CARLSBAD, N.M. — The New Mexico State Parks will celebrate the 20th birthday of Carlsbad local legend Maggie the Bear Jan. 18 at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park.

This is a great opportunity for families to enjoy a day of fun activities while also celebrating the incredible life of Maggie, the zoo’s black bear who has become famous for her unique ability to create art with her paws.

Maggie’s story began when she was orphaned as a one-month-old cub and raised by a wildlife rehabilitator in Missouri. She arrived at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park at five months old and has since charmed visitors with her signature paw-painting hobby, which started as a form of...

SANTA FE — Alcohol-related deaths decreased in 2023 for the second consecutive year, marking progress in the state’s efforts to combat alcohol misuse, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.

In 2023, NMDOH reported 1,896 alcohol-related deaths, down from 2,067 in 2022 and 2,274 at peak in 2021. New Mexico has historically had the highest alcohol-related deaths in the nation, with the most recent national data (2021) showing its rate was more than twice the national average. However, the state has achieved a 17.3% decline in the age-adjusted rate of 102.3 deaths per 100,000 in 2021 to 84.5 deaths per 100,000 in 2023.

“The decline highlights the positive impact of...

The city's Water Department will be repairing a water leak and fire hydrants near Highway 66 and the Mentmore area Jan. 17. Water service will need to be turned off temporarily so they can do their work safely.

The outage will affect City of Gallup water customers in the following areas:

3300—3600 West Highway 66
The Mentmore area: (Sanostee Drive, Low Mountain Street, Chee Dodge Boulevard, Klagetoh Street Grey Hill Circle, Box Canyon Avenue, Jeff King Street, Manuelito Avenue)The outage is expected to last from 8 am until 5 pm.
Surrounding areas may experience low water pressure.
For any questions, call Utility Dispatch at (505) 863-1200 or after hours dispatch at...

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Transportation is excited to announce the 2025 Name a Snowplow contest winners.

The winning names are:

• District 1: Snow Bueno, Snow Way, José!
• District 2: Scoop Dogg, Chips & Que Snow.
• District 3: Alice Scooper, Taylor Drift.
  
• District 4: Blizzard of Oz, Red Chilly Brrrr-ito.
  
• District 5: Clear-o-Pathra, Blizzard Wizard.
  
• District 6: Zia Later, Snow, En-CHILL-ada