Non-Local News Releases

WASHINGTON — Last night, extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico resulted in the Mexico Attorney General’s Office “Fiscalía General de la República” (FGR) conducting a significant enforcement operation to dismantle a prolific transnational alien smuggling organization operating in Juarez, Chihuahua, along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The targeted alien smuggling organization, a group based in Juarez, Mexico, utilizes smuggling corridors centered in the Anapra, Chihuahua / Santa Teresa, New Mexico area, employs Mexican nationals, many of whom are current and former members of various Mexico-based cartels, and is alleged to be responsible for illegally smuggling large numbers of individuals, including children, from Central America into El Paso, Texas. The criminal organization is also alleged to have kidnapped aliens seeking to enter the United States illegally and extorted their families for money before completing their smuggling journey. The enforcement operation included the execution of two arrest warrants in Mexico for alleged alien smugglers Brian Alan Torres Gonzalez and Soledad Morales Nava. Torres and Morales are Mexican citizens and will be prosecuted in Mexico in part with evidence provided by the United States.

Public Safety Notice - Starting as early as February 23

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – February 20, 2025 – Pending favorable conditions, fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NGs) may implement the previously announced prescribed fires to reduce hazardous fuels within two units of the Kiowa and Rita Blanca NGs starting as early as Sunday February 23 through Monday February 24 on 1,297 total acres as conditions allow.

In these "broadcast burn" projects, fire will be allowed to burn within a predetermined area that has been prepared to receive fire. Smoke may be visible from Clayton, New Mexico and Felt, Oklahoma.

AZTEC – Brenna Clani-Washinawatok, a Farmington attorney and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, will be the first Native American to serve as a district court judge in the Eleventh Judicial District of San Juan and McKinley counties.

Judge Clani-Washinawatok will take the oath of office next month. She has served as a child support hearing officer, domestic violence commissioner and domestic relations hearing officer for the district court since 2022. She was appointed to the bench by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to succeed retired District Judge Daylene Marsh.

"It is a great honor and humbling experience to serve the people of San Juan and McKinley counties as a judge. I am guided by the rule of law, and look forward to working with the dedicated employees and judges of the court to provide fair and impartial justice for all," said Judge Clani-Washinawatok.

Chief Judge R. David Pederson said, "It is a privilege to welcome Judge Clani-Washinawatok to the bench. She has served with distinction on the court as a hearing officer and commissioner working on child support, parentage, divorce and custody cases as well as petitions for domestic violence orders of protection."

The New Mexico department of transportation has invited the public to a hearing for (CN E100390).

See flyers below in English and Spanish.

"Discovery Night" at the Museum of Space History is Wednesday, February 26, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm on the second floor of the museum. "Discovery Night" will highlight the International Space Hall of Fame Foundation (ISHFF), Women in Aviation International (WAI), the all new STARBASE Holloman Program, and the many exciting educational opportunities that the museum's education program offers.

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is proud to announce that Dr. Angelina Flores-Montoya will be joining the department as a Deputy Cabinet Secretary on Monday, Feb. 24.

"Angelina's deep knowledge of healthcare systems and her proven track record in policy and program leadership make her an invaluable addition to our team" said Emily Kaltenbach, ALTSD Cabinet Secretary Designate. "She brings an important clinical perspective and passion to the agency that will help strengthen our efforts to better serve New Mexico's older adults."

A quarter of a century ago, The Santa Fe Film Festival rose from the ashes from one of the original American film festivals to become the longest running mainstream festival in New Mexico. This year we are particularly pleased and proud to feature the return of "The Screen" a jewel of Santa Fe's award winning exhibition community. Festival Director NaNi Rivera noted "So much has changed here in Santa Fe, particularly in film over these 25 years. We came along just as the film incentives were being passed through the State Legislator and implemented. I don't know if even our most enthusiastic supporters (from the origins of NMFilm) could have envisioned two major movie studios and multiple productions being staged in our local town, or being named the best place to shoot in the entire country. We also have more independent movie theater seats per head of population than practically anywhere else nationwide and possibly worldwide. During our history we've been blessed to be able to show the best of local, national and worldwide features, shorts and documentaries."

A bipartisan team of 10 legislators has introduced a package of bills to bring New Mexico into the interstate compacts for physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, dentists and dental hygienists, emergency medical personnel, audiologists and speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. (See below for a chart listing all bill numbers and sponsors.)

Joining these interstate compacts was one of the top reforms recommended by the nonpartisan think tank Think New Mexico in its 2024 report, How to Solve New Mexico's Health Care Worker Shortage.