News - Organ Mountain News (Page 3)

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Lance French places his hand up as his son, in an Air Force uniform, raises his right hand during a commissioning ceremony into the U.S. Space Force.

NMSU AFROTC sees first cadet commissioned in U.S. Space Force

An Air Force ROTC cadet at New Mexico State University made history as the program’s first graduate to commission into the U.S. Space Force, highlighting NMSU’s role in preparing students for careers in space and national defense.

Graphic showing Las Cruces minimum wage increase effective Jan. 1, 2026, with $13.01 an hour for most workers and $5.20 an hour for tipped employees within city limits.

News

Las Cruces minimum wage increased to $13.01 an hour on Jan. 1

The minimum wage in Las Cruces will rise to $13.01 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. Tipped employees will earn $5.20 an hour, higher than the state minimum.

Middle school students work alongside instructors in DACC’s commercial kitchen, preparing food at stainless steel workstations with pots, pans and cooking equipment visible.

Education

Las Cruces middle school students tour DACC culinary arts program

Middle school students from Las Cruces Catholic School toured DACC’s culinary arts program, gaining hands-on experience in a commercial kitchen and learning about future career pathways.

Exterior of the Third Judicial District Court building in Las Cruces, showing the glass-fronted entrance and tall brick chimney-like structure on a clear day.

Crime

Where the Young Park shooting case stands — for the singular adult defendant

The criminal case against the lone adult charged in the Young Park shooting remains in pretrial status, with court records outlining charges, custody status and what comes next.

Las Cruces Police vehicle blocks a roadway at night as officers investigate a crash, with police tape stretched across the street and emergency lights illuminating the scene.

Public Safety

Two people hit by vehicles eight hours apart in Las Cruces leave one woman dead, man critically injured

Two people were hit by vehicles in separate incidents eight hours apart in Las Cruces, killing a 54-year-old woman on south Telshor Boulevard and critically injuring a 74-year-old man on Triviz Drive.

Duke Martinez, with gray hair wearing a blue suit and patterned tie, poses for a studio portrait with his arms crossed.

Politics

Republican NM candidate for governor Duke Rodriguez insists he meets residency requirement for race

Republican gubernatorial candidate Duke Rodriguez says he meets New Mexico’s residency requirement for the 2026 governor’s race despite questions about his voter history and out-of-state ties, according to his campaign.

Metal sculpture panels shaped like desert plants glow from internal lighting at dusk in a landscaped Las Cruces park, with trees, cacti and buildings visible in the background.

Art

NMSU alum builds sculpture for Las Cruces Public Art Collection

New Mexico State University alumna Kayla Blundell built and installed a free-standing sculpture titled “Desert Kinship” at La Buena Vida Park after receiving the commission from Las Cruces art officials, blending desert themes and local wildlife in metalwork.

Events

Las Cruces Chile Drop receives $10,000 state grant ahead of New Year’s Eve celebration

The Las Cruces Chile Drop received a $10,000 state tourism grant ahead of New Year’s Eve, with a new sponsor and redesigned chile sculpture planned for the downtown event.

A wooden judge’s gavel rests on a light-colored surface, casting a shadow under directional lighting.

Mental Health

Federal judge orders Education Department to restore school mental health funding in New Mexico

A federal judge ruled the U.S. Department of Education acted unlawfully in canceling K-12 mental health grants, restoring funding that affects more than 5,000 students in New Mexico.