Non-Local News Releases

SOUTHWEST CATCH OF THE WEEK

Fishing for trout at Escondida Lake was slow to fair when using Garlic PowerBait and corn last week. (Photo courtesy of City of Socorro)

SOUTHWEST FISHING REPORT

Bear Canyon Lake: Fishing conditions have been adversely affected in the aftermath of the Trout Fire.

Bill Evans Lake: The most recent report was received Feb. 12. At that time, fishing for trout was good when using Kastmasters from a boat.

Elephant Butte Lake: The most recent report was received Jan. 29. At that time, fishing for white bass was very good when using Rat-L-Traps.The South Monticello boat ramp is currently closed, and access to Rattlesnake Island is restricted due to low water levels. The closures will be lifted when water levels rise and conditions allow

New Mexico State University students pose with their rockets ahead of a series of NAR certification flights at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026 (photo credit: William Gutman)LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Wednesday, February 18, 2026) – Students from New Mexico State University (NMSU) and the Albuquerque Civil Air Patrol Group NM-079 completed a series of rocket launches at Spaceport America on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. 

Saturday's event was coordinated in part by NMSU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Joshua Davila, who serves as the Atomic Aggies' (the competition rocketry team of NMSU) National Association of Rocketry (NAR) Section #982 President and Solid Propulsions Lead. In addition to identifying the NAR fliers from NMSU, Davila also involved seven American Rocketry Challenge (ARC) teams throughout the region to promote Saturday's event as an opportunity to conduct preliminary launches. 

Federal Blitz Targets Worst Offenders

(Washington, D.C., February 18, 2026) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, alongside U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., together are taking historic actions to hold chronic companion animal welfare violators accountable and prosecute those who fight dogs to the highest extent of the law in an effort to end this horrific practice once and for all. The suite of actions will boost compliance with existing laws, protect our companion animals, and reiterate that the Trump Administration stands with the majority of Americans who own companion animals.

NMDA joins statewide and global recognition of women's contributions

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LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has proclaimed 2026 as the "National Year of the Woman in Agriculture" throughout the state, underscoring the essential role women play in agriculture, food systems and rural communities in New Mexico.

The New Mexico Department of Agriculture (NMDA) also joins the global community in celebrating 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, as declared by the United Nations.

Survey will help shape five-year plan for investing in recreation sites 

SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Parks Division is conducting an online survey to gauge public opinion on how to improve the state's outdoor recreation landscape. 

The survey results will be incorporated into a new Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP must be updated every five years for the state to continue receiving funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a federal grant program that has helped pay for more than 1,200 outdoor recreation and conservation projects across New Mexico since 1968. New Mexico's next SCORP will cover years 2027 through 2031. 

SANTA FE —New Mexico small businesses developing clean energy technology have until March 17 to apply for state grants worth up to $1 million — funding that has already helped 12 companies commercialize their innovations.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department is now accepting applications for its third Advanced Energy Award grant cycle, offering up to $1 million grants to selected companies working on research and development or pilot demonstrations in the advanced energy sector. 

Since launching in 2024, the program has invested $6.7 million in 12 New Mexico companies.

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver had nothing to do with the Republican lack of Senate candidate. Christopher Vanden Heuval raised his hand in December, because he saw no Republican candidate and did not want Ben Ray Lujan to run without a challenger. Christopher called the Republican Party of New Mexico to tell them he was running. He was told RPNM had a candidate and was denied tools like GOP Data Center, a basic tool for reaching voters.

Christopher is a 73-year-old good guy from Sandoval County, with no political experience, no money, and no campaign or volunteer team, who did figure out how to get on the electronic petitions but not how to print a paper petitions. He believed that when Republicans saw there was no other candidate they would automatically sign his petition. He made an effort to show up at a majority of the county pre-primary conventions.

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Senate unanimously confirmed Anna Silva today as the cabinet secretary of the General Services Department. 

"Secretary Silva is a seasoned and talented leader with extensive experience in facilities management operations and procurement," said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. "I'm grateful for her contributions to this administration and I thank the Senate for confirming her as cabinet secretary today." 

At the General Services Department (GSD), Silva manages more than 6.8 million square feet of state property assets and continues to modernize the state's procurement system with responsible stewardship of taxpayer resources for the people of New Mexico.