Non-Local News Releases

SANTA FE, NM - The State Parks Division is announcing seasonal changes to operational hours for some of its parks during the fall and winter season.

Some specific full closures include El Vado, Manzano Mountains, and Morphy Lake State Parks as early as November 1st. Other parks may close campgrounds, comfort stations, and recreational locations seasonally. Please check each park's webpage at emnrd.nm.gov for detailed information before you visit.

Department of Health working to investigate source of infections

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) is investigating five cases of E. coli O157 potentially associated with McDonald's. These cases are part of an outbreak that has sickened people in other states: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html.  All cases in New Mexico to date have been residents of Bernalillo County. There has been one hospitalization and no deaths to date. NMHealth is working diligently with other states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) and other organizations to determine the cause of illness.

Santa Fe, NM – Pursuant to Governor Lujan Grisham's Executive Order 2024-155, issued October 21, 2024 in response to the devastating severe flooding impacting Chavez County, the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) issued an Emergency Order to protect access to insurance and the stability of insurance markets during the emergencies declared in the Governors executive order.

SANTA FE—On October 11, 2024, the Medical Assistance Division of New Mexico’s Health Care Authority Department issued a supplemental briefing advising New Mexico healthcare providers they will be reimbursed with state funds to facilitate “gender-affirming care”. This new practice is a result of House Bill 7 from 2023, a measure Senate Republicans unanimously voted against and which passed in the Senate 23-15. 

Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (R-Belen) has issued the following statement in response: 

Board Decision Was Unanimous; Cite Lack of Justification & A "Rushed" Process IPANM (October 23, 2024) - The Governor's-appointed Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) today rejected the New Mexico Environment Department's (NMED) 5x fee increase proposal for General Construction Permits (GCP) along with all other fee increases included in their May 2024 petition for rulemaking.

The EIB specifically cited a complete lack of data from the NMED to support the arbitrary increases that would have directly impacted oil & gas operators.

Upon the announcement of today's EIB decision, IPANM Executive Director Jim Winchester issued the following statement.

New Mexico Game and Fish Wildlife magazine

NMDGF  #SaveOurSpecies, Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

Erin Duvuvuei has managed a lot during her conservation career. She’s our non-game avian biologist who recently participated in a comprehensive survey of yellow-billed cuckoos in 11 western states. Erin’s encounter during a recent survey allowed her to experience the threats that can be faced by this bird firsthand.

The yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) is a member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae). It’s native to wide swaths of the Americas running from southern Canada to the Caribbean. Sometimes it even migrates as far south as northern Argentina.

SANTA FE, NM— The national bond rating institution Moody's has upgraded the outlook on New Mexico's issuer and general obligation bonds from stable to positive based on strong general fund reserves and pension funding initiatives, according to its Credit Opinion Report highlighting New Mexico's recent fiscal practices.

"This new national report is great news that demonstrates we're making sound fiscal decisions that will benefit New Mexicans for years to come," said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. "It's clear that our fiscal strategy is working, and we'll continue to make smart investments and prepare for the future."

Starting as early as October 29

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – October 22, 2024 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the previously announced Tablazon prescribed fire (RX) on the Sandia Ranger District as early as Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

Fire crews plan to burn approximately 207 acres, split into several different units in the Tablazon Canyon area, in the Manzanita Mountains. Tablazon is located south of HWY 333, south of Lower Pine trailhead and east of FSRD 462. Map attached. Visitors may be impacted by the Cedro, Bear Scat, Lower Pine, Tablazon and Coyote trails system. Smoke may be visible in the surrounding areas of Tijeras, Edgewood, Moriarty and Albuquerque.