Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) New Mexico Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director, Molly Manzanares, today reminded farmers, ranchers and other agricultural producers that they have until Aug. 3, 2015, to nominate eligible candidates to serve on local FSA county committees. “Producers only have a few more days until that Aug. 3 deadline,” said Manzanares.
The Gila National Forest is reminding the public of Community Conversations about the Assessment Phase of the Forest Plan Revision to be held Aug. 3 – Aug. 6, 2015. During the Assessment Phase of the revision, the public is invited to help identify ecological, social, and economic conditions and trends related to the Gila National Forest. This information will aid in the development of the revised plan.
The Luna County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary case that occurred last Thursday at a residents on Overhill Road. More than $50,000 in personal belongings, home furnishings, and a vast collection of firearms were stolen. The resident owned at least 12 rifles, assorted pistols, three shotguns, black powder rifles, a pellet gun, and a black powder handgun. The Victim had invited a guest into his home and returned to find it empty. This person is listed as the prime suspect. Call the Luna County Sheriff’s Office at 546-2655, or crime stoppers at 546-7800 with any information regarding this burglary.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced loans and grants for 92 projects worth $18.1 million to help support the start-up or expansion of rural small businesses. These funds are part of more than 20,000 grants and loans to more than 85,000 rural businesses USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service has awarded since the start of the Obama administration.
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich is cosponsoring a bill along with U.S. Senator Tom Udall and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham that aims to correct records of anyone discharged because of their sexual orientation to show they served honorably.
Today, by a vote of 256 to 170, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the VA Accountability Act, (H.R. 1994), a bill to require accountability within the scandal-plagued Veterans Administration. Following his vote for passage, U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce released this statement: “Today, I voted again for stronger oversight and real reform within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), an entity still plagued by bureaucrats, fraud and misconduct,” stated Pearce. “For over a decade, I have been fighting to ensure that veterans receive the care they deserve, and to eliminate the bureaucracy running the VA. H.R. 1994 advances this goal.”
