Here’s a look at today’s local news:
According to a release from the New Mexico Lottery, The New Mexico Lottery Authority Board has recognized Senator John Arthur Smith, who serves Doña Ana, Hidalgo, Luna, and Sierra counties, for his contributions and efforts to maximize revenues for Legislative Lottery Scholarship students. Smith was one of two Senators to be named “Legislator of the Year”. For the last five years, Smith has sponsored and promoted legislation with the intent to increase revenues for New Mexico students. All profits from the sale of New Mexico Lottery games fund an in-state college tuition assistance program. Since 1996, the New Mexico Lottery has raised $818.9 million for education and more than 122,000 students have attended college on Legislative Lottery Scholarships.
This year, Luna County will receive over $2 million in “Payment in Lieu of Taxes” program funds for the 2019 year. The federal funds provide payments to local governments to offset losses in property taxes caused by nontaxable federal land located in their jurisdictions. The PILT is administered by the Department of Interior using a formula based on the number of acres of federal land and the population in that jurisdiction. This year, Luna County will be receiving and increase of PILT funds amounting to over $43,000.
A student sixth grade student from Harrison Schmitt Elementary participated in the National History Day program and received first place at the Regional Contest held in Las Cruces, and second place at the State Contest held at the University of New Mexico. Kathryn Woodward, presented her project about Irena Sendler, who was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for a role she played in rescuing children from the Nazis during World War II. Kathryn’s honors qualified her to compete at the National level in Washington D.C. earlier this month. National History Day is a non-profit organization that operates an annual project-based contest for students in grades 6 through 12.
