Non-Local News Releases

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today announced the appointment of Mariana Padilla as Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Public Education Department.

Padilla has served as the Director of the New Mexico Children's Cabinet since the start of the administration, leading the Governor's child and family well-being agenda. She also serves as the Governor's senior education policy advisor, overseeing early childhood, K-12, and higher education. In this role, Padilla has shaped program, policy, and budget priorities, and worked across state agencies to implement key initiatives and system-wide improvements. Her accomplishments include establishing the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department, launching a statewide literacy initiative, and driving the Governor's Cradle to Career education agenda supporting students from birth through college and career readiness.

Albuquerque, N.M. - Hungry fairgoers crowded Main Street yesterday for the New Mexico State Fair Green Chile Cheeseburger Challenge, hoping to get a taste of the 10 best green chile cheeseburgers in the state. The competitors did not disappoint with 10 delicious, chile-topped burgers to satiate the crowd, but only two would prevail as champions.

The highly-anticipated event turned out some of the best restauranteurs from throughout New Mexico. In the end, the fair crowned two new champions with Isleta Grill of Isleta Pueblo taking home the crown for the blind judging award and Craft Republic of Albuquerque beating out the field for the people's choice award.

PNM provides prevention and safety tips during PNM Copper Theft Awareness Month

(Albuquerque, NM) – September is PNM's annual Copper Theft Awareness Month, a time to educate and warn customers about copper theft and ways to possibly prevent this crime. Throughout September, PNM is alerting residential and business customers about how to identify copper theft, what they can do if they become a victim, how to report it and what steps they can take to deter copper thieves.

Copper is a valuable metal widely used in electrical wiring due to its excellent conductivity and durability. However, its high market value has made it a target for thieves at homes, businesses, scrap sites and utilities. Copper theft can lead to power outages, high repair costs, and dangerous situations for both the public, PNM employees and the thieves themselves.

See agenda below

Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to offer technical assistance for applicants on funding process

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today that $46 million is available for rural health care providers in New Mexico through the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund (RHCDF) to support vital services in underserved areas.

This funding reinforces the state's ongoing commitment to expanding access to high-quality health care in rural communities, ensuring that all New Mexicans, regardless of where they live, have access to critical health services.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in recognition of the life of Dr. Charles F. (Charlie) McMillan, the former Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

"Julie and I extend our sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Charlie McMillan. He had an incredible mind, a kind heart, and a strong commitment to our country. His tragic passing today is a loss to Los Alamos and the entire scientific community. Just weeks ago, Charlie and I were in deep conversation, mapping out America's leadership on artificial intelligence with hand drawn graphs, and I am still in shock that he is no longer with us.

One-and-a-half-day conference promotes future of agriculture industry in New Mexico

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. –­ The AgriFuture Educational Institute will be held in Las Cruces this fall. The one-and-a-half-day conference will take place Monday, Oct. 14 and Tuesday, Oct. 15, featuring agricultural site visits around the Mesilla Valley, as well as panel discussions and networking opportunities at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. The registration deadline for the event is Friday, Oct. 4.

The registration fee for both "Future Ag Producers" and "Current Ag Producers/Mentors" is $25 and does not include a hotel stay. For registration details and hotel recommendations, visit the AgriFuture page on the New Mexico Department of Agriculture website.

Consumer Health and Safety Advisory

State orders recall of cannabis products over contamination concerns

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Cannabis Control Division (CCD) has issued a consumer health and safety advisory after identifying contaminated cannabis flower (bud/shake/trim) that tested positive for a prohibited pesticide.

The affected products, produced and sold by WH Agriculture, LLC DBA Maggie's Farm, were distributed to cannabis retailers between March 6, 2024, and August 1, 2024. A full list of package IDs as well as a list of retail locations that received the products can be found below.

The licensee has been ordered to immediately remove any cannabis products linked to parent ID #8839486308602637 from the market.