News

Screwworm cases rise as officials urge ranchers to stay alert

Diego Lopez, Editor
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
New Mexico’s confirmed case remains tied to Lea County; no western New Mexico cases reported CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — State and federal officials are continuing to monitor New World screwworm after confirmed cases in the United States rose to 12 as of June 16.New Mexico’s confirmed case remains tied...

Cibola Drought Monitor – May 2026

Diego Lopez, Editor
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Extreme drought expands as Cibola moves toward summer CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Cibola County is entering summer with drought still covering every part of the county, and the latest federal data shows the drought has deepened since the spring.According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 27,213 people in...

Cibola Water Monitoring Report – June 10–16

Diego Lopez, Editor
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
CIBOLACOUNTY, N.M. – As summer takes hold across western New Mexico, this week's monitoring data shows a familiar pattern: Bluewater Lake continues its gradual decline, the Rio San Jose remains relatively stable, and drought conditions continue to worsen.While recent precipitation has improved...
The U.S. Drought Monitor map valid June 9, 2026, shows all of Cibola County in drought, with 37.05 percent in Severe Drought and 62.95 percent in Extreme Drought. The map shows severe and extreme drought stretching across portions of western New Mexico, adding urgency to forest, watershed, road and range projects that may be considered through the Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Committee. Source: NDMC, NOAA, USDA. Courtesy Photo

The U.S. Drought Monitor map valid June 9, 2026, shows all of Cibola County in drought, with 37.05 percent in Severe Drought and 62.95 percent in Extreme Drought. The map shows severe and extreme drought stretching across portions of western New Mexico, adding urgency to forest, watershed, road and range projects that may be considered through the Southern New Mexico Resource Advisory Committee. Source: NDMC, NOAA, USDA. Courtesy Photo

Forest Service Seeks Applicants for Resource Advisory Committee as Drought Presses Western New Mexico

Diego Lopez, Editor
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Committee to direct funding toward roads, trails, watershed work, range infrastructure and wildfire resilience projects CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — As drought continues to strain western New Mexico’s forests, rangelands and rural communities, three national forests are seeking New Mexicans willing to...

Before Grants Was Grants, It Was a Railroad Camp

Diego Lopez, Editor
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
GRANTS, N.M. – The story behind the name Grants begins with the railroad, but not on empty land.According to local history and archival records from the Library of Congress, the modern City of Grants grew from a railroad construction camp established in the early 1880s at or near Los Alamitos, the...