Non-Local News Releases

Wednesday, March 26-Saturday, March 29,2025
Update as of Tuesday, March 25, 2025
NOTE: All construction is weather permitting and is subject to changes without notice.
CONTACTS for questions and concerns or to sign up for email updates:

Legislation will remove barriers to testing

SANTA FE — New Mexicans will be able to earn a high school equivalency credential at no cost under legislation that was approved by the state Senate and concurred in the House on Saturday, March 22.

House Bill 167, sponsored by Reps. Joy Garratt and E. Diane Torres-Velásquez and Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, will make the high school equivalency test free for New Mexico residents. The various costs and fees of each test total approximately $145. The New Mexico Higher Education Department anticipates this initiative will boost the state's rate of adults who earn a high school equivalency diploma. Adults with a high school diploma or equivalency in New Mexico earn an average of $6,500 more per year.

SANTA FE — Today, state education agencies announce that registration is open for the 2025 Summer Reading Program, a free initiative designed to serve 15,000 students from incoming kindergarteners to outgoing eighth graders with focused reading instruction in small groups with trained literacy instructors. 

The 2025 Summer Reading Program will run in June and July and is a collaboration between the New Mexico Public Education Department, Higher Education Department and Early Childhood Education and Care Department. Families can sign up for the program on the Summer Reading Program website.

LAS CRUCES – The nighttime resurfacing roadway project on Interstate 10 in Dona Ana County will resume tonight, beginning at milepost 146 (east of Las Cruces) and continuing to milepost 152 (east of Mesquite).
Starting at 5 p.m., drivers can expect lane closures in the eastbound lanes between milepost 146, near Las Cruces, and just past Mesquite. The project involves the removal and replacement of pavement. Work will take place from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., Sunday through Friday. The project is expected to be completed by Friday, June 27, 2025, weather permitting.

The New Mexico Department of Transportation encourages drivers to plan accordingly and appreciates your patience during this important project. For updates, visit www.nmroads.com or call 511.

SANTA FE—Late last night, the Las Cruces Police Department announced that a shooting occurred at a local park in Las Cruces. At this time, the Associated Press is reporting that three people were killed and 14 were injured in the incident. The victims' ages ranged from 16 to 36.

Senator Crystal Brantley (R-Elephant Butte), who represents parts of Las Cruces and has deep family ties to the area, issued the following statement regarding the tragedy:

In all construction zones, motorists are asked to reduce speed, obey posted signs, and use extreme caution, as well as continue 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.

Gail Fire

Update: Yesterday, crews progressed on the Gail fire, identifying interior hot spots and increasing containment to 25%. More accurate mapping decreased the fire's size to 108 acres. Today, crews will continue to mop up and secure fire edges. This will be the final notification on this fire unless there are significant changes.

The fire was discovered at 3:21 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, and is located 2 miles west of Mayhill, NM. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Goal: reduce human-caused wildfires in New Mexico

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Forestry Division is launching a media campaign to encourage New Mexico residents to help prevent wildfires.

The campaign, running the week of March 24 in recognition of the Southwest Wildfire Awareness Week, is built on the theme "Spark Safety not Wildfires."