Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
So far this year, over 50 thousand unaccompanied children have fled across the US border from Central America. Due to the overwhelming influx of traffic, several hundred immigrants will be brought from Texas to a facility in Southern New Mexico where they will be processed at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia. The Department of Homeland Security, which normally handles processing, says the illegal immigrants will be held in a secure area separate from training areas, and no operations will be affected.
During a recent Grant County Commissioners meeting, commissioners discussed the potential of declaring a water emergency for the Hanover Mutual Domestic Water Consumer Association, which serves Hanover, Fierro and Vanadium. The Association currently has a contract with Bayard for the water they are using, but is in danger of using more than the contract allows. According to Southwest New Mexico Council of Governments Executive Director Priscilla Lucero, “Bayard needs to provide for its own citizens primarily. In the worst scenario, if Bayard cannot provide water, Hanover had only a one-day supply. One of its wells is not pumping any water, and the other only 10 gallons a minute. Someone has to turn the pump off and on throughout the day to get enough water pressure.” Declaring a water emergency could provide over $280,000 in funding to potentially drill deeper or new wells.
The Bayard City Council recently announced that construction of a new municipal cemetery will begin on July 7th. The work will include a paved access road off the highway, paved roads within the cemetery, and a concrete ceremony area. The contractor will allow for irrigation conduit to be installed under the roads.
WNMU recently signed an agreement with UACJ in Juarez, Mexico. The agreement details four points of cooperation between the two establishments including the initiation of joint research activities and publications; the exchange of invitations to scholars to participate in conferences, colloquia, symposia and sharing of experience; the exchange of information in fields of interest to both universities; and the exchange of faculty members and students for study and research. In March, university officials educated each other on the programs offered and found areas of interest for exchange initiatives.
The Office of Adult Education Services at WNMU is now offering free public access to a computer lab on weekdays at Watts Hall, located at the corner of Swan Street and Highway 180. For a list of lab hours and programs available for public use, visit wnmu.edu or call 574-5101.
