Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The Gila National Forest wishes to notify the public of the re-opening of four campgrounds on the Wilderness Ranger District. A large section of the access road had been washed out and is now reopened, restoring access to Woody’s Corral, TJ’s Corrall, Scorpion campgrounds, and the West Fork Trail Head parking access.
After 24 years in Silver City, Taco Bell has been closed as of Sunday morning. According to Pete Salas Jr., former General Manager, “the sales were not high enough for the area and were taking from district revenues.” Salas added, “the company did the best it could to keep us going for the past eight years.”
The Board of Grant County Commissioners herby give notice of the proposed enactment of an Ordinance levying an assessment upon landowners of record of the tracts and parcels of land listed in the Assessment Roll of Fleming Tank Road and Wind Canyon Estates Improvement District. Consideration of final adoption of such proposed Ordinance will not take place until at least two weeks subsequent to the first publication of this notice.
New Mexico Copper Corporation, a subsidiary of THEMAC Resources Group, is trying to reopen a copper mine that ran for just a few months in the early 1980s in Hillsboro. Some residents are worried that if the mine reopens, it would be a huge source of pollution, while others argue that the mine will bring jobs to the area. The company is awaiting a decision from the Bureau of Land Management as to whether they will be allowed to move to the next phase, or will be required to write a supplemental report.
In legislative action, New Mexico lawmakers will consider electoral reforms to make it easier for independents to vote in primary elections and to run for state office, amid a steady shift away from major party registration in the state. One new bill would allow unaffiliated voters to participate in primary elections for a major party of their choice.
Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera recently urged law-makers to pass the governor’s third-grade retention proposal. The bill would allow schools to require third-graders to repeat the third grade if they are not proficient in reading. Skandera said of the bill “when kids can’t read by the third grade, they are four-times more likely to drop out.” Others argue that there is no evidence that holding third graders back improves their academic performance later.
