Here’s a look at today’s headlines:

Longtime resident and former legislator Murray Ryan passed away on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends.  He was 94 years old.  Murray Ryan served as Representative for District 38 from 1969 to 1998, where he represented Grant County on a number of issues.  A public viewing will be held today at 5 pm at Baca’s Funeral Chapel, with a prayer vigil and rosary to follow.

The Rotary Club of Silver City is offering two $1,500 scholarships to qualified graduating high school seniors.  The scholarships are available to any student residing in Grant County who will be graduating from high school and is planning on entering college this fall, or who is starting college this spring.  The application deadline is March 15th, and all supporting materials to the online application must also be turned in at that time.

True West Magazine’s February 2017 Issue released January 3rd lists Silver City as one of the True Western Towns to Know in 2017.  The criteria for Towns to Know are based on how each town has preserved its history through old buildings, museums and other institutions, events and promotions of historic resources.  Also honored in this issue are Buffalo, Wyoming; Dodge City, Kansas; Florence, Arizona; Lubbock, Texas; and The Dalles, Oregon.  This is the twelfth year True West has presented this annual award.  Learn more at twmag.com.

Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced her Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposal, which closes the current budget deficit caused by the oil and gas crash without raising taxes. At the same time, the proposal protects classroom spending, economic development initiatives, and public safety.  The Governor’s $6.09 billion budget for FY18 maintains the cuts adopted by the Legislature in the 2016 Special Session. It also proposes cuts to agencies that weren’t as impacted during the Special Session, consolidates certain state agencies, modernizes and simplifies the tax code, and eliminates subsidies for counties that have already raised taxes.