Non-Local News Releases

The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is reminding drivers to stay safe on the roads as monsoon storms roll into southern New Mexico.

The National Weather Service has forecast widespread showers and thunderstorms through Thursday, June 26. NMDOT works closely with the National Weather Service during monsoon season, when the state typically sees increased rainfall and more severe weather conditions that can make travel hazardous. Storms can develop rapidly, so travelers are urged to check forecasts before heading out.

Monsoon driving safety tips:

[Editor's  Note: After this was posted, I received another "corrected" email, but it did not tell me what needed to be corrected, and I glanced at it and saw nothing obvious. So be aware that something in here is not correct, but who knows what?]

SANTA FE – A total of 499 deer licenses left over from the 2025-2026 big-game draw will go on sale at 10 a.m. MDT on Wednesday, June 25, through the Department's Online License System. 

This first-come, first-served sale will only be open to New Mexico residents during the first 24 hours. If any licenses remain after the first 24 hours, the sale will be opened to nonresidents at 10 a.m. June 26.

Desert Willow Complex Fire (Cotton and Cotton 2 Fires) Update 6/22/25

Highlights: Crews are still responding to the Cotton Fire, discovered Saturday, June 21, and the Cotton 2 Fire, which was discovered this morning across the river on the north side of the Main Street bridge in Los Lunas. Today local, state and federal crews have been working with air resources to respond to these fires, which have impacted structures in the area. Both fires are being managed as the Desert Willow Complex.

Fire Update: Crews working the fire overnight made good progress in reinforcing fire lines and identifying hot spots. Helicopter water drops and fixed wing slurry drops provided retardant to the fire area.

Wildfire Update – Skyline Fire June 22, 2025

Update: Lines constructed around the Skyline Fire yesterday held overnight. Additional resources from the US Forest Service and retardant drops from air attack allowed the fire's containment to increase to 40% as of this morning.

Today crews will be able to start beginning to secure lines and working in from the edge of the fire. Two hotshot crews have arrived and will be working with resources to help provide further containment. GPS mapping was used to update the fire's acreage to 127 acres burned.

The lightning-caused Skyline fire is located south of Hondo and HWY 380 in Lincoln County. The fire was discovered at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 21.

June 21, 2025, 

Cotton Fire, Valencia County 

    Update: The Cotton Fire is currently estimated at 150 acres and is located in the Los Lunas bosque area on the west side of the river, south of the Main Street bridge. The fire was discovered at 3:23 p.m on Saturday, June 21.  

Current fire behavior is active, exhibiting runs and crowning into the tops of trees; winds are causing spotting ahead of the fire’s front. The fire has burned an unknown number of structures. Due to the fire conditions, crews are unable to go direct and are seeking other routes to begin suppression and containment during this initial attack period. Air attack with a type-1 helicopter has been making targeted drops over the fire area.   

Albuquerque, NM, June 18, 2025 — The Cibola National Forest and Grasslands, in its ongoing effort to protect lives and property, has deployed a 13-person federal and state, multi-agency National Fire Prevention Education Team (NFPET). The Fire Prevention Education Team's purpose is to reinforce local wildfire prevention resources and to bring special wildfire prevention planning, logistics, and operations expertise to complex situations. Like Incident Management Teams, NFPETs are emergency resources called to meet the host unit's wildfire prevention goals and objectives. The NFPET is to partner with local agencies and groups to promote wildfire safety messaging and to reduce the chances of human-caused wildfires. 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is reminding hunters that available private-land pronghorn licenses in northeastern New Mexico will be limited for the 2025-2026 license year.

Four years of aerial surveys have shown a decrease in fawn and adult female pronghorn survival rates in northeastern New Mexico. As a result, the Department has capped the number of private-land pronghorn licenses to be sold in Game Management Units 41, 42, 47, 56, 57, 58 and 59. To see the number of licenses per hunt code, please visit the private-land pronghorn hunting section in the 2025-2026 Hunting Rules and Information Booklet.

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 Roadway Rehabilitation Project, Mile Marker 58 to 78, Caballo CN1102160