Here’s a look at today’s local headlines:

The Grant County Prospectors will be holding their annual “Grant County Day”, next Wednesday, January 30th, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe to honor New Mexico Legislators and others that work throughout the year to promote Grant County. The event, being held at the La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe will be hosted by the following: Senator Gabriel Ramos; Representatives Rudy Martinez, Rebecca Dow and Candie Sweetser; and of course, the Grant County Prospectors. The prospectors are a group of business leaders whose purpose is to educate policy makers and community members about the economic, community development and legislative needs in Grant County.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Western New Mexico University held a special event involving several presentations commemorating the work and legacy of Dr. King. The event, held at Light Hall Theater, was sponsored this year by: Concilio CDS, represented by Gloria Bradford; the Grant County Democratic Party, with Frances Vasquez; and Western New Mexico University. Students participated by reading poems, and the Mariachi Plata group played a rendition of “We Shall Overcome” with words inserted between verses by Samuel Davenport, Black Students Union president. Two recipients, Gary Garcia and Terrell Finney, who are teachers and coaches from the Cobre School District, were inducted into WNMU’s Martin Luther King Hall of Fame.

The preliminary figures from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions have been reported for the month of December with Luna County topping the state with the highest unemployment rate of 14.9 percent. That figure is up from the November revised rate of 11.9 percent, but down from last December’s rate of 16.9 percent. Other local county rates for December include: Catron County with 7.4 percent; Sierra County at 7.1 percent; Grant County at 5.1 percent; and Hidalgo County at 3.9 percent. The state unemployment rate for December is 4.8 percent.

In other local news

Ethan Fisher, of Silver City has been awarded the Missouri Welding Institute’s January Student of the Month. Ethan, is a graduate of Cliff high School and wishes to work shut downs and pipeline after completing his studies. In addition to being named student of the month, he was awarded $250. Congratulations, Ethan!