Here’s a look at today’s headlines:
The first class of Hidalgo Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program was honored at a graduation ceremony at Bear Mountain Lodge on Saturday afternoon. Doctors Ben Cluff and Algele “Cid” Sumulong are the first residents to complete this training program in rural medicine, which was accredited in May of 2013. Both graduates will be moving to Las Cruces, where Dr. Cluff will enter a one-year fellowship in Emergency Medicine and Dr. Sumulong will begin work at La Clinica de la Familia in Anthony, New Mexico. Dr. Cluff intends to return to Silver City after completing his fellowship in order to practice rural emergency medicine. Dr. Sumulong has a history of medical mission service, both overseas and with the homeless in downtown Los Angeles, California. He has advocated for state funding of primary care physicians in areas that are underserved and spent time encouraging the medical interests of middle and high school students.
After previously supporting an agreement concerning the PNM San Juan Generating Station, Attorney General Hector Balderas is now siding with environmental extremists in favor of higher utility rates for energy consumers across the state. In a move that would jeopardize reliable electricity for all of our people, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported that the Attorney General pulled his support for an agreement that ensured PNM would be able to continue to provide competitive electricity rates to all New Mexicans.
New Mexico State Police say a Boy Scout on a camping trip with his troop has died after he and three other teens were swept away in a flash flood. Sgt. Chad Pierce says eight Boy Scouts, three adult crew leaders and a scout ranger were on a 12-day trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch near the Colorado border on Saturday when the flooding hit. Ranch employees rescued the other three boys.
U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that counties across New Mexico will be receiving more than $34.5 million through the 2015 Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program. Grant County will receive a payment of around $1.9 million for fiscal year 2015, Hidalgo County will see nearly $687 thousand, and Luna County will receive around $1.7 million. PILT Payments are intended for schools, roads, and local police.
Last week’s Spaceport Visitor’s Center opening brought Virgin Galactic CEO, George Whitesides To Truth or Consequences. Last years crash in Mojave set Virgin Galactic back in their progress toward achieving commercial spaceflight. CEO George Whitesides says they remain committed to bringing space tourism to New Mexico.
