Here’s a look at today’s local news:

Former District 28 state Senator, Howie Morales was inaugurated as New Mexico Lt. Governor just after midnight on January 1st and took his formal oath of office administered by newly retired Silver City District Court Judge, J.C. Robinson. Later that day there was a ceremony for the public at the Santa Fe Convention Center where Lt. Governor Morales joined newly inaugurated Governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham for a full day of events and celebrations. In addition, the state’s first female Commissioner of Public Lands, Stephanie Garcia Richard, was sworn in on January 1st. Garcia Richard is a Silver City native.

The New Mexico State Police investigated a double fatal crash was reported at 2:00 A.M. on January 1st on U.S. 180 near Mile Post 151 north of Deming. A 2001 GMC was traveling south on 180 and for unexplained reasons, the truck crossed the center line inti oncoming traffic and collided head on with a 1993 Buick Roadmaster sedan, driven by 61-year old Omar Holguin of Silver City. The driver of the truck and Mr. Holguin were pronounced deceased at the scene by the Office of the Medical Investigator. A 55-year old passenger of the Buick was rescued and airlifted to a local hospital with unknown injuries. Mr. Holguin was a guitar player with the Illusion Band of Silver City and had been returning from performing  at a New Year’s Eve celebration at the Deming Elks Lodge.

In other news:

Cliff High School Business Professionals of America competed at the Region IV competition and Presentation Management Cliff Team No. 1 was awarded first place in addition to Team No. 2 placed second. Team No. 1 consisted of the following students: Kaweah Yarbrough; Travis Huffman; Brett Evans; and Daniel Runyan. Team No. 2 consisted of the following: Samantha Jones; Atsah Yarbrough; Paris Abalos; and Tess Sherman. In individual events, Jeremy Gardner placed first in extemporaneous speech, Kaweah Yarbrough placed first in word processing; in addition to Samantha Jones and Tess Sherman placed third and fourth respectively. All the students placed high enough to compete at the State Leadership Conference in Albuquerque in February, including Cliff Middle School students Hannah Miller and Paige Treviso. Congratulations!