Non-Local News Releases

MDMA-assisted therapy could help address the mental and behavioral crisis, especially among American veterans

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), alongside 17 of their Senate colleagues, urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner to rely on scientific evidence and data as the FDA considers approval of MDMA-Assisted Therapy (MDMA-AT) to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). MDMA-AT could help address the mental and behavioral crisis, especially among American veterans.

"Existing treatments and medicines for PTSD, the last of which FDA approved nearly 25 years ago, have not decreased the frequency of suicide within the veteran community. As a nation, we cannot allow our veterans to continue to suffer in silence and must identify treatments proven to drastically decrease the adverse effects of PTSD," Heinrich and Luján to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.

SANTA FE – Wildland firefighters from the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department's
Forestry Division are now in Oregon to help combat the numerous wildfires raging across the state.

"Sadly, Oregon is currently overwhelmed by wildfire demands, and we're grateful to be in a position to offer our support," said State Forester Laura McCarthy. "Our ability to assist is a testament to the capacity that we've built in our wildfire response programs over the past year."

August 5, 2024

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Albuquerque, New Mexico – Emera Inc. (“Emera”) (TSX:EMA), an international energy and services company, today announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its wholly owned operating company, New Mexico Gas Company, Inc. (“NMGC”), to Bernhard Capital Partners (“BCP”), a services and infrastructure-focused private equity management firm, for an aggregate transaction value of $1.252 billion USD, including the assumption of approximately $500 million USD of debt and subject to customary closing adjustments.

“This transaction strengthens Emera’s balance sheet, supports our ambitious capital plan and reinforces our strategic decision to optimize our portfolio and reallocate capital to our highest growth markets to drive long-term value for our shareholders,” says Scott Balfour, President and CEO, Emera Inc. “New Mexico Gas is a strong regulated utility with a customer-focused team. We’re proud of the work we have done together over the past eight years to drive customer growth and enable nearly $800 million USD in strategic capital investments to expand and maintain a safe, reliable system that will serve New Mexicans for decades to come.”

Outdoor Equity Fund and Trails+ Grant open with over $12M in combined funding

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Economic Development Department's Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD) Director Karina Armijo announced the opening of both the Outdoor Equity Fund (OEF) and the Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant. Both grant programs opened for applications on July 1, 2024.

ORD has invested over $20 million in expanding outdoor access through these programs to date. These grants are now supported by the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, a dedicated source of state recurring funding that prioritizes land and water stewardship, forest and watershed health, outdoor recreation and infrastructure, agriculture and working lands, historic preservation, and wildlife species protection.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Department) has scheduled a public meeting with the Habitat Stamp Citizen Advisory Committee. The Citizen Advisory Committee will prioritize project opportunities at this meeting. Members of the public are invited to attend this hybrid public meeting. An agenda will be posted on the Habitat Stamp webpage prior to the meeting.

• Thursday August 15, 2024, Santa Fe, 9 a.m.
  • Attend in person at 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM, 87507
  • Register in advance to attend virtually

In all construction zones, motorists are asked to reduce speed, obey posted signs, and use extreme caution, as well as continue to be cautious of heavy equipment and construction personnel in the area. PLEASE NOTE: Conditions are subject to change without notice. Double fines for speeding in work zones may be in effect.

White Sands Missile Range Notification
For information regarding closures, you may call WSMR at 678-1178 or 678-2222 for updates.

Interstates:
I-25 Bridge Replacement Project, Williamsburg CN1100990
El Terrero Construction, LLC. (Contractor) will be continuing construction to replace the bridge at I-25 milepost 75, Broadway Street and NM 187 in Williamsburg. Traffic has been shifted into the northbound lanes with the southbound still closed. The bridge and all on/off ramps are now open to access Williamsburg. Regular work hours will be 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday although the contractor may work longer hours or on weekends as needed. Access will be maintained to all businesses and residences during construction.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District announced today that it has scheduled a block release of water from Santa Rosa Lake to start Monday, August 5, 2024, at 8:00 am.

This release will force closure of the boat ramp. This is the second release to affect boating at Santa Rosa Lake State Park this season. The previous release occurred May 16 through May 23.

This time, Bureau of Reclamation, acting on the behalf of Carlsbad Irrigation District, requested the approximately 13,400 acre-feet release. Carlsbad Irrigation District owns the irrigation water that makes up all of the water stored in Santa Rosa Lake.

SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is traveling to India until Aug. 10 to discuss New Mexico partnerships with higher education, business and government officials.

The governor's itinerary includes stops in New Delhi and Chennai. She will travel with the First Gentleman, Manny Cordova, and a state delegation that includes the Office of the Governor Deputy Chief of Operations, Caroline Buerkle; Director of the Office of Strategy, Science, & Technology at the New Mexico Economic Development Department, Nora Sackett; and New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department Cabinet Secretary-Designate, Melanie A. Kenderdine. Designate The New Mexico Partnership is paying for the delegation's travel.

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales will assume the role of New Mexico governor during her time overseas.