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.
Department of Health reports first pediatric flu Death of 2022-2023 season
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 11 April 2023 11 April 2023
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) reports today the death of a two-year-old Otero County girl from flu-related illness, New Mexico’s first pediatric flu death of the 2022-2023 season. Since the start of the flu season, DOH has identified 233 pneumonia and flu-related deaths.
While flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory illness activity have decreased in recent weeks, all of them can cause hospitalizations and death throughout the year. While most people get flu vaccinations later in the summer and fall, the most important factor is getting a vaccination at some point each year. However, since COVID-19 has not always followed a seasonal pattern, any time of the year is good to get vaccinated if you qualify for initial vaccination or booster shots against it.
Reducing the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses takes a community effort. The Department of Health recommends that everyone six months of age and older get flu vaccine each flu season. It is especially important for the following groups of people, either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications, or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
Department of Health moves into new phase of COVID-19 response
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 11 April 2023 11 April 2023
NM Notify app to be shut down, data reporting changes
SANTA FE – Changes are coming to the way the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) is addressing COVID-19. Starting today, epidemiological reports covering COVID-19 will change from bi-weekly to monthly. In addition, the COVID-19 Data Dashboard will be discontinued and archived on May 11.
“These changes reflect the new phase of COVID-19 that we are in today,” said DOH Deputy Secretary Laura Parajon. “We will continue to actively monitor trends related to COVID-19, but with fewer COVID-19 tests being taken and inconsistent reporting of home COVID-19 tests, the day-to-day numbers are not as meaningful as they once were.”
NM Notify, New Mexico’s COVID-19 Exposure Alert system, also will be shut down on May 11. The system was supported by the Association of Public Health Laboratories in partnership with Google, Apple and Microsoft. The national resources that made this system possible are no longer going to be available after May 11.
Aggie Fashion Club to roll out remade runway during annual Sustainable Fashion Show
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 10 April 2023 10 April 2023
Putting their fashion skills to the test, the Aggie Fashion Club at New Mexico State University is getting ready to show up and show out once again this year for the 2023 Sustainable Fashion Show.
The event will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at the Corbett Center Student Union Aggie Lounge.
This will be the third year the club has organized the fashion show, and the mission to upcycle, recycle, and create sustainability remains the same. Some of the upcycled fashion work includes designs made from paper, bubble wrap, product labels, retail bags, tin cans, vintage fabrics, and trash bags.
“It is a great opportunity to have students engaged in the Upcycle Fashion Show at NMSU because it allows students to gain the experience of creating a garment,” said Lizette Arnas, adjunct professor in design. “It also allows them to gain experience of coordinating a big event. This event encourages participants to be inspired and motivated to their creativity.”
PNM invites customers to thank linemen in celebration of National Lineman Appreciation Day
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 10 April 2023 10 April 2023
(ALBUQUERQUE, NM) – As a community, we always thank our first responders. Police officers, firefighters, and many others get their much-deserved ‘Thank you’ acknowledgments. However, we often forget one particular group of responders who help power our communities every day: Linemen. The electricity that powers our lives is an essential part of the world we live in and so are the employees who face inclement weather and obstacles to restore power, more often than anyone realizes. They do this day in and day out to make sure we continue to have safe, reliable power in our homes and businesses.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023, is National Lineman Appreciation Day and PNM is offering customers a chance to send a personalized thank you card to those linemen who work in our neighborhoods.
Now, and throughout the entire month of April, customers are encouraged to visit PNM.com/ThankALineman and fill out a thank you note for PNM crews.
ECECD announces that FIT Program now ranked first in the nation, new rates for early intervention providers
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 10 April 2023 10 April 2023
SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) announced that the agency’s Family Infant Toddler (FIT) program, which provides early intervention services for babies and toddlers experiencing or at risk for developmental delays or disabilities, is now ranked first in the nation in identifying and serving babies birth to 12 months old by the federal Office of Special Education Programs. ECECD also announced that it has completed a cost study for FIT early intervention services and will be increasing the rates paid to providers.
“Diagnosing developmental delays and disabilities as early as possible is critical to getting babies and toddlers the therapies and interventions they need for healthy growth and development,” said ECECD Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky. “We are thrilled that our FIT early intervention program is now the best in the nation at identifying children who could benefit from services in their first year of life. This achievement is a testament to the skill, compassion, and professionalism of New Mexico’s early intervention workforce, who we will be supporting with increased rates moving forward.”
NMSU awarded $1.3 million grant to establish new TRIO program in Otero County
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 10 April 2023 10 April 2023
Thanks to a new federal grant, New Mexico State University has the opportunity to help improve the lives of hundreds of middle school and high school students in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Through the NMSU TRIO Educational Talent Search program, students will receive services to help them graduate high school and pursue a postsecondary education.
The NMSU TRIO Educational Talent Search program will serve Mountain View Middle School and Alamogordo High School students in Otero County. The five-year, $1,386,620 grant from the United States Department of Education will support 500 low-income students, who would be first-generation college students, and their families each year.
“The Talent Search Program strengthens NMSU’s commitment to empower, engage and guide potential first-generation college-bound students to reach their educational potential by providing academic and non-academic support services,” said Tony Marin, program co-principal investigator and assistant vice president of student affairs.
New Mexico Film Office Announces Feature Film “The Christmas Classic” Filmed in New Mexico
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 10 April 2023 10 April 2023
Santa Fe, NM - New Mexico Film Office Director Amber Dodson announced today that the feature film “The Christmas Classic” from CC Productions was filmed in and around Ruidoso in March.
“The Christmas Classic,” starring Malin Ackerman (“The Proposal”) and Amy Smart (“Just Friends”), directed by Shane Taylor, and produced by Daniel Cummings, is the story of Elizabeth, who returns to her hometown of Ruidoso after living in San Francisco for the past ten years. Elizabeth tries to convince Randy, the owner of the local ski resort, to sell the resort to her billionaire fiancé Conner who wants to turn it into a private ski resort. If she doesn’t, she risks ending her relationship and losing her job. She could turn her family and the entire community against her if she does. Randy agrees to sell the resort if she wins the yearly Christmas Classic, a series of outrageous events that her controlling older sister Lynn has won for nine years.
The production employed 80 New Mexicans – 30 as background talent, 38 crew members, and 12 principal actors.
Traffic Alert: White Sands Missile Range - US 380 Roadblock
- Category: Non-Local News Releases Non-Local News Releases
- Published: 10 April 2023 10 April 2023
SAN ANTONIO - The New Mexico Department of Transportation District One office (NMDOT) along with White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) have posted an alert for Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
US 380 will be blocked one time at 8:40 a.m. for approximately two (2) hours and should be lifted at 10:40 a.m. This block will be located at Gold Block (Mile Marker 3) and at Silver Block (Mile Marker 49).
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.