Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The Silver City Ranger District employees recently coordinated a project work day in the Bear Mountain area along Grant County Road 1-51, which is known as the Bear Mountain Road, and Forest Service Roads 862 and 858. According to District Ranger Diane Taliaferro, ‘this area has a history of illegal dumping such as household trash, construction and landscaping materials, and occasionally even animal carcasses.’ In addition to illegal dumping, recreational target shooting is very popular along these routes, which leaves the area covered in shell casings, damaged vegetation, and miscellaneous items used for targets. Per Forest Service Code of Federal Regulations, illegal dumping, littering and damaging any natural feature is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor with the possibility of fines up to $5,000 and/or six months imprisonment.
Three Deming High School students participated in the first Educators Rising National Conference at Boston University from June 24th through the 28th. The event is designed to engage voices of students and teachers working together to redefine what it means to be an educator in the millennial age.
In sports news, Western New Mexico University women’s golfers Bobbi Pierson and Adrianna Grijalva each earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar accolades. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics and include a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act of 2015, a bill aimed at reforming the nation’s approach to mental illness. According to Congressman Steve Pearce, “this bipartisan effort addresses the broken mental health system by providing greater access to quality care, engaging families whose loved ones are affected, and ensuring federal funds are spent effectively.” Pearce continued: “This bill targets the governmental agencies tasked with the stewardship of mental health services to make these programs as accountable and effective as possible, while also ensuring resources are going to programs that work and blocks funding from those that don’t… It is a significant step in supporting Americans and their families affected by mental illness,” Pearce said.
Leaders from the Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies, and the tax preparation community today warned tax preparers that they increasingly are targets of cybercriminals and should take appropriate steps to protect clients from data theft. IRS also posted new information to help tax professionals get started with safeguards to protect clients’ data. The “Protect Your Clients; Protect Yourself” campaign will run through the start of the 2017 filing season.
