Good news for those looking to beat the heat this summer, a unique floating water park is just a short drive away in Ruidoso, New Mexico!

Ruidoso is already among the favorite nearby spots for El Pasoans to cool off from the desert heat, but did you know it is also home to this unique water attraction?

The Ruidoso Parks and Recreation department just announced that Wibit will make a return his summer to Grindstone Lake! And the update they shared will have you thinking of spending your entire summer there!

Wibit Water Park at Grindstone Lake is an inflatable platform made up of giant slides, towers, trampolines, ramps, and wiggle bridges. Adventurous kids of all ages can bounce, slide, climb, jump and splash in the water.

Wibit Water Parks are typically found in tourist destinations, public beaches, resorts, and aquatic centers, offering a fun and interactive experience for visitors of all ages. They are designed to be safe, with rigorous safety standards and supervision often provided by trained lifeguards.

Ruidoso is situated in the south-central part of New Mexico, nestled in the Lincoln National Forest. The area is characterized by its alpine environment, with lush forests, clear streams, and impressive mountain views. The elevation ranges from 6,920 feet in the village to over 12,000 feet at the peak of Sierra Blanca, which provides a cool climate and ample opportunities for outdoor activities. You can get more info, and find out about more summer activities in Ruidoso, here.

It doesn’t matter if you travel to Texas, New Mexico OR Arizona, all 3 states have problems with air pollution. Some cities have more issues than others, but which ones are the worst when it comes to air pollution? Well, we know exactly which ones to be extra careful when outside.

Which cities have the highest amount of air pollution in Texas, New Mexico & Arizona?

In a recent study by the American Lung Association (ALA), they went to over 200 different cities in the entire United States. Each city was ranked based on the average of days with high ozone, how many particles of pollution were in the air for a single day & all year round.

They found that while 1 city from Arizona made their rankings, Phoenix ranked high in ALL 3 lists. There were 2 major cities from New Mexico & a whopping 5 cities from Texas found on their ozone list; one actually made 2 lists of theirs (that honor goes to Houston).

Granted they weren’t THE worst cities according to the ALA; those honors all go to various cities in California like Bakersfield & Los Angeles. But it IS clear that if you live or travel in Texas, New Mexico or Arizona, you’ll want to be extra careful because the air can be quite tainted with pollution.

If you want to see which cities ranked amongst the worst, we did the research for you so you can find out which ones made the cut. I’m hoping some of these cities WON’T

MANUELITO, N.M. (AP/AZFamily) — The Federal Railroad Administration is now leading the investigation of last month’s fiery train derailment near the Arizona-New Mexico border.

National Transportation Safety Board officials said Thursday that the FRA will determine the probable cause of the April 26 derailment.

NTSB investigators have examined the track and derailed tank cars and will focus on the performance of the tank cars and emergency response actions.

The derailment of an BNSF Railway freight train forced a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 40 to close and led to two days of precautionary evacuations for 52 Manuelito residents who lived within a two-mile radius of the derailment site.

No injuries were reported, McKinley County officials said.

The train had left Belen, New Mexico, and was headed to Phoenix and was traveling about 53 mph at the time of the derailment, well below the maximum authorized speed of 70 mph near the derailment site, NTSB investigators said.

Of the 35 cars that derailed, six tank cars were carrying non-odorous propane, the NTSB said.

Four of the six tank cars were breached and released their contents, which ignited, investigators said. New Mexico State Police Lt. Phil Vargas said some rail cars caught fire and burned for hours after the derailment.

Initial passersby posted video and photos on social media of crumpled train cars and billowing, black smoke.

A fifth tank car carrying propane — a type of liquefied petroleum gas — was exposed to the flames and released vapor through its pressure relief device, investigators said.

Each derailed tank car was carrying about 30,000 gallons of liquefied petroleum gas, according to investigators.

The derailment also led Amtrak to cancel some passenger travel, including on the route between Los Angeles and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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