Non-Local News Releases

HATCH - The New Mexico Department of Transportation District One office in cooperation with La Calerita LLC (Contractor) will be continuing the bridge rehabilitation project on NM 26 at milepost 47.7 over Interstate 25. 

Starting tomorrow February 16, 2024, the northbound exit at milepost 41 (Hatch) will be closed. Travelers wishing to enter Hatch will need to use the Rincon detour at milepost 35. Traffic exiting Hatch via NM 26 onto northbound Interstate 25 will be allowed. Traffic leaving the transfer station will need to utilize exit 51 (Garfield) back into Hatch. Drivers should be vigilant for construction signing.  

A well-known business owner and philanthropist in Las Cruces with many awards to her credit soon will receive another prestigious award from the Las Cruces International Film Festival.

Wanda Bowman will be the LCIFF's next "Hometown Hero" at a ceremony during the ninth annual film festival, April 3-7. The festival is supported by New Mexico State University and Visit Las Cruces.

Each year the "Hometown Hero" award recognizes someone with ties to the Las Cruces area who has made significant contributions to the community both within Las Cruces and beyond.

SB 3 Paid Family Medical Leave Act, a new tax on employees and employers, was killed today! That means your hard work paid off.

You took the time to send emails, call, and use social media to express your frustration about the Senate and House passing yet another tax...and it worked! SB 3 Paid Family and Medical Leave Act , a tax that would have devastated New Mexican workers and businesses, was killed today with a House floor vote. 

The final vote was 34 for and 36 against. 

New Mexico State Parks Division to hold informational meetings on newly completed fees study
Day-use fees would be eliminated for New Mexico residents under a new rule change

Santa Fe, NM –The State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (State Parks) announces a series of public meetings to discuss a recent Fees Study that proposes an increase in certain State Parks related fees, while eliminating day-use entrance fees to State Parks for New Mexico residents.

Grants will jumpstart technology commercialization, support economic growth 

SANTA FE, N.M. – The New Mexico Economic Development Department, through its Office of Strategy, Science and Technology (OSST), has awarded SBIR/STTR Matching grants to seven companies to support innovation development and jumpstart commercialization.  

The companies awarded FY2024 grants were chosen with input from the Technology Research Collaborative (TRC), a state board of science and technology professionals who use their expertise to make funding recommendations. 

The governor has directed flags to half-staff in honor of Las Cruces Police Department Officer Jonah Hernandez from February 14 through sundown on February 19.

See flyer below:

Intuitive Machines' IM-1 Mission Features Technology Tested at Spaceport America

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024) – Over 50 years have passed since a United States-launched space vessel successfully completed a soft landing on the surface of the Moon. That could change this week, and in order to successfully touch down on the lunar surface, equipment tested at Spaceport America will be heavily relied upon.

SpaceX and Intuitive Machines are readying for the launch of the IM-1 mission lunar lander, Nova-C, which sees its launch window open Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Scheduled to launch from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 12:57 a.m. EST aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the IM-1 Moon mission features the first commercial lunar lander – "Odysseus" – which hopes to become the first spacecraft from the United States to set down on the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

New Mexico State University has been awarded $1.2 million for a collaborative research project with Auburn University and the University of Delaware. This is a four-year climate change research collaboration, awarded by the National Science Foundation's $56 million investment in climate change research.

The research teams will conduct collaborative research to develop agricultural practices that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil health and enhance crop resilience to climate extremes, such as droughts. The project will also train graduate and undergraduate students and research scientists in climate change research.