News from April 2024
City of Santa Fe Governing Body met April 24
By Angelica Saylo Pilo | Apr 27, 2024
City of Santa Fe Governing Body met Wednesday, April 24
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Commission met April 25
By Angelica Saylo Pilo | Apr 27, 2024
Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Commission met Thursday, April 25
Free screenings ahead for Better Speech & Hearing Month
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 27, 2024
UNM’s Speech & Hearing Sciences department is gearing up to host free screenings in honor of Better Speech & Hearing Month. The event, scheduled for Monday, May 6, will provide various screenings for individuals aged five and up, as well as preschoolers aged three to five years old.“This is an opportunity for New Mexicans to seek reassurance if, for example, they have concerns about their grandparents' hearing or their child’s speech or language development. ”It’s just another way that UNM makes New Mexico better,” shared Speech & Hearing Department Chair and Associate...
APD Chaplain Unit Expands Services Under Chief Harold Medina's Leadership
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
The Albuquerque Police Department’s Chaplain Unit is experiencing significant growth and expansion, offering crucial support and guidance to both department employees and community members in crisis. Chief Harold Medina highlighted the importance of the unit, stating, “Our Chaplains are there when people are experiencing some of the worst moments in their life.”Since its establishment in 1969 with eight volunteers, the Chaplain Unit has now expanded to 17 members, thanks to a successful recruitment drive in the fall of 2023. Unlike other units across the country, APD’s...
Finding a path to a health care career
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
The eighth annual University of New Mexico Health Professions Symposium (HPS) 2024 recently concluded, offering a plethora of workshops for students interested in pursuing health care professions. The event saw a record-breaking attendance of 750 individuals, with a diverse range of workshops covering various health care fields.The symposium was opened by Garnett Stokes, president of UNM, Douglas Ziedonis, executive vice president of UNM Health Sciences Center, and Eve Espey, professor and chair of UNM Health Sciences Department of Ob/Gyn and Family Planning Fellowship...
Notice of Possible Quorum 04-30-2024 Citizen Police Academy
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
The Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board has issued a notice regarding a possible quorum on April 30, 2024, at the Citizen Police Academy in Albuquerque, NM.According to the board, "A quorum of the Civilian Police Oversight Advisory Board may be in attendance at the Albuquerque Police Academy, 5412 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87107, regarding the Citizen Police Academy." The advisory board clarifies that "No board business will be discussed at the Citizen Police Academy training on April 30, 2024." The training session is scheduled to commence at 6:00 p.m. on...
UNM Professor Mala Htun Elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
A University of New Mexico professor, Mala Htun, has been elected as a member of The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, joining a prestigious group that includes historical figures like Alexander Hamilton and modern-day leaders like Madeleine K. Albright. Htun expressed her excitement and gratitude, stating, “I am honored and delighted to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. It’s a thrill for me to earn this recognition. I’m excited to have the opportunity to engage with the Academy’s community of scientists, artists, and public intellectuals.”The...
Santa Fe County Urges Residents to Participate in Broadband Survey for Improved Infrastructure
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
Santa Fe, NM- The Santa Fe County Economic Development Division, in collaboration with the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Division and the County’s Broadband Working Group, is urging all residents to take part in a broadband survey aimed at enhancing infrastructure and ensuring reliable access to high-speed internet for all County residents.In a statement, the Santa Fe County Economic Development Division expressed their commitment to understanding the community's internet needs, stating, "We aim to understand the speed and reliability of existing connections to...
NMSU Criminal Justice Department Partners with Tulsa Police Department
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
The Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University has announced a partnership with the Tulsa Police Department (TPD) for a student internship program. The collaboration aims to provide students with hands-on law enforcement experience while they complete the final 15 credit hours required for their bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice.Marija Dimitrijevic, a criminal justice professor and coordinator of the partnership, emphasized the benefits of the program, stating, “Being in the criminal justice program and working for the agency gives students the...
Planting for the Future
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 26, 2024
The Parks & Recreation Department (PRD) celebrated National Arbor Day 2024 at Civic Plaza with a tree planting and giveaway as part of the “Let’s Plant Albuquerque” campaign. The City aims to plant at least 100,000 trees by 2030."The trees we plant today will flourish and be enjoyed by our community for generations," said Mayor Tim Keller. "As we continue the revitalization of our Downtown, trees enhance our shared spaces, providing beauty, shade, and fresh air, creating a greener city for our families."PRD’s Forestry Division planted eight new trees at Civic Plaza,...
OPINION: Virgin Galactic Grounded: How much did MLG gamble on SPCE?
By Mick Rich | Apr 25, 2024
In 2021, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham stated, “How Richard Branson and I feel about Virgin Galactic successfully going into space from Spaceport America in New Mexico.” And Virgin Galactic stock hit the stratosphere.
Santa Fe County Seeks Health Policy and Planning Commission (HPPC) Members
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
Santa Fe, NM- The Santa Fe County Community Services Department is currently in search of dedicated volunteers to join the Health Policy and Planning Commission (HPPC). The commission, comprised of nine members, aims to bring together individuals from various backgrounds to contribute to the improvement of healthcare services within the County.According to a recent announcement, the primary focus of the HPPC is to offer counsel and suggestions to the Community Services Department and the Board of County Commissioners regarding the delivery of health care services in Santa...
NMSU Celebrates Arab American, Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Communities
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
Celebrations are currently underway at New Mexico State University to honor the Arab American, Asian American, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander communities. The university's Asian and Pacific Islander Program (APIP) has been actively involved in commemorating these heritage months.According to Sophia Sangwanthong, director of APIP, celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of API/AAPI individuals is crucial. She stated, "It is so important to celebrate and honor the accomplishments, culture, and contributions of our API/AAPI students, faculty, and staff to...
UNM Hospital’s Critical Care Tower Showcases Local Artists’ Work
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
The University of New Mexico Hospital's Critical Care Tower (CCT) is set to be adorned with over 100 unique pieces of artwork, thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the state of New Mexico's public art fund. Fabián Armijo, Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UNM Hospital, emphasized the significance of art in New Mexico, stating, "Art is very important to New Mexicans, from the religious art of northern New Mexico to Native American jewelry."The selection process for the artwork in the CCT was meticulous and involved a committee that carefully curated...
NMSU Researchers Contribute to Understanding Flowering Plant 'Tree of Life'
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
Two New Mexico State University professors, Donovan Bailey and Zachary Rogers, have played a significant role in a global scientific endeavor that has contributed to a major breakthrough in plant science. Led by the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens in London, a group of 279 researchers, including Bailey and Rogers, utilized a breakthrough DNA-sequencing toolkit to decode DNA from samples of over 9,500 species of angiosperms, which are seed plants that produce flowers.The findings of this collaborative effort have been published in the journal “Nature” in an article titled...
UNM Anderson students excel in global sales competition
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
UNM Anderson students Eddie Acosta, Andrew Salazar, and AJ Dille showcased their sales talent by securing second, fourth, and fifth place, respectively, in the virtual RNMKRS international role-play sales competition. The competition, which took place on April 10-11, featured over 1,000 students from 47 universities, with Acosta scoring 9,589, Salazar scoring 9,571, and Dille scoring 9,542 out of a perfect score of 10,000.Associate Professor Dimitri Kapelianis, the director of the UNM Sales and Business Development Center, expressed his pride in the students'...
NMSU to host Aggie Remembrance Day May 1
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
New Mexico State University has announced that it will host the annual Aggie Remembrance Day on May 1 to honor NMSU students, employees, and alumni who passed away in the preceding year. The Aggie Memorial Ceremony is scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the NMSU Spiritual Center.According to Michelle Grandjean, the associate director of Student Involvement and Leadership Programs at NMSU, the university initiated a tradition two years ago to pay tribute to deceased Aggies. Grandjean stated, "Every year, a rock representing each passed student will be...
NMSU Board of Regents to convene for special, regular meetings
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
The New Mexico State University Board of Regents is set to convene for both a special meeting and a regular meeting in the upcoming weeks, as announced on April 25, 2024.The special meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday, April 29, at the Regents Room of the Educational Services Center on NMSU’s Las Cruces campus. Following this, the Board of Regents will hold a regular meeting at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 9, also at the Regents Room of the Educational Services Building on the same campus.Both of these important meetings will be livestreamed for public viewing,...
Aggie Legend, ‘A’ Mountain Award recipients celebrated on NMSU Founders Day
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
New Mexico State University celebrated its annual Founders Day on April 24 at Traders Plaza to honor the university's history and heritage. During the event, the prestigious “A” Mountain Staff Award and the Aggie Legend accolades were bestowed upon deserving recipients.Freddie Romero, an academic adviser at the Center for Academic Advising and Student Support, was awarded the “A” Mountain Staff Award for his unwavering dedication to student success. Romero expressed his gratitude by stating, "My colleagues and I in the advising center always take a holistic approach when...
Local Residents and UNM Community Invited to Join City Nature Challenge to Protect Biodiversity
By New Mexico Sun | Apr 25, 2024
Albuquerque locals are encouraged to participate in the City Nature Challenge organized by The University of New Mexico R.H. Mallory Center for Community Geography. The challenge, which runs from April 26 to April 29, aims to engage the community in documenting urban nature and collecting data on the biodiversity of the region.According to Laurel Ladwig, ABQ Backyard Refuge Program Director and City Nature Challenge planner, the event presents an opportunity for residents to connect with the natural world. Ladwig stated, "City Nature Challenge is an NM opportunity to pay...