Here’s a look at some of today’s local news:

Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) recently hosted the “Teen Maze” event in Lordsburg where 322 middle school and high school students participated in a “virtual game of life”. The special event is designed to educate students about making healthy choices. This year, the event was titled “Direction Determines Destination”. Students entered the maze and were presented with choices in each room. Based on the decisions they made, they were issued consequences. Several organizations from Hidalgo County each provided an educational room with a variety of topics including: education, drugs, STD’s, teen pregnancy, texting and driving, and social media. From there, students enter the “consequence” rooms – baby room, job interviews/background checks, court, JPO, hospital, community service, rehab, and jail. Students were given and pre and post evaluation to gage the level of knowledge they acquired by participating in the Teen Maze event. Schools participating included: Lordsburg High School; Dugan Tarango Middle School; San Simon; Animas; and Silver High School.

U.S Border Patrol checkpoints located in the El Paso sector have been temporarily closed in order to direct agents to the border where a large number of migrants have been arriving claiming asylum.  The permanent highway checkpoints have served as a system to control immigration and drug smuggling issues in the border regions. The temporary closure includes the Interstate 10 location between Deming and Las Cruces. Though the closings are a temporary measure, the Border Patrol can not say when the highway checkpoints in New Mexico will reopen.

Earlier this week, local officials and community members celebrated a ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of the College Avenue Beautification Project. Western New Mexico University and the Town of Silver City collaborated to improve the area with new pavement, sidewalks, drainage, and general beautification. To celebrate the occasion, University’s Board of Regents, University President Dr. Joe Shepard, Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner, Silver City Town Manager Alex Brown, and others gathered at the site to cut the official ribbon. In addition, Einstein Bros Bagels held their official opening at their location in the P.E. Building on the Western New Mexico University Campus.

The U.S Small Business Administration is offering small nonfarm businesses loans to offset economic losses because of reduced revenues cause by drought that began on January 1st of this year. Businesses in Catron, Grant , and Hidalgo counties are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to the SBA, “Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.” The deadline to apply for economic injury is November 2nd of this year.

This has been a look at some local news. Thanks for listening to Silver City Radio.