Non-Local News Releases

Mountainair Ranger District

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 20, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands is seeking scoping comments for the proposed Apache Canyon Fuels Reduction & Restoration Project. The Forest is proposing to restore, maintain, and improve forested conditions on approximately 10,872 acres on the Mountainair Ranger District, Torrance County, Manzano Mountains, east of the Rio Grande River Valley, west of the Land Grants/communities of Tajique and Torreon and are part of the sky islands that make up the forested areas of the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands (see attached map for proposal area and treatment types).

(Omaha, N.E., May 19, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today signed the first-ever waiver to amend the statutory definition of food for purchase for Nebraska's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Effective January 1, 2026, taxpayers will no longer be subsidizing the purchase of soda or energy drinks in the State of Nebraska.

"Today's waiver to remove soda and energy drinks from SNAP is the first of its kind, and it is a historic step to Make America Healthy Again. Under President Trump's leadership, I have encouraged states to serve as the 'laboratories of innovation.' Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen and Governors in Iowa, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are pioneers in improving the health of our nation," said Secretary Rollins.

New center in Mesa del Sol offers a one-stop shop for foreign companies entering U.S. market

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Rob Black hosted local and international business leaders today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the NMexus Center, a new business accelerator established to boost foreign direct investment in the state.

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham first announced NMexus (MEK-sus) last week at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland. Located in Albuquerque's Mesa del Sol innovation district, the accelerator is a first-of-its-kind commercialization center for companies from India, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, equipping them with the tools necessary to successfully expand operations in New Mexico and succeed in the U.S. market.

Effective Thursday May 22, 2025

Order Number 03-03-03-25-08

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 19, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on all National Forest System (NFS) lands in the Magdalena Ranger District as described per order 03-03-03-25-08 and as shown on the attached map.

This Order shall be in effect from Thursday May 22, 2025 at 8:00 AM through Thursday July 31, 2025 at 2359, unless rescinded.

Effective Thursday May 22, 2025

 Order Number 03-03-00-25-07

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – May 19, 2025 – The Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands will implement Stage 2 Fire Restrictions on the Mountainair and Sandia Ranger Districts located within the State of New Mexico as described per order 03-03-00-25-07 and as shown on the attached maps.

This Order will be in effect on May 22, 2025, at 8:00 AM, and shall remain in effect until August 31, 2025, at 8:00 am or until rescinded, whichever occurs first.

Releases Policy Proposals to Support Small Family Farms

(Omaha, NE, May 19, 2025) – After nearly 100 days of traveling the nation and visiting directly with hundreds of farmers across America, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins today released the first set of policy proposals under her newly launched Make Agriculture Great Again Initiative. These initial proposals (PDF, 7.2 MB) are a comprehensive set of policy solutions aimed at improving the viability and longevity of smaller-scale family farms for generations to come. About 86 percent of all farms in the United States are small family farms. To ensure small family farmers can start and stay in business, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has outlined a toolkit of actions, including the streamlining of application processes, improving reliable access to credit, farmland, and markets, and appropriate business planning tools.

LAS CRUCES- White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) will have a planned road closure on US 70 for Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

US 70 will be blocked once, beginning at 6:10 a.m. and lasting 1 hour and lifting at approximately 7:10 a.m. This block will be located at 'Red Block' (top of San Augustin Pass/Mile Marker 164) and at 'Yellow Block' (near the WSNP/Mile Marker 200).  The Las Cruces Gate, Owen Road, and Nike Avenue will also be affected.

All roadblocks are subject to change without notice, please call WSMR at 575-678-2221/2222 for updates or go to New Mexico Department of Transportation:  www.nmroads.com  or call 511.

Agreement provides financial strength for long-term investment to benefit customers and to support economic growth

(Albuquerque, NM) – TXNM Energy, the parent company of Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM), today announced it has entered into an agreement under which Blackstone Infrastructure will acquire TXNM Energy. 

The acquisition agreement keeps PNM headquartered in New Mexico and retains local management and employees, while providing financial strength for long-term investment to support New Mexico's transition to carbon-free electricity and to serve growing electricity demand. PNM's union commitments will continue to be honored as part of the transaction.  PNM electric rates will continue to be set by the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC).