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The Delores C. Wright Educational Center in Chaparral, a tan and brown brick building with a covered entrance and desert landscaping.
Doña Ana County Featured

Chaparral residents invited to weigh in on community center expansion

Doña Ana County will hold an Aug. 19 community meeting in Chaparral to gather feedback on plans to expand the Delores Wright Community Center and Senior Center.

Organ Mountain News
The activity pool at the Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center.
City of Las Cruces Featured

Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center activity pool reopens after repairs

The Las Cruces Regional Aquatic Center activity pool reopened Aug. 13 and resumed normal operational hours after repairs were completed.

Organ Mountain News
New Mexico State University’s campus in Las Cruces, where the Domenici Public Policy Conference will return Sept. 8-9 after an eight-year hiatus.
NMSU Featured

Domenici Public Policy Conference returns to Las Cruces after eight-year hiatus

NMSU is reviving the Domenici Public Policy Conference Sept. 8-9 in Las Cruces with national leaders, policy experts and candidates discussing major issues shaping the country.

Amanda Wyatt
A sweeping Mimbres Valley landscape with green grasslands, pine-covered hills, red rock cliffs and a winding road beneath a clear blue sky.
Public Lands Featured

New Mexico acquires nearly 11,000 acres for new Mimbres Valley wildlife area

New Mexico has acquired nearly 11,000 acres in the Mimbres Valley for a new wildlife management area bordering the Gila National Forest.

Organ Mountain News
A Doña Ana County resident speaks during an Aug. 11 Project Jupiter listening session as state Sens. Joseph Cervantes, Bill Soules and Jeff Steinborn listen.
Project Jupiter

Doña Ana County residents criticize local, state officials for advancing Project Jupiter

More than 300 Doña Ana County residents questioned state lawmakers about Project Jupiter’s water use, air quality impacts, permitting and government oversight during an Aug. 11 listening session.

Leah Romero
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez speaks at a lectern on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. Gabe Vasquez

Vasquez backs bipartisan bill targeting scam ads on social media

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez is backing bipartisan legislation that would require social media companies to combat fraudulent ads and strengthen enforcement against scammers.

Organ Mountain News
A health care worker wearing gloves administers a vaccine injection into a patient’s upper arm.
Health

New Mexico says childhood vaccine recommendations will remain unchanged

New Mexico health officials say the state will maintain its full childhood vaccination recommendations and continue using the American Academy of Pediatrics schedule as a guide.

Organ Mountain News
Kent Hoffmann, Karl Affsprung and Andrew Lujan-Huerta appear side by side in a three-panel composite of identification photos.
FBI

FBI seeks information in three Roswell homicide investigations

The FBI, Roswell police and Chaves County sheriff’s deputies are seeking information in three homicide investigations involving men found dead in and near Roswell this summer.

Organ Mountain News
A wooden judge’s gavel and sound block rest on a light-colored surface.
Courts

17-year-old pleads guilty to second-degree murder in Las Cruces house party shooting

Kenneth Perez, 17, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and three aggravated battery charges in a 2025 Las Cruces house party shooting that killed Lance Chavez.

Damien Willis
Luján bill would make home-based care a mandatory Medicaid benefit
Health

Luján bill would make home-based care a mandatory Medicaid benefit

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján is co-leading legislation that would make home and community-based services a mandatory Medicaid benefit and phase out waiting lists.

Organ Mountain News
A fenced gravel lot and warehouse at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope in Las Cruces, with a sign for the Mano y Mano Day Labor Program.
Community of Hope

$500,000 grant will fund critical repairs at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope

Mesilla Valley Community of Hope will receive $500,000 from Housing New Mexico for a critical roof replacement and rehabilitation work at its Las Cruces day shelter.

Organ Mountain News
Lori Martinez, House Speaker Javier Martínez and Isabella Solis appear side by side in a three-panel portrait composite.
Politics

House District 37 candidates split over filling vacancy before November election

House District 37 candidates Isabella Solis and Lori Martinez disagree over whether the vacant Las Cruces-area legislative seat should be filled before voters choose a representative in November.

Damien Willis
The Third Judicial District Courthouse in Las Cruces, shown from the street with its main entrance, parking area and surrounding grounds.
Courts

13-year-old sentenced to two years in CYFD custody in Chris Carnero shooting death

A 13-year-old was sentenced to two years in CYFD custody after pleading no contest in the shooting death of 13-year-old Chris Carnero in Las Cruces.

Organ Mountain News
Las Cruces Fire Department Deputy Chief Justin Whitefield poses in uniform against a dark blue-gray studio background.
LCFD

Las Cruces Fire Department names Justin Whitefield deputy chief of operations

The Las Cruces Fire Department has named 19-year department veteran Justin Whitefield deputy chief of operations after he served in the role on an interim basis.

Organ Mountain News
"A" Mountain, with communications equipment rises beneath a glowing orange sunset near New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.
Sports

NM State Athletics moves to digital ticketing for 2026-27 seasons

NM State Athletics is switching to Blocktickets for season and single-game tickets and will host three free in-person help sessions for fans.

Michael Navarrette
A stop sign and street signs mark the intersection of N. Alameda Boulevard and Hoagland Road in Las Cruces.
Roads

Las Cruces seeks input on N. Alameda, Hoagland intersection improvements

Las Cruces will host an Aug. 20 public meeting on planned traffic signals, sidewalks, pavement and other improvements at N. Alameda Boulevard and Hoagland Road.

Organ Mountain News
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich speaks from a lectern on the Senate floor, gesturing with one hand.
Outdoor Spaces

Heinrich leads Senate opposition to Interior wilderness policy review

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich is leading a Senate letter opposing an Interior Department review of wilderness management policies affecting nearly 200 million acres of public land.

Organ Mountain News
A colorful graphic for the Heart & Color youth art exhibit overlays the Doña Ana County Government Center and notes the exhibit is open through Aug. 14 in Las Cruces.
Art

Youth detention center art exhibit open through Aug. 14 in Las Cruces

Artwork created by youth at the Doña Ana County Juvenile Detention Center is on display through Aug. 14 at the county Government Center in Las Cruces.

Organ Mountain News
Organ Mountain News

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You’re free to republish our stories — with credit. Our journalism is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please edit only for style or length, include attribution and a link back to Organ Mountain News. AP and Getty images may not be reused. See our republishing guidelines for more.