WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Department of Defense awarded nearly $40 million dollars Sept. 25 to establish the Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub, which includes both Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico. The regional innovation hub will focus on microelectronics education, research, and development. This initiative is funded through the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act, which Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., voted for during the last congressional session.

“Congratulations to Sandia National Laboratories and the University of New Mexico on beginning our Enchanted Innovation Hub,” Leger Fernández said. “New...

The state Supreme Court issued an opinion Sept. 22 providing additional guidance to a trial court for resolving a partisan gerrymandering challenge to New Mexico’s congressional districts.

The Court’s unanimous opinion provides the legal reasoning for an order by the justices in August that allowed a congressional redistricting lawsuit to move forward to trial to determine whether alleged partisan gerrymandering violated rights protected by New Mexico’s Constitution.

The lawsuit contends that boundaries of New Mexico’s three congressional districts were drawn by the Democratic-controlled Legislature to unlawfully dilute the voting strength of Republicans in the 2nd Congressional...

The New Mexico Forestry Division sent out a press release Sept. 24 with updates about the Alien wildfire near Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The Alien Fire has burned 27 acres and is 65% contained. All lines held overnight. There is little fire activity in the interior and little visible smoke. Crews are gridding the perimeter and beginning suppression repair work.

The Alien Fire was discovered on Sept. 22 at 2:30 pm  and is located on the Creston Ridge just west of Las Vegas.

A total of 27 personnel are responding to the fire.

Evacuations have been lifted and no structures are threatened.

 

Indian Health Services Director Roselyn Tso released a statement on Sept. 22 encouraging Native Americans to get their updated COVID-19 booster shots:

"The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized and approved, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended for use, the updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants and to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19. Everyone 6 months and older, regardless of current vaccination status, should get an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to protect against COVID-19 illness this fall and winter," Tso said.

She also noted...