Here’s a look at today’s headlines:

The Gila National Forest wishes to extend thanks to the responsiveness of the New Mexico Department of Transportation.  Due to their efforts, State Highway 174 is steadily being cleared of debris from the most recent storm.  The Catwalk National Recreation Area is expected to be reopened late afternoon on Friday, January 6th.  The Glenwood Ranger District is happy to announce that the storms were not severe enough to damage the Catwalk itself.

The Wilderness Ranger District is planning to conduct various prescribed fires beginning the week of January 9th, weather permitting, and on into the spring as conditions allow.  The projects include broadcast burning and pile burning.  Pile burns are planned off Highway 35 and Elkhorn Road, Lake Roberts off Forest Drive, Near the Gila National Monument Visitor Center, off Highway 35 behind Camp Thunderbird, off Highway 35 along Forest Service Road 4085Y, and off Highway 35 along Lincoln Canyon Road.  A broadcast burn is planned for 128 acres located off Forest Service Road 4085Q, also known as Elks Pasture Road, south of private property on Ponderosa Road and west of Camp Thunderbird.

The Glenwood Ranger District will be burning the Sheridan Mesa Slash Pile, weather and resources permitting, as early as Monday, January 9th.  However, if conditions and/or personnel needed to be within the prescription parameters for the burn are not met, ignitions may begin as late as January 31st.  The Sheridan Slash Pit is located on Sheridan Ridge Road, approximately seven miles south of Glenwood.

Today, the Department of Veterans Services and the Department of Health proposed streamlining the State Veterans Home in Truth or Consequences to improve services for New Mexico’s veterans. The proposal, if approved by the legislature, will move management of the State Veterans Home from the Department of Health to the Department of Veterans Services, aligning both state and federal resources to better serve our veterans.

Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that more students than ever before are taking Advanced Placement classes and earning college credit as a result of passing the end-of-course exams. In addition, New Mexico is also a national leader in AP access for low-income students and year-over-year percentage growth in students taking AP exams.