New Mexico
NM cabinet officials offering information on broadband, water well testing for Mescalero, Ruidoso • Source New Mexico
People will have two opportunities this weekend in Mescalero and Ruidoso to speak with New Mexico cabinet secretaries, or their representatives, about topics like workforce assistance, child care, water well testing, broadband access or help with Medicare benefits.
The events called “Cabinet in Your Community” are hosted by the governor’s office as a way for New Mexicans to connect with state government representatives.
On Sept. 20, cabinet officials and others from New Mexico departments responsible for public health, the environment, public education and information technology will hold an expo and town hall at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.
Similar events will be hosted at Ruidoso High School the next day, Sept. 21.
According to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office, the expo is a space where residents can meet directly with secretaries and state government officials to discuss issues they are having, or give direct feedback on ways state government officials can better serve New Mexicans.
People can learn about state programs to help with a job search, enrollment in Medicaid, help with child care, food or cash assistance, or unemployment benefits.
The town halls later in the day are another opportunity for residents to share issues with cabinet officials.
The Office of Broadband Access & Expansion is a state Information Technology department agency that will be in Mescalero and Ruidoso this weekend.
Acting director for the office Drew Lovelace said he and representatives will be at both events to discuss issues with broadband communication systems.
Some infrastructure that provided internet access and cell towers were damaged by the South Fork and Salt fires. This left emergency responders and residents without cell service and access to other ways to communicate at pivotal times during the disaster.
The nonprofit Digitunity will also be at the community events in Mescalero and Ruidoso to take applications from residents who want to receive a donated refurbished desktop computer.
The New Mexico Environment Department said it will offer information and collect samples for free well water testing at both events over the weekend.
Mescalero and Ruidoso residents can bring a water sample to deliver directly to a representative from the environment department. Tests will be free to the first 100 residents or while supplies last.
Results from that sample will be mailed to the resident within three weeks, according to the environment department.
Environment department officials outlined directions for people who want to take advantage of the free water well testing.
First, people should bring dimensions for well and water depth. State officials need the latitude, longitude and distance from the well where the sample is collected to the nearest septic tank or leach field system. People are also requested to bring any information on the casing material along the well.
New Mexico environment officials also gave directions on how to collect the water sample for anyone who wants it tested.
Anyone who wants to bring a sample should allow their water to run for at least three minutes. Then, state officials ask the person to fill at least a quart or liter of their well water into a clean, odorless glass or plastic container. Water samples should be collected before any filtration or softener system process.
Water samples should be collected just before they are delivered to the state officials at the events in Mescalero or Ruidoso.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
New Mexico
State funding awarded to southwest New Mexico utility will bring high-speed internet to rural areas • Source New Mexico
Three southwest New Mexico communities will gain access to high-speed internet next year through a multi-million dollar state grant provided to Valley Telephone Cooperative.
The state’s Office of Broadband Access and Expansion awarded more than $5.6 million to the utility company, which services parts of Arizona and southwest New Mexico below Interstate 10. Animas, Cotton City and Hachita, located in Grant and Hidalgo counties, are largely rural communities.
“This project will have a generational impact for residents in this rural corner of the state. No one should lack access to broadband, and this important connectivity is a sign of real progress,” said Drew Lovelace, acting director of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, in a news release.
According to the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion, the grant will fund 135 miles of fiber broadband construction to 324 homes and 101 businesses.
The grant was awarded through the department’s Connect New Mexico Fund, which has allocated more than $40 million to broadband expansion projects in areas such as Peñasco Valley, Picuris Pueblo, San Ildefonso Pueblo and Isleta Pueblo.
The office said the full project in Grant and Hidalgo counties will connect high-speed internet to 170 unserved locations and 255 underserved locations.
Heather Floyd, regulatory affairs specialist for Valley Telephone Cooperative, said the company is working to approve a contractor by the end of November, then permitting can begin. Floyd said the plan is to start construction in early January 2025.
The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion said the project could be completed by spring 2025. However, Floyd said the company’s goal is to complete the project by the end of June 2025, which is when the state’s reimbursement eligibility ends.
“Even nine months to do a project’s pushing it. Usually a project is about a year timeframe,” Floyd said.
She said the three communities are currently served by copper wiring. This will be replaced with broadband fiber, or fine glass strands, which can deliver more data.
Floyd said Rodeo, New Mexico is the other community in the company’s service area that needs to be upgraded from copper wiring. She said the construction in Rodeo is scheduled for 2027, but could possibly start sooner if the company receives funding through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Navy’s Hunters Point Shipyard Cleanup in San Francisco Moves Underwater | KQED
Chi Omega Christmas Market gets a September start at Dallas Market Hall
How to watch Miami Hurricanes vs. Virginia Tech football: Time, TV channel, FREE live streams
Local businesses see boost thanks to Boston’s Open Streets program
Broadway in downtown Denver shut down for more than an hour during morning rush, but nobody knows why
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Maryland Senate race: Democrat Alsobrooks leads Republican Hogan in closely watched contest
Several Ukrainian cities hit in Russian overnight aerial attack
What we know about the ‘victory plan’ Zelensky is presenting to Biden today
Secret Service agent accused of sexually assaulting Harris campaign staffer: report
Putin outlines new rules for Russian use of vast nuclear arsenal
-
News1 week agoSecret Service Told Trump It Needs to Bolster Security if He Keeps Golfing
-
Business1 week agoU.S. Steel C.E.O. Says Nippon Deal Will Strengthen National Security
-
Politics1 week agoNew House Freedom Caucus chair reveals GOP rebel group's next 'big fight'
-
News1 week agoToplines: September 2024 Inquirer/Times/Siena Poll of Pennsylvania Registered Voters
-
News1 week agoDisney trips meant for homeless NYC students went to school employees' families
-
Politics1 week agoBiden admin moves to reinstate Trump-era rule, delist gray wolves from endangered species list
-
Politics7 days agoDem lawmakers push bill to restore funding to UN agency with alleged ties to Hamas: 'So necessary'
-
World1 week agoWhat’s South Africa’s new school language law and why is it controversial?