Non-Local News Releases

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Higher Education Department is granting student debt relief to more than 500 health professionals working in New Mexico as part of the agency’s Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, further strengthening an important mechanism for health professional recruitment and retention in the state. 

The 524 new awardees for Fiscal Year 2025 will receive student debt relief on the condition of maintaining a three-year commitment to working in high-need communities across the state. The recipients are 150 allied health practitioners, 134 mental health professionals, 132 nurses, 94 medical doctors and 14 dental professionals. 

 Order Number 03-03-02-24-12

Albuquerque, NM, October 28, 2024 – A Temporary Area Closure Order (03-03-02-24-12) has been reissued within the Mt. Taylor Ranger District, Cibola National Forest, McKinley County, New Mexico. The previously announced launch dates in October were postponed by White Sands Missile Range. A launch is tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, November 2 with a backup date of Sunday, November 3 requiring an area closure order within the Mt Taylor Ranger District.

This Order shall be in effect from November 1, 2024, at 2:00 PM, through November 3, 2024, at 4 PM unless rescinded.

October 25, 2024 – Today's objectives on the Capilla Prescribed Fire consisted of mopping and holding exterior fire lines as well as the ignition of small, unburned pockets within the perimeter. Today there was an operation focused on unburned pockets of fuel, which was completed around 1:30 PM. Overall, fire crews focused on securing the fire's perimeter and mop-up. Please note, smoke may continue to be visible as unburned or heavy fuels within the perimeter continue to burn. These heat sources should pose no threat to perimeter lines. Fire crews will continue to be onsite daily to monitor and extinguish hot spots as necessary. Unless there are new developments, this will be the final new release specific to the Capilla Rx.

LAS CRUCES – The New Mexico State Game Commission will hold a meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex Board Room, 505 S. Main St., Ste. 249, Loretto Town Centre, Las Cruces, NM 88001. The full agenda, and other information, will be available on the Department of Game and Fish website.

If you are interested in participating or providing comments, but cannot attend the meeting in person, you are encouraged to pre-register to attend the meeting on the Zoom Webinar platform. For thos who wish only to view the meeting, there will be a live webcast on the Department's website. 

Residents should not wait for FEMA Individual Assistance to clean flooding debris

SANTA FE – The state, local and county governments are providing resources for residents cleaning up after the flooding in Chaves County. Residents can separate their debris and have it picked up at their curb or drop off debris at temporary debris staging sites.

"The impacts from this flooding have been devastating to this community, but the state will be with them to support every step of their recovery," saidDHSEM State Director Ali Rye. "We're working with local and county officials to make sure residents have options that are easy to navigate."

NMDA is holding three virtual workshops in December in preparation for the Feb. 14 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program proposal deadline. Saffron flowers are considered a specialty crop by the United States Department of Agriculture. (Envato Elements stock photo)LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Approximately $500,000 in funding is available to New Mexico producers through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA). NMDA will hold virtual workshops in December in preparation for the grant proposal deadline on Feb. 14, 2025.

Outreach workshops for potential applicants to learn more and to gain a better understanding of the program will be held as follows:

Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Noon
Register in advance for this meeting at:
https://nmsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIuf-6rrz4pHNEXrNP-pogj0oMhhGTA43ZG

Thursday, Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m.
Register in advance for this meeting at:
https://nmsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pdu-uqTwpGt2xLaA2m0rGG4ikHEd1DOsT

Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 a.m.
Register in advance for this meeting at:
https://nmsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkcOurqzwjGdauJ8jmDirh0CxdfKR-5Uv3

After registering, individuals will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte said his team at NMDA is here to help producers through the application process.

SANTA FE, N.M – The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office today opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on three oil and gas parcels totaling 1,261 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in New Mexico. The comment period ends Nov. 25, 2024.

The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in August 2024 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis. BLM will use input from the public to help complete its review of each parcel and determine if leasing of these parcels conforms with all applicable laws, policies, and land use plans.

October 24, 2024 – Today fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NG) were successfully able to implement the Capilla prescribed fire (Rx) on the Mountainair Ranger District. Weather conditions were favorable for ground and aerial ignitions. Due to the success of the day, minimal burning is expected tomorrow or over the weekend, however, there may be small interior pockets of fuels that require ignition. Due to light winds overnight, a smoke inversion is possible, especially throughout the Estancia Valley. This may cause smoke to settle in surrounding communities rather than disperse but is expected to dissipate as daytime temperatures increase.