Regional

Ruidoso, NM (May 24, 2013) – Today, U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce announced that he will attend a town hall meeting to discuss fire prevention and forest management.  The meeting will be held thisThursday, May 30, at 11:30 am at The Lodge at Sierra Blanca, located at 107 Sierra Blanca Drive in Ruidoso.

New Mexico State University's Cooperative Extension Service has created a new position for a wildland fire management specialist.

NMSU is one of only two land-grant universities in the U.S. to create this type of position. The University of Hawaii was the forerunner in developing such a position.

NMSU officials say that after back-to-back record-breaking fire seasons in New Mexico, natural resource managers are facing significant challenges in fire-damaged areas. That includes massive erosion events.

Law enforcement is launching a summer campaign to crack down on drunken drivers and motorists not wearing seat belts.

Gov. Susana Martinez and other officials announced the enforcement blitz Thursday as New Mexicans prepared for the Memorial Day weekend that starts the summer travel season.

Police plan increased patrols to look for drivers and passengers without seatbelts. There will be checkpoints to catch drunken drivers.

A New Mexico-based media advocacy group is helping journalists in Uganda facing a government shutdown of printing and broadcasting outlets.

The Media Literacy Project is giving Ugandan journalists advice and assisting in spreading information about the latest government seizures of newsrooms by government officials.

Andrea Quijada, the group's executive director, recently visited Uganda to train journalists and help with media literacy in the African country. Quijada also met with journalists at KFM, a recently-seized radio station.

The Navajo Nation's case against Urban Outfitters is on hold while the parties work toward a settlement.

U.S. District Judge Lorenzo Garcia in New Mexico has thrown out all deadlines for discovery and responses to motions while settlement discussions take place. The two sides are to agree on a mediator by July 29 and then let the court know within 10 days of a settlement conference whether they are successful.

Garcia says he'll issue a scheduling order if an agreement isn't reached.

  Hurley, NM –A group of elementary students from Hurley, New Mexico are on a mission to live their dream of visiting the nation’s capital in July for a youth leadership conference. They are called the Hurley Super Six.

It is an opportunity of a lifetime for the sixth graders who reside in a community of less than 1,600 residents with one school and one restaurant.

The City of Las Cruces Parks & Recreation Department will plant 500 trees in partnership with Groundwork Doña Ana (GWDA), a local non-profit, at local parks and public grounds this summer.  GWDA received a Youth Conservation Corps grant that will fund the “Green Team” youth crews.

The national non-profit organization KaBOOM! is recognizing Las Cruces as a 2013 Playful City USA community. The recognition is for Las Cruces’ efforts to provide children ample opportunities for play. Las Cruces is one of 217 cities and towns across the country to receive the recognition.