Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
Girl Scout Troop 54370 of Bayard assembled 17 food baskets for the holidays as part of their Bronze Award Journey. The baskets were donated to students in need in the Cobre Schools. The baskets were made possible by donations from the community, and the girls had enough non-perishable food that they were also able to deliver a truck full to a local food pantry.
The U.S. Marine Corps League brought Christmas joy to over 400 children in Deming and Luna County on Thursday at Bell Elementary. The annual Toys for Tots distribution took place and thanks to local merchants, private donations, and support from various clubs and organizations, no child left empty-handed.
Hidalgo Medical Services Chief Dental Officer Kaiyra Salcido and her dental team recently coordinated a first-ever “Dental Social” as an initiative to improve and develop a network of dental professionals in Hidalgo and Grant Counties. “The HMS Dental Services team works to provide comprehensive dental care to all ages,” State Salcido. “Our mission is to provide total health integration and education, thereby empowering our community to improve their quality of life.”
A new evaluation of Silver City’s First Born program shows positive health outcomes for infants and families. Until recently, it was unknown how fast brains develop in babies and toddlers. Now a wide body of research shows that toxic stress and adverse experiences can literally stunt their brain architecture, and consequences last a lifetime. First Born and other programs are key to what babies need and what is best practice. Avoiding adverse childhood experiences is one of the best ways to prevent children from exposure to destructive behaviors. Preventing the bad experiences and nurturing the good ones also helps save money down the road. Statewide, only one out of every 20 babies and toddlers currently benefits from a home visitation program.
USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Eric Vigil announced on Thursday that the agency is seeking applications through the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program, which will be used to help rural businesses grow and create jobs. Rural Business Development grant funds can be used for targeted technical assistance, training and other similar activities that support the business development of small business enterprises in rural areas. The grant can also be used to benefit small rural businesses through acquiring or developing land, buildings and equipment, and more.
