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.
New Mexico honors seven fallen police officers
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 23 May 2023 23 May 2023
Officers’ names added to Memorial Wall bring total to 217
SANTA FE – Today, seven fallen New Mexico law enforcement officers were honored when their names were unveiled on a black marble memorial wall at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Law Enforcement Memorial. The wall bares the names of 217 New Mexico law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.
The visually stunning ceremony included a 21-gun salute, a law enforcement helicopter flyover, a flag folding ceremony, and an emotional flag presentation. The 2023 inductees included, Curry County Deputy Sheriff Charles Bryan Vannatta, Santa Fe Police Department Senior Officer Robert Eric Duran, Bernalillo County Lieutenant Fred Douglas Beers, III, Bernalillo County Undersheriff Larry Koren, Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriff Michael Adam Levison, Colfax County Undersheriff Jeffrey Mark Montoya, and New Mexico State Police Sergeant Thomas Dean Vitale. The officers were honored by hundreds of police officers, dignitaries, citizens, and family members.
Heinrich Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Childhood Cancer Research
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 23 May 2023 23 May 2023
WASHINGTON - During Brain Cancer Awareness Month, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is joining Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) in introducing the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. This legislation would provide a new source of funding for the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First) by redirecting penalties collected from pharmaceutical, cosmetic, supplement, and medical device companies that break the law to pediatric and childhood cancer research.
The bill is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, who died from a rare form of brain cancerat the age of 10. Miller was an activist and worked to raise support for research into childhood diseases like cancer until her death in October of 2013.
“Losing a child is any parent’s worst nightmare. We need to be leveraging every available option to save more children from childhood cancers,” said Heinrich. “This bipartisan legislation would make new funding available to research cures and advance treatments that save lives and honor the memories of those we’ve lost.”
Supreme Court overturns regulatory decision about telecommunications company
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 22 May 2023 22 May 2023
SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court today reversed a regulatory agency’s decision to permanently ban a company from becoming a provider of discounted telecommunications services to low-income consumers in New Mexico.
In a unanimous opinion, the Court concluded that the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission lacked the authority under the law to forever prohibit Q Link Wireless LLC from petitioning the regulatory agency in the future for designation as an eligible telecommunications carrier (ETC).
Q Link petitioned the PRC in 2012 for ETC designation to make it eligible for money from the federal Universal Service Fund to provide telecommunication services in tribal and non-tribal areas under the Lifeline program. Companies provide telephone and broadband internet service at a discounted cost to low-income consumers who qualify for the program and receive a reimbursement from the federal fund.
New Mexico Supreme Court opinion provides guidance about pretrial detention
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 22 May 2023 22 May 2023
SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court today issued an opinion providing guidance to district courts in deciding pretrial detention requests from prosecutors.
In a unanimous opinion, the justices clarified the analysis that courts should follow in determining whether legal requirements have been met for a person charged with a felony to be held in jail while awaiting trial.
Under state law, a felony defendant may be detained if prosecutors file a written motion and prove to a district court that the charged person is dangerous and that “no release conditions will reasonably protect the safety of any other person or the community.”
The Court’s opinion provides the legal reasoning for an order by the justices in February that reversed a district court’s denial of a motion for pretrial detention of Joe Anderson, a Bernalillo County man charged with first-degree murder.
State Supreme Court vacates felony murder convictions but affirms willful and deliberate murder convictions in a triple homicide case
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 22 May 2023 22 May 2023
SANTA FE – The state Supreme Court has upheld the first-degree willful and deliberate murder convictions of a northern New Mexico man for the 2018 killings of three people in a home near the community of Dixon in Rio Arriba County.
However, the Court vacated three felony murder convictions that a jury returned against Roger Gage for the same three deaths. The justices concluded that Gage’s convictions of three counts each of first-degree willful and deliberate murder and three counts of felony murder violated constitutional protections against double jeopardy.
“While only one capital sentence was imposed for each murder, under the judgment and sentence, Defendant stands convicted of six first-degree murder convictions for three killings,” the Court wrote in a unanimous opinion by Justice Michael E. Vigil.
Nominations Sought for New Mexico Livestock Inspector of the Year
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 22 May 2023 22 May 2023
By: Michelle Frost-Maynard, NMCGA
Deadline for submitting nominations is September 15, 2023. New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association (NMCGA), is seeking nominations for its annual New Mexico Livestock Inspector of the Year Award. The award will be presented during the 2023 Annual Joint Stockmen's Convention, December 14th – 16th, in Albuquerque.
"NMCGA honors a livestock inspector employed by the New Mexico Livestock Board (NMLB) for outstanding service to the livestock industry," said Loren Patterson, NMCGA President. The NMLB mission is to protect the integrity of New Mexico's livestock industry. The inspectors continuously patrol and perform inspections around the state to help keep livestock free from disease and safe from theft.
Real Estate Activity was Mixed in April 2023
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 May 2023 21 May 2023
In April 2023, New Mexico home sales decreased by 12.75% compared to the previous month. While still 26% behind April 2022 sales, the numbers reflect an increase in the median sold price. In Q1 of 2023, the National Association of Realtors® reported that Santa Fe was one of the top ten metro areas with the largest percent gains in existing single-family home prices at an 11.7% increase.
National Association of Realtors® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said the Federal Reserve's most recent rate hike was unnecessary, and he expects the Fed will stop raising interest rates further. "Inflation will not reignite – inflation will come down closer to 3% by the year's end," Yun stated. Fast-rising rent prices remain the largest contributor to elevated inflation. According to Yun, the housing market is being held back by the lack of housing inventory, a problem that existed before the pandemic. “Seeing a drop to 6% rates on 30-year mortgages, we expect to see more renters transition to home ownership as inventory becomes available,” remarked Hubert Hill, NMAR President.
I-10/I-25 Roadway Memorial Interchange Dedication
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 21 May 2023 21 May 2023
“In memory of SFC Antonio Rey ‘Rod’ Rodriguez”
LAS CRUCES – Saturday, May 20, 2023, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), distinguished guests and community members held the official dedication of Interstate 10 Eastbound from milepost 143.69 to milepost 145.43, Interstate 10 Westbound from milepost 145.43 to milepost 143.69, and Interstate 25 from milepost 0 to milepost 0.19 in Doña Ana County (I-10/I-25 Interchange), as the “SFC Antonio Rey ‘ROD” Rodriguez Memorial Interchange.
Guadalupe Rodriguez Jaramillo, President of the SFC Antonio Rey “ROD” Rodriguez foundation, met with Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales and executive staff members of the NMDOT to formally request, on behalf of the foundation, the dedication of the I-10/I-25 Interchange in memory of United States Army Sergeant First Class (SFC) Antonio Rey ‘ROD” Rodriguez.