Organ Mountain News (Page 17)

Two young children sit on the floor playing with a box of colorful sidewalk chalk, their hands reaching for pieces during an early learning or preschool activity.

Federal shutdown threatens Head Start; NM Dem introduces bill to extend protections

With the federal government shutdown threatening to cut funding for Head Start programs across New Mexico, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández and colleagues introduced legislation to establish permanent protections for the early-education initiative.

Doña Ana County

Doña Ana County invites residents to meet Fire Chief finalists during virtual Q&A sessions

Doña Ana Fire Rescue will host virtual community sessions Oct. 27–29 and Nov. 4, giving residents a chance to hear from each Fire Chief finalist and ask questions through a live YouTube Q&A.

Portrait of New Mexico State University creative-writing professor Connie Voisine, recipient of the 2025 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.

NMSU

NMSU professor among 2025 recipients of Governor’s Award for Excellence

Connie Voisine of New Mexico State University is among seven recipients of the 2025 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, recognized for her poetry, teaching and role in elevating the literary arts across New Mexico.

State

New Mexico officials weighing options in advance of lost SNAP benefits

With SNAP benefits for 250 000 households in New Mexico hanging in the balance, state officials say they are evaluating every possible option—ramping up food-bank support and coordinating with schools and charities—to avoid a full-scale hunger crisis.

Side-by-side portraits of U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján.

Government

Heinrich, Luján back bill to compensate federal contract workers affected by shutdown

U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján are backing legislation to ensure New Mexico’s federal contract workers receive back pay for wages lost during the government shutdown.

A Roadrunner Food Bank truck with the message “Together we can solve hunger!” and a photo of a child is parked at a community food distribution site during a Feeding America partner event.

State

NM delegation calls on USDA to use contingency funds to pay for SNAP in November

Three members of the New Mexico delegation call on the USDA to tap contingency funds and ensure SNAP benefits continue for 250,000 households in the state in November, amid a federal government shutdown and an expected shortfall of $90 million in assistance.

Doña Ana Community College campus with the Organ Mountains visible in the background and landscaped walkways in the foreground.

DACC

DACC to offer advanced photography workshops with award-winning photojournalist

Doña Ana Community College will host two advanced photography workshops this fall, taught by award-winning photojournalist Paul Ratje.

Close-up view of the sun in golden hues, showing intense solar activity and flares captured by a space telescope.

NMSU

NMSU professor develops new method to predict occurrences of disruptive solar flares

A researcher at New Mexico State University has created a new predictive system that can warn of major solar flares up to a year in advance, offering potential safeguards for space-weather-vulnerable infrastructure.

Close-up portrait of Gene Grant smiling against a blue background.

State

Governor appoints Gene Grant to lead New Mexico Office of African American Affairs

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed journalist and former PBS host Gene Grant as executive director of the New Mexico Office of African American Affairs.