State

U.S. Senatorial Candidate/Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Luján Opens Campaign Office In Santa Fe

Los Alamos supporters Jonathan and Ellen Mills at left, greet U.S. Senatorial candidate/Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Luján Saturday Oct. 5 as he enters his new campaign office on St. Michael’s Drive behind Carl’s Jr. in Santa Fe. Luján is running for the seat held by Sen. Tom Udall who is retiring at the end of 2020. Courtesy photo

U.S. Senatorial candidate/Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Luján addresses the crowd of supporters gathered Saturday Oct. 5 at the opening of his new campaign office in Santa Fe. As always, he joked that people came mostly to see his mother Carmen, third from left, but Read More

NMMNHS Celebrates Red Ribbon Week Oct. 23-31

NMMNHS News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE The New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science invites the community to take a visible stand against drugs by celebrating Red Ribbon Week.
 
Red Ribbon Week raises awareness of drug use and the problems related to drugs in our community.
 
The Museum is inviting children of all ages to draw or write a message about the dangers of drug use. Children can also create an ofrenda (memorial display) for family members whose lives have been lost due to substance abuse. The children can work on the ofrendas at the Museum any day during Red Ribbon Week, which
Read More

Purgatory Opens For Winter 19/20 Season Nov. 22

Friday Morning’s inaugural snowmaking operations at Purgatory Resort. Courtesy/Purgatory
 
Scene of snowmaking operations Friday at Purgatory Resort. Courtesy/Purgatory
 
PURGATORY News:
 

The snow was flying Friday morning at Purgatory Resort amidst the beautiful fall colors.

 
Purgatory opens Nov. 22 for the Winter 19/20 season, and is hoping for another record-breaking season of snowfall. Last season was the third snowiest on record for the resort, and all of that cold weather and moisture delayed peak foliage by several weeks. 
 
Here are
Read More

Chama Chile Ski Classic & Winter Fiesta Jan. 18-19

 
SKI News:
 
The Chama Chile Ski Classic & Winter Fiesta, northern New Mexico’s premier winter event, takes place Jan. 18-19, 2020, in Chama, NM and the South San Juan Mountains.
 
There are 6K & 18K Freestyle and 6K & 12 K Classic Cross-country ski races; USSSA qualifying 6K & 12 K Snowshoe Races and combined races. The race course is located 12 miles north of Chama and includes a portion of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad track. At 9800 feet elevation, the race course is a great training ground for Snowshoers who want to qualify for the US National
Read More

BLM Updates Mineral Cost Recovery Fee Schedule

BLM News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a final rule, effective Oct. 1, 2019, which updates the cost recovery fees that the BLM charges for processing certain actions undertaken by its mineral programs.
 
Specifically, this final rule updates the fees charged to recover costs incurred in processing certain documents associated with oil, gas, coal, and solid mineral activities on public lands, including fees associated with mineral patent adjudications. Consistent with updates to the fee schedules in prior years, this final rule increases
Read More

Goodbye, Columbus. Hello, Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Columbus Day parade, Oct. 12, 1949, New York City. Courtesy/history.com

 

By BECKY LITTLE
History.com

Since 1991, dozens of cities, several universities, and a few states have adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday that celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans.

Not by coincidence, the occasion usually falls on Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, or replaces the holiday entirely.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed by the states of New Mexico, Minnesota, Alaska, Maine, Louisiana, Oregon, Nevada and Vermont, as well as South Dakota, which celebrates Read More

Dark Sky At Fort Union National Monument Oct. 17

NPS News:
 
WATROUS The solitude and remoteness of Fort Union National Monument make it an ideal place for observing a natural dark sky.
 
Join Park Ranger Greg Baker and discover how Fort Union National Monument works to preserve a natural dark sky and the steps you can take to enjoy and protect the dark at home.
 
Ranger Baker’s program at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 is free at the CCHP/Santa Fe Trail Interpretive Center at 116 Bridge St. in Las Vegas, N.M..
 
This program is in partnership with the Las Vegas Citizens Committee for Historic Preservation and the New Mexico Humanities
Read More

Multi-jurisdictional Prescribed Fire Planned For Cerro Del Aire Collaborative Forest Restoration Project

USDA News:
 
SANTA FE The Forest Stewards Guild (FSG), working closely with the New Mexico State Land Office (SLO) and the Taos Field Office (TFO) of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), have been preparing the multi-jurisdictional Cerro del Aire landscape, seven miles from Tres Piedras for a prescribed burn since 2016.
 
This Collaborative Forest Restoration Program project is aimed at protecting soil integrity, maintaining forest health and reducing wildfire risk to nearby communities. The checker-boarded ownership of the land in the project area makes implementing forest
Read More

Job Training Incentive Program Funds 69 New Jobs

NMED News:
 
SANTA FE Manufacturers that provide oil and gas products, solar windows, and specialty jewelry were among the businesses, including UBiQD in Los Alamos, awarded job training assistance Friday, Economic Development Secretary Alicia J. Keyes announced.
 
The Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) board awarded almost $600,000 to a total of six companies to train 69 regular jobs and one intern in Los Alamos, Albuquerque, Carlsbad, Taos and Santa Fe.
 
JTIP is one of the most generous training incentive programs in the country, reimbursing 50-75 percent of employee
Read More