Non-Local News Releases

Statewide, NM - State Police will be conducting sobriety checkpoints, saturation patrols; and registration, insurance, and driver's license checkpoints in all New Mexico counties during March 2025.

We are bringing awareness to these events to reduce impaired driving-related fatalities through continued media attention and intensive advertising.

These checkpoints are helping to change society's attitude about driving while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

Statewide enrollment now open for leading tuition-free online public school with expanded college and career readiness course offering

SANTA FE, N.M. (Feb. 27, 2025) – New Mexico Connections Academy, a tuition-free, online public school, is now enrolling students for the 2025-26 school year. With over a decade of experience, the school offers an established online education program to more than 1,500 students in grades 4-12 across New Mexico.

New for the 2025-26 academic year, New Mexico Connections Academy will launch its expanded College and Early Career Readiness program for middle and high school students. The school will integrate traditional academic subjects with industry-leading, career-focused options like IT, business, health sciences and marketing. This new program will equip students with durable skills like leadership, critical thinking and teamwork. Students can participate in career exploration and industry networking opportunities to build confidence, make connections and find direction to prepare for their future.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2025 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins today announced Tom Schultz will serve as the 21st chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.

"Tom is the right person to lead the Forest Service right now, and I know he will fight every day to restore America's national forests," said Secretary Rollins. "Together, Tom and the incredible employees at the Forest Service will work to execute the agenda of President Donald J. Trump to make America's forests healthy and productive again."

Upon being sworn in, Schultz will replace Chief Randy Moore, who recently announced his retirement in a message to all Forest Service employees after serving the agency for over four decades.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be the next chief of the Forest Service. I will work tirelessly to further support and protect our rural communities. Working with our partners, we will actively manage national forests and grasslands, increase opportunities for outdoor recreation, and suppress wildfires with all available resources emphasizing safety and the importance of protecting resource values," said incoming Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz.

ALBUQUERQUE, FEBRUARY 26—The Republican Party of New Mexico applauds the House passage of H.Con.Res.14, the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution on February 25, 2025, a critical step toward delivering some of the most significant tax relief New Mexicans have ever seen. This resolution passed 217-215 with zero Democrat support, with New Mexico Representatives Gabe Vasquez (CD 2), Melanie Stansbury (CD 1), and Teresa Leger Fernández (CD 3) voting against it.

This budget resolution lays the groundwork to eliminate taxes on tips, Social Security, and overtime, extend key Trump Tax Cuts set to expire, and unlock resources to secure our borders, strengthen national security, and support American energy dominance through upcoming reconciliation bills.

SANTA FE, N.M. — The New Mexico Economic Development Department's Office of Strategy, Science & Technology today announced five contractors were chosen for sector-specific business assistance for New Mexico startups in science and technology.

These contractors represent a substantial addition to the resources the office provides to grow New Mexico businesses and the state's science and tech ecosystem.

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) today warned that severe underfunding in the current House budget proposal will jeopardize essential child welfare services and put the state at risk of costly federal penalties.

The House has allocated just $1.79 million in recurring general fund—a mere 2.9% of the department's crucial $62 million in recurring funding need. Additionally, the House did not provide requisites deficiency of $12.3 million and a shortfall supplemental of $20 million.

"This dramatic shortfall threatens New Mexico's ability to protect our most vulnerable children and families," said CYFD Secretary Teresa Casados. "Without adequate funding, we face the very real possibility of reducing services and facing costly penalties for non-compliance with court-mandated improvements."

ALBUQUERQUE, FEBRUARY 24—The Republican Party of New Mexico seeks to present a clear picture that does not demonize Border Patrol or heighten fear in our communities following an incident on February 21, 2025, involving U.S. Border Patrol agents and a charter bus carrying Las Cruces High School students. The school bus, described as being unmarked without school decals, was stopped at a routine checkpoint on Interstate 25 in the El Paso sector. Due to its unmarked nature, agents conducted a standard immigration inspection, confirmed all passengers were legally present, and departed without incident, as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The unmarked bus was treated as any other vehicle would be under standard checkpoint procedures. Despite this, Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D- CD 2) has claimed the agents "harassed" the students and accused the border agents of being racially motivated, fueling unnecessary vilification. The students' reported nervousness is understandable, particularly for young people encountering law enforcement unexpectedly, but it does not equate to wrongdoing by the agents, who are trained to handle such situations with care and discretion.

State supports new technologies with grants of up to $100K

SANTA FE, N.M. — The Office of Strategy, Science and Technology has awarded SBIR Matching Grants to eight technology companies with active federal funding to boost technologies in advanced energy, aerospace, advanced computing, and bioscience, New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) Secretary-Designate Rob Black announced today.

The Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Matching Grant is available to New Mexico-based for-profit science and technology companies with active federal funding in either program. The grant specifically supports startups with a scalable business model that can grow and diversify New Mexico's economy.