Non-Local News Releases

Each one is reaching kids where they are:

Literacy Link Leamos Let's Read Program — early literacy statewide, serving the youngest readers

Global Give-a-Book (Bernalillo) — putting books directly into the hands of children who need them

El Rito Library (Rio Arriba) — rural library programming for youth in northern New Mexico

Society of the Muse of the Southwest (Taos) — Young Writers Program, serving students ages 10-19 for over 30 years

EVLCC: Embudo Valley Library and Community Center — serving Rio Arriba and Taos communities

New Mexico ranks last in education for the ninth consecutive year. With Title I grants frozen and federal education funding cut, community-based literacy programs have never mattered more. Nine percent of NMCF's grant funding goes to literacy this year — because a child's ability to read is not optional.

Meet the 2026-2027 grantees

SANTA FE – More than 11,000 New Mexico veterans have received passes giving them free, lifetime access to New Mexico State Parks since the state began offering this benefit on July 1, 2025. 

House Bill 161, signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2025, gives eligible New Mexico veterans free, lifetime entry to all 35 state parks, including unlimited day‑use and camping, as well as access to available water and electrical hookups. 

The New Mexico State Parks Division worked with the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services (NMDVS) to implement the program. NMDVS issues the passes, which park personnel recognize when eligible veterans present them upon entry to any New Mexico State Park. 

Senator says grant program is a down payment on the funding stripped from SB11

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and the Public Education Department (PED) announced this week that schools can now apply for a share of $1 million in grants to help implement the wireless device policies required under Senate Bill 11 (SB11), the school anti-distraction law that took effect last year. The Wireless Communication Device Policy Implementation Grant Program will help the 89 school districts and 100 charter schools that have already adopted a policy to pay for tools like network firewalls, phone lockers, and signal-blocking pouches.

Green stormwater infrastructure, climate-ready trees among steps in 25-year roadmap

LAS VEGAS – Four years out from the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire, the largest wildfire in state history, the City of Las Vegas has mapped a path forward to turn the risk of post-fire flooding into an asset to restore the city's urban forests and green spaces.

The Las Vegas Urban Forestry Management Plan, adopted in June, charts a 25-year roadmap to deploy green stormwater infrastructure, plant trees selected for a changing climate, and enhance parks and corridors to reduce post-fire impacts and foster a healthier, drought resilient urban forest.

"New Mexico is taking a proactive approach to mitigate the impacts of wildfire and climate change," said State Forester Laura McCarthy. "We learned difficult lessons with the Hermit's Peak-Calf Canyon Fire. Now is the time for us to anticipate vulnerabilities and get ahead of them."

SANTA FE - The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission released its draft regional water planning guidelines and is inviting public input through August 31, 2026, as New Mexico faces one of its driest years on record.

The draft guidelines build on rules the Commission adopted in March 2026 and lay out how nine regional planning councils across the state will develop water security plans using available science and local data. The draft guidelines also identify potential funding opportunities.

"New Mexico urgently needs to prepare for and respond to diminishing water supply by putting water security plans into action," said New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Director Hannah Riseley-White. "We want New Mexicans to weigh in now, while there is still an opportunity to help shape the evolution of the regional planning process."

Fire Restrictions Lifted on Mount Taylor and Magdalena Ranger Districts

Effective Tuesday, July 28

(Albuquerque, NM, July 27, 2026) – Due to weather patterns and increased moisture across western New Mexico, fire officials on the Cibola National Forest are lifting fire restrictions for the Mount Taylor and Magdalena Ranger Districts effective Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. 

Fire restrictions are implemented to reduce the risk of human-caused wildfires during periods of extreme fire danger and elevated fire weather conditions. The decision to lift fire restrictions was made based on fuel moisture levels and the amount of precipitation both received and forecasted across the two districts.

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps is now accepting applications for grants up to $225,000 to fund projects that improve public spaces statewide while providing job training to young New Mexicans. 

More than $6 million is available to New Mexico organizations in 2027.

"We're looking for creative projects that make a meaningful difference in communities across New Mexico," said David Chené, YCC executive director. "These grants provide a win-win opportunity – improving our state while giving young people hands-on work experience and job skills."

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-25 Guardrail Replacement Project, Mile Marker 6 to 14.2, Las Cruces to Dona AnaLC00384