Non-Local News Releases

Elephant Butte, N.M. — State Senator Crystal Diamond Brantley (R-Elephant Butte) has sent a formal letter to Attorney General Raúl Torrez requesting guidance on the enforcement of New Mexico's seven-day firearm waiting period law following federal court action that has placed the statute on hold. A copy of the full letter is attached.

Brantley's request follows recent decisions by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit blocking enforcement of the waiting period while litigation continues. Despite the ruling, firearm retailers across New Mexico are operating under mixed standards, with some continuing to impose the seven-day delay and others proceeding without it.

(Washington, D.C., December 31, 2025) — Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins signed a Secretary's Memorandum directing all USDA agencies and staff offices to immediately adopt and implement the first-ever set of USDA General Terms and Conditions for all future awards. 

"Since Day One, the Trump Administration has been working to promote government efficiency, streamline unnecessary regulations, and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in all USDA programs. As we took action to eliminate radical left ideology and foreign adversaries within these programs, we quickly realized the herculean task of updating over 100 sets of terms and conditions, some of which didn't even have termination clauses, each time a new policy or priority was announced," said Secretary Brooke Rollins. "Today's action not only reduces government bureaucracy and makes it easier for USDA customers to access our programs, but it also strengthens our ability to take swift action when recipients and cooperators—and even recipients of subawards and subcontracts—are not compliant with Federal law and applicable Executive Orders." 

In all construction zones, motorists are asked to reduce speed, obey posted signs, and use extreme caution, as well as continuing 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-10 Bridge Repairs, Mile Marker 24, Lordsburg

The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, recently declared the risk of an impending "AI fraud crisis." Already, we have seen more sophisticated scams coming into play thanks to the evolution of AI, which has sparked a national sense of concern. 

This is why experts have issued an urgent warning over the AI voice scam that's causing people to lose thousands over the festive season. 

As families travel home after Christmas and prepare for New Year celebrations, experts are warning that the festive period is one of the riskiest times for AI voice scams. 

Secretary Rollins Announces AFIDA Modernization Comment Period and BioPreferred Eligibility Updates to Put American Producers First

(Washington, D.C., December 30, 2025) – As committed to under USDA's National Farm Security Action Plan (PDF, 1.2 MB) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today announced a number of coordinated actions to continue to emphasize American agricultural research and innovation by ensuring ideas stay in America or among our allies, not with hostile nations and that we are putting American farmers and ranchers first in every USDA program, period.

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 January 2026.

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.

ALBUQUERQUE — A Texas man pleaded guilty last week to stealing more than $160,000 in federal unemployment relief funds issued by New Mexico during the pandemic. 

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the guilty plea by Marc Long — the result of continued work by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions to prosecute pandemic-era fraud.

The case underscores the Department of Workforce Solutions' continued commitment to identifying, investigating, and prosecuting fraud involving unemployment benefit programs. 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Game Commission will hold a meeting starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, at the New Mexico State Library, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87509. The full agenda, and other information, will be available on the Department of Game and Fish website.

If you are interested in participating or providing comments, but cannot attend the meeting in person, you are encouraged to pre-register to attend the meeting on the Zoom Webinar platform. For those who wish only to view the meeting, there will be a live webcast on the Department's website.