Here’s a look at today’s news:
In unofficial municipal election results, Deming incumbent Mayor Benny Jasso was re-elected for his second 4-year term. In addition, Incumbent District 1 Councilor David Sanchez and Incumbent District 4 Councilor, Victor Cruz were both re-elected for another four-year term. The $3 million general obligation bond passed with 619 votes in favor and 258 against.
The unofficial results for Silver City are, Incumbent Silver City Mayor Ken Ladner was re-elected to a second term. Incumbent District 2 Councilor, Lynda Aiman-Smith defeated challenger Patricia “Eiline” Kingsley, and Incumbent District 4 Councilor, Guadalupe E. Cano won against Nicholas H. Prince.
The unofficial results for Town of Hurley are for Mayor, Joseph “Ed” Stevens. In the Village of Santa Clara: Incumbent Trustee Olga Amador and Harry “Rocky” Hildebrand. In the City of Bayard, the two City Council seats were taken by Incumbent Raul Villanueva and Eloy Medina. In the Bayard Municipal Judge race, the winner was Incumbent, Jose Sandoval.
Columbus voters chose to elect mayoral challenger, Esequiel Salas over incumbent Philip Skinner, who was seeking re-election to a second term as Columbus Mayor. Challenger Ricardo Gutierrez, defeated incumbent Village Trustee, Donald Farber. Incumbent Trustee, William Johnson, was re-elected and Paulino Villegas received the vote for the remaining Trustee seat.
The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is looking into a situation at Snell Middle School whereby a student made threats towards a teacher. The fourteen-year-old male student admitted to posting threats of violence on social media against a teacher if his grade was not raised. The student was arrested and booked into the Luna County Juvenile Detention Center on the following charges: Extortion, a 3d degree felony; Assault upon a school employee, a misdemeanor; and Interference with the educational process, a misdemeanor. The incident remains under investigation.
The New Mexico Human Services Department Behavioral Health Services Division has designated Hidalgo Medical Services as its State “Health Home” for both Hidalgo and Grant counties, with services due to begin on April 1st. The BHSD Health Home project, called CareLink NM, is designed to provide supportive care coordination services to individuals who suffer from both chronic medical and serious mental health conditions. CareLink NM services through HMS will be available to individuals who altogether receive Medicaid services, permanently reside in Hidalgo or Grant counties, and have multiple qualifying health care diagnoses – regardless of where a patient obtains primary care, specialized health care, or behavioral health services. The HMS Health Home for CareLink NM is estimated to create upwards of 15 new staff positions.
