Gate will remain open.

All roadblocks are subject to change without notice, please call WSMR at 575-678-2221/2222 for updates or go to New Mexico Department of Transportation: www.nmroads.com  or call 511.

New Mexico Assists Homegrown Companies Secure Needed Funding

Collateral Assistance Program Boosts Start Up and Expanding Businesses

SANTA FE, N.M. – Several New Mexican businesses participating in the Collateral Assistance Program (CAP) through the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) have been able to secure needed funding to grow their businesses and create jobs.

As part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), signed into law by President Biden in 2021, Congress allocated $10 billion to increase access to equity and debt capital through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program. A portion of New Mexico's SSBCI funds are used to provide collateral assistance to support loans to otherwise creditworthy New Mexico small businesses. With CAP, EDD pledges money to a CD account, worth no more than half the amount of the requested business loan. This CD is used as collateral, increasing the participating lender's ability to provide money and security.

In New Mexico, the program has provided $1.8 million in collateral support and has helped 11 entrepreneurs secure $10.7 million in lending, EDD Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes said.

Read more ...

Infrastructure Law Funding to Deliver High-Speed Internet to New Mexico

Heinrich Announces $675 Million in Infrastructure Law Funding to Deliver High-Speed Internet to New Mexico


WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced$675,372,311 in funding to expand high-speed internet access in New Mexico. The investment comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Heinrich helped negotiate and pass into law.  
“Expanding access to high-speed internet improves the quality of education our students receive, makes health care more accessible and affordable, strengthens public safety, and grows our economy,” said Heinrich. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I fought hard to pass into law, we are delivering $675 million — one of the largest single investments in broadband in our state’s history — to develop the infrastructure needed to connect New Mexicans in every corner of our state to these vital services.” 

USDA Makes Grants Available to Help Rural Communities

USDA Makes Grants Available to Help Rural Communities in New Mexico to Repair Water Infrastructure Damaged By Disasters in 2022
Investments are part of president Biden's Investing in America Agenda

WASHINGTON, June 26, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development New Mexico State Director Patricia Dominguez today announced the availability of grants to help rural communities repair water infrastructure damaged by presidentially delclared disasters such as last years forest fires in calendar year 2022. President Biden's Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation's infrastructure, to driving over $470 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments in the United States, to creating good paying jobs and building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.

Read more ...

NM 101 utility replacement on west University Ave.

MESILLA – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) District One along with JGF Built LLC (Contractor) is currently replacing the underground utilities on NM 101 from milepost 0 to 0.8 (Intersection of Avenida de Mesilla and University Ave.) in the Town of Mesilla.
 
Beginning Monday, June 26, 2023, traffic can expect a full roadway closure, with detour in place on NM 28 (Ave. De Mesilla), NM 373 (Union Ave), and McDowell Rd. Please obey traffic control devices.
 
The contractor’s hours of operation will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Drivers should expect delays and plan accordingly. This project is expected to be completed by October 31, 2023.
 
The New Mexico Department of Transportation is committed to the safety of the traveling public and appreciates your cooperation during this road work. For the latest road information visit: The New Mexico Department of Transportation at www.nmroads.com or call 511.

Senate Republicans Issue Statement on Passing of Former Senator Carroll Leavell

SANTA FE — Today, it was announced that former State Senator Carroll Leavell passed away at the age of 86. Senator Leavell served in District 41, representing Eddy and Lea counties, from 1997 to 2018.

The Senate Republican Caucus issued the following statement mourning his passing:

"Senator Leavell will be remembered as a statesman and leader of the utmost integrity. As a longtime member of the Senate, he put the needs of his constituents ahead of politics and he was widely respected by members on both sides of the aisle. Senator Leavell will be dearly missed and we send our deepest condolences to his family during this difficult time."

Content on the Beat

WARNING: All articles and photos with a byline or photo credit are copyrighted to the author or photographer. You may not use any information found within the articles without asking permission AND giving attribution to the source. Photos can be requested and may incur a nominal fee for use personally or commercially.

Disclaimer: If you find errors in articles not written by the Beat team but sent to us from other content providers, please contact the writer, not the Beat. For example, obituaries are always provided by the funeral home or a family member. We can fix errors, but please give details on where the error is so we can find it. News releases from government and non-profit entities are posted generally without change, except for legal notices, which incur a small charge.

NOTE: If an article does not have a byline, it was written by someone not affiliated with the Beat and then sent to the Beat for posting.

Images: We have received complaints about large images blocking parts of other articles. If you encounter this problem, click on the title of the article you want to read and it will take you to that article's page, which shows only that article without any intruders. 

New Columnists: The Beat continues to bring you new columnists. And check out the old faithfuls who continue to provide content.

Newsletter: If you opt in to the Join GCB Three Times Weekly Updates option above this to the right, you will be subscribed to email notifications with links to recently posted articles.

Submitting to the Beat

Those new to providing news releases to the Beat are asked to please check out submission guidelines at https://www.grantcountybeat.com/about/submissions. They are for your information to make life easier on the readers, as well as for the editor.

Advertising: Don't forget to tell advertisers that you saw their ads on the Beat.

Classifieds: We have changed Classifieds to a simpler option. Check periodically to see if any new ones have popped up. Send your information to editor@grantcountybeat.com and we will post it as soon as we can. Instructions and prices are on the page.

Editor's Notes

It has come to this editor's attention that people are sending information to the Grant County Beat Facebook page. Please be aware that the editor does not regularly monitor the page. If you have items you want to send to the editor, please send them to editor@grantcountybeat.com. Thanks!

Here for YOU: Consider the Beat your DAILY newspaper for up-to-date information about Grant County. It's at your fingertips! One Click to Local News. Thanks for your support for and your readership of Grant County's online news source—www.grantcountybeat.com

Feel free to notify editor@grantcountybeat.com if you notice any technical problems on the site. Your convenience is my desire for the Beat.  The Beat totally appreciates its readers and subscribers!  

Compliance: Because you are an esteemed member of The Grant County Beat readership, be assured that we at the Beat continue to do everything we can to be in full compliance with GDPR and pertinent US law, so that the information you have chosen to give to us cannot be compromised.