Non-Local News Releases

SANTA FE, N.M – The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office today opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on three oil and gas parcels totaling 1,261 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in New Mexico. The comment period ends Nov. 25, 2024.

The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in August 2024 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis. BLM will use input from the public to help complete its review of each parcel and determine if leasing of these parcels conforms with all applicable laws, policies, and land use plans.

October 24, 2024 – Today fire managers on the Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands (NF & NG) were successfully able to implement the Capilla prescribed fire (Rx) on the Mountainair Ranger District. Weather conditions were favorable for ground and aerial ignitions. Due to the success of the day, minimal burning is expected tomorrow or over the weekend, however, there may be small interior pockets of fuels that require ignition. Due to light winds overnight, a smoke inversion is possible, especially throughout the Estancia Valley. This may cause smoke to settle in surrounding communities rather than disperse but is expected to dissipate as daytime temperatures increase.

SANTA FE, NM - The State Parks Division is announcing seasonal changes to operational hours for some of its parks during the fall and winter season.

Some specific full closures include El Vado, Manzano Mountains, and Morphy Lake State Parks as early as November 1st. Other parks may close campgrounds, comfort stations, and recreational locations seasonally. Please check each park's webpage at emnrd.nm.gov for detailed information before you visit.

Department of Health working to investigate source of infections

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health (NMHealth) is investigating five cases of E. coli O157 potentially associated with McDonald's. These cases are part of an outbreak that has sickened people in other states: https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/outbreaks/e-coli-O157.html.  All cases in New Mexico to date have been residents of Bernalillo County. There has been one hospitalization and no deaths to date. NMHealth is working diligently with other states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) and other organizations to determine the cause of illness.

Santa Fe, NM – Pursuant to Governor Lujan Grisham's Executive Order 2024-155, issued October 21, 2024 in response to the devastating severe flooding impacting Chavez County, the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) issued an Emergency Order to protect access to insurance and the stability of insurance markets during the emergencies declared in the Governors executive order.

SANTA FE—On October 11, 2024, the Medical Assistance Division of New Mexico’s Health Care Authority Department issued a supplemental briefing advising New Mexico healthcare providers they will be reimbursed with state funds to facilitate “gender-affirming care”. This new practice is a result of House Bill 7 from 2023, a measure Senate Republicans unanimously voted against and which passed in the Senate 23-15. 

Senate Republican Leader, Senator Greg Baca (R-Belen) has issued the following statement in response: 

Board Decision Was Unanimous; Cite Lack of Justification & A "Rushed" Process IPANM (October 23, 2024) - The Governor's-appointed Environmental Improvement Board (EIB) today rejected the New Mexico Environment Department's (NMED) 5x fee increase proposal for General Construction Permits (GCP) along with all other fee increases included in their May 2024 petition for rulemaking.

The EIB specifically cited a complete lack of data from the NMED to support the arbitrary increases that would have directly impacted oil & gas operators.

Upon the announcement of today's EIB decision, IPANM Executive Director Jim Winchester issued the following statement.

New Mexico Game and Fish Wildlife magazine

NMDGF  #SaveOurSpecies, Wildlife & Habitat Conservation

Erin Duvuvuei has managed a lot during her conservation career. She’s our non-game avian biologist who recently participated in a comprehensive survey of yellow-billed cuckoos in 11 western states. Erin’s encounter during a recent survey allowed her to experience the threats that can be faced by this bird firsthand.

The yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) is a member of the cuckoo family (Cuculidae). It’s native to wide swaths of the Americas running from southern Canada to the Caribbean. Sometimes it even migrates as far south as northern Argentina.