Here’s a look at the local headlines:

As of the latest report, the Signal Fire north of Silver City had reached 5,740 acres, and was 15% contained.  Nearly 600 personnel are fighting the fire, including 5 helicopters, 18 engines, and 1 bulldozer.  Crews continue to build lines on the northeast and east sides, and continue mop-up and patrol on the southwest flank.  Highway 15 from Ben Lilly Monument to the gravel pit near Wildhorse Mesa is now open, and business in Pinos Altos continues as usual.

Forest officials have ordered an area closure for the Signal Fire to provide for public safety.  The closure order and maps are posted on the forest website and inci web. For links to these important websites go to silver city radio.com.

The Southwest Area Incident Management Type 2 Team will be updating the fire activities for today and expectations for the weekend at a Signal Fire Public Meeting at 6 pm tonight at the Bayard Community Center.

In other news:

Silver City will make an appearance in New Mexico Magazine’s July issue as a southwestern small-town “Foodie Heaven”, according to the Silver City Arts & Cultural District.

Today, Senator Udall welcomed an endorsement by Dr. Oz for Udall’s legislation aimed at increasing access to effective health and physical education programs in schools across the country.  As public school officials work to meet academic standards and outcomes to maintain funding and as states struggle with budget challenges, subjects like health and PE risk being scaled back or eliminated. The Promoting Health for Youth Skills in Classrooms and Life (PHYSICAL) Act would designate these subjects as eligible for Title I and II funding, using existing federal dollars to expand health and PE throughout school districts.

Serina Pack, of Silver City and Millennium III Honor’s Student at WNMU, was recently elected National President of Business Professionals of America, Post-Secondary Division. BPA has 43,000 members in over 2,300 chapters in 23 states.  She will serve as president for the 2014-15 term and travel across the county promoting BPA and its programs.  The program allows students to demonstrate their career skills at regional, state and national conferences in 72 competitive events.