Non-Local News Releases

 SANTA FE — Starting July 1, New Mexico resident veterans are eligible for a lifetime pass for day-use and camping access to all New Mexico State Parks.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 161 to provide recreational opportunities for New Mexico veterans in the last legislative session. The New Mexico State Parks Division (NMSP) partnered with the Department of Veterans' Services (NMDVS) to quickly implement this new benefit. 

"New Mexico's veterans have served our country with honor, and they deserve tangible support that matches their sacrifice," said Gov. Lujan Grisham. " This lifetime pass gives our veterans access to some of the most beautiful places in our state—places where they can find peace, connect with nature, and enjoy the outdoor recreation that makes New Mexico home. Supporting our veterans' wellbeing makes all of us stronger."

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has announced the postponement of its annual youth encouragement and leftover license sales due to changes with the Wells Fargo payment process.

"This delay is unfortunate, and the Department apologizes for the inconvenience, but this delay is necessary to ensure the system operates fairly and efficiently," director Mike Sloane said. "The Department is working diligently to address the problem."

The Department will notify customers when the sales are rescheduled.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has announced the rescheduling of its annual leftover license sale after technical issues prevented customers from purchasing licenses through the Department's online license system on Wednesday morning.

The sale will now be open to New Mexico residents beginning Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. MDT. Any remaining licenses will then be made available to nonresidents beginning Thursday, July 17 at 10 a.m. MDT.

"We understand we had a technical failure," Department director Michael Sloane said. "In order to be fair and equitable to all, we are going to re-run the license sale."

Details regarding available licenses will be released to the public in the coming days.

Taos, NM — Yesterday, the members of the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) received a spotlight report about orphaned oil & gas wells in New Mexico. However, this report was subsequently flagged by lawmakers as being biased against our state's extractive industries. Concerns around the report arose from data reported by the Oil Conservation Division of the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department that lacked input from industry partners and experts. Though the publication was intended to provide policy options to legislators, it failed to acknowledge the compliance efforts of industry leaders across New Mexico and omitted any mention that the industry plugs over 95% of their wells and the billions of dollars that are contributed to the state economy. 

LFC member Senator Steve Lanier (R-Aztec) issued the following statement:

  SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health is investigating measles infections at the Luna County Detention Center in Deming after five detainees tested positive for measles. 

"The cases at Luna County Detention Center are a stark reminder that the measles outbreak in New Mexico is not over," said Dr. Chad Smelser, a medical epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). "We urge everyone in New Mexico, especially Luna County residents, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated against measles." 

Taos, NM — Today, members of the Child Welfare & Early Childhood Subcommittee were presented with a quarterly agency report card for the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD). This  Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) report card reflects a continuation of poor performance and outcomes for youth. Furthermore, CYFD has again failed to meet the requirements for additional federal funding for evidence-based prevention programs because the department does not have an approved Family First Prevention Services Act plan. Additionally, members of the Child Welfare & Early Childhood Subcommittee unanimously approved a motion from Senator Nicole Tobiassen to issue a letter to the Attorney General and State Auditor requesting an investigation into CYFD for the misappropriation of funds. 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has scheduled two public meetings regarding the proposed creation of a non-resident shed hunter license. 

Members of the public are invited to attend either public meeting in order to provide comments.

July 17, 2025, Albuquerque, 6 p.m.

Attend in person at 7816 Alamo Rd. NW, Albuquerque, NM

Register in advance to attend virtually

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Rio Grande: Michael Martinez had a successful day on June 19, catching a number of carp and catfish using pack bait and worms.

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Highlights: Crews continue to maintain and improve containment lines on the Desert Willow Complex Fire. Containment on Cotton 1 has been raised to 80%, and Cotton 2 to 50%. The public should continue to avoid the bosque where heavy machinery and firefighters are working.

Update: Today, response crews will continue their work mopping up in the bosque. Mop-up activities include continuing to secure fire line, removal of hazardous trees, and tackling interior heat. As the day's sunshine moves over the area, fuels may become hotter as they dry. Within the Cotton 2 area, these fuels may produce small drifts of smoke as the embers contained in them begin to dry out following yesterday's rains. These drifts of smoke are not cause for concern.

Air assets were released yesterday from the fire, however drones should not be flown over the fire area to ensure firefighter safety on the ground during the coming days. The public should continue to avoid the bosque area while crews engage in suppression activities.

Good progress has been made by firefighters over the last days. At the end of today's shift, the Incident Management Team may consider downsizing for tomorrow and releasing some resources.

The Desert Willow Complex fire is 237 acres and is located in the bosque area of Los Lunas on the west and east sides of the Rio Grande, near the Main Street bridge. The fire was discovered at 3:23 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

Returning to Homes: Phos-Chek MVP-fx was used as a fire retardant during initial attack and is non-toxic. Residents should consider using personalized protective equipment such as long sleeves, eye protection, and gloves for cleaning purposes. Use water to clean exterior surfaces and a wet-vac for any retardant exposure within the interior of the home. A safety data sheet about Phos-Chek is available here.

Community Information: Daniel Fernandez Center is available as a community service center for the rest of the week.

Donations are available for residents impacted by the fire. The Village of Los Lunas will accept monetary donations through a partnership with United Way: https://give.uwncnm.org/campaign/699958/donate.

Community information on the fire and services is available on the Village of Los Lunas website: https://www.loslunasnm.gov/1347/Desert-Willow-Complex-Fire-Information