EL PASO, Texas – El Paso Electric Company (EPE) continues to see an increase in the number of scam calls over the last month with over 150 reports. Here is a statement from EPE:

Scammers are masking calls to customers to make it appear as if it was originated by EPE as well as resembling the customer service phone number. Each scam reported involved an automated message directing customers to call back a “1-800” number to make an outstanding payment.

  LAS CRUCES, NM – The Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) is expanding its research capabilities and opening a new research facility that includes 4,500 square feet of laboratory and office space for faculty and student researchers.  Here is a statement from the College:

Michael Woods, PhD, Director of the BioSciences Research Laboratory, describes the new laboratory as “world-class” and capable of accommodating about a dozen faculty researchers and their students. The laboratory is fully equipped to support research in areas of cell and molecular biology, microbiology and protein chemistry.  

Las Cruces, NM – The Dona Ana Soil and Water Conservation District (DASWCD) in Dona Ana County, New Mexico announced it was awarded an urban agriculture conservation grant through a partnership with the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to boost technical capacity nationwide.

The City of Las Cruces continues to work on the pond at Young Park located at 1905 Nevada Avenue. Here is a statement from the city:

The pond was drained at the end of January for cleaning and repair and installation of a new aeration system.

The Department of Game and Fish removed and relocated fish and turtles, and City staff and Codes officers assisted with removal of the ducks. While continuing to dry, staff probed the pond for weeks for any remaining wildlife. They found and relocated two additional turtles.

Google is coming to Las Cruces as part of the tech company’s Grow with Google initiative, which aims to help create economic opportunity in communities across the United States. Here is a statement from the city:

Grow with Google will be at Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, 200 E. Picacho Ave., from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. March 20, 2019.

Las Cruces -- Imagine there is a thunder-storm and the electricity goes off. Who is on the job to fix the problems?

Chances are, some of the workers who fix downed power lines or other electrical emergencies received their training and certificates at Doña Ana Community College (DACC) as part of the Electrical Lineworker Certificate program.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The Democrat-led New Mexico House of Representatives on Thursday approved a spending plan for the coming fiscal year that would channel a windfall of state income toward public education, infrastructure projects and pay raises for public officials.

The $7 billion general fund budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins July 1 would increase annual state spending by nearly $700 million, or about 11 percent.

The big blue bins at East Picacho Elementary School stand proudly for recycling and are eye catching for kids as they pass by into the bus lane for drop off. It’s a reminder, every morning, that recycling is a part of their lives. Unfortunately, the bins are now frequently filled with trash instead of recyclables… and changes are coming.