Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
For many years, the Rotary Club of Silver City has participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which has brought high school students from Europe and other parts of the world to Silver City and has sent New Mexico students overseas. During the 2014-15 school year the club hosted Kilian Schwabe, who came to Silver City from Germany. He is shown in the accompanying picture (sporting a cowboy hat) with his last host family, the Riggs, with whom he stayed during the last few weeks of his year here.
The New Mexico Environment Department continues working with local, regional, and federal stakeholders to advise San Juan County citizens of safety precautions, while updating those affected about the Gold King Mine Spill’s pulse location and effects. Adherence to the following important safety measures is critical during and after the period of time while the Gold King mining wastewater release courses through the Animas and San Juan Rivers and thee surrounding communities. It is likely precautions will be needed for several days and possibly longer. Plan accordingly.
U.S. Senator Tom Udall issued the following statement about the contamination of the Animas River by the Gold King Mine in San Juan County, Colorado: “The release of wastewater into the Animas River from the Gold King Mine in Colorado is of great concern to me and the Northwestern New Mexico communities that could be affected as the spill moves downstream. My office is engaging the Environmental Protection Agency and all federal agencies that can assist with information and response. I am calling on all relevant federal agencies to ensure potentially affected areas in New Mexico and the Navajo Nation will get the attention and services they need. We will continue to stay in communication, and my staff and I stand ready to provide assistance to any community or individuals in need. The Animas and San Juan rivers are important drinking water sources for New Mexico. I will push for answers to how this incident happened, and I won’t rest until we are sure that any possible impacts to the downstream communities or the environment have been addressed to the greatest extent possible.”
With New Mexico’s students heading back to school, Governor Susana Martinez will announce today an online tutoring service to help them succeed in the classroom. Students can access the service with the click of a mouse, allowing them to connect with tutors in real-time seven days a week.
