Home Blog Page 36

Winter storm brings relief to New Mexico ski resorts

Michael Smith
-
0
Winter storm brings relief to New Mexico ski resorts

Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus
msmith@currentargus.com

The 2025-2026 ski season in New Mexico has been hindered by mild temperatures and sporadic snowfall but last weekend’s winter storm offered hope for the remainder of the season as resorts benefited from arctic air that brought heavy snowfall, said the executive director of the trade organization Ski New Mexico.

“This snow was a huge help,” Christy Germscheid said.

She said the storm allowed operators in northern and southern New Mexico to open more trails.

“A nice snowfall gives them the ability to pack natural snowfall on those runs,” she said. “They can move equipment around as they have water and electricity.”

Although she welcomed the snow, Germscheid said ski resorts across the state need more as they endure the second season in a row with limited snowfall.

“Last year was not a great year,” she said, noting that snowfall was down 65% percent from 2023-24 when the state’s ski resorts had a combined 193 inches of snow.

But the recent cold snap provided assistance for Mother Nature, Germscheid said, producing ideal conditions to stock up on human-made snow.

Reported snow conditions as of Tuesday, Jan. 27

(Information provided by Ski New Mexico)

Angel Fire Resort had a 21-inch base depth with 59 of 95 trails open.

Pajarito Mountain had a base depth of 10 inches with 17 of 53 trails open.

Red River Ski and Summer Area had a 20-inch base depth with 27 of 64 trails open.

Sandia Peak Ski had a 15-inch base with 2 of 4 trails open.

Sipapu Ski and Summer Area had a base depth of 20 inches with 22 of 44 trails open.

Ski Apache had a 33-inch base with 40 of 55 trails open.

Ski Santa had a 30-inch base depth with 82 of 89 trails open.

Taos Ski Valley had a 35-inch base depth and 85 of 120 trails open.

Note – snow conditions can change after this report is compiled.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.

Political power and US growth

Michael Smith
-
0
Political power and US growth

Tom Wright

It seems like a decade has happened this past month, from Nicolás Maduro being captured in Venezuela to President Trump’s rhetoric on the conquest of Greenland. Maduro says he was kidnapped. Some say it was a misuse of military power. The EU nations claim President Trump is destroying NATO to assuage his ego, which is demanding Greenland come under U.S. control. Like it or not, politics has always been and remains a power game of negotiations.

Let’s take a little trip back in our history. James Monroe was a Founding Father, Ambassador to France, Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Virginia Senator and Governor, and our fifth President. His Monroe Doctrine of hands off our hemisphere, remains a foundational pillar in our foreign policy. As President, Monroe saw the need to allow Latin American countries to establish independence, free from further influence of European colonizers. His Doctrine has been invoked by Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

William Seward was President Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of State, serving in that post during the Civil War. In 1867, Britain occupied Canada. Russia owned Alaska, was broke and feared Britain would take Alaska by force. Secretary Seward quietly negotiated the sale of Alaska to the U.S. for $7.2 million. A pretty good deal.

In 1848, the U.S. was at war with Mexico over its domination of much of the Southwest. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican-American War and transferred 525,000 square miles to the United States, including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

In 1844, presidential candidate James Polk ran on “54-40, or Fight,” promising, if elected, he would annex the Oregon Territory, which was claimed by Spain, Britain and the U.S. Polk’s promise of territorial expansion based on Manifest Destiny got him elected. In 1846, the U.S. was at war with Mexico and President Polk had no intention of also fighting Britain, but he knew supplying British troops in the far Pacific northwest, would be difficult. So, he negotiated a settlement at the 49th parallel, which gave us Oregon, Washington State, Idaho and parts of Wyoming and Montana.

Polk had foreseen the war with Mexico. He knew Mexico considered the treaty of Velasco invalid. While it was signed in 1836 by President Santa Anna, when his army was defeated at San Jacinto and granted Texas independence, it was signed under duress. Polk knew the annexation of Texas in 1845 would likely start a war, which he also knew the U.S. could win and the vast area of Texas became a state. In 1848, Mexico finally ceded Texas along with the other gains of the Guadalupe Hidalgo treaty. For these territorial gains, James Polk is considered the most effective one-term president.

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson feared that France, under aggressive leader Napoleon Bonaparte, might close the strategic port of New Orleans and strangle commerce for the westward expanding United States.

Jefferson went to work, creating authority to buy foreign territories. He knew Napoleon had a slave rebellion in Haiti, a threat of war with Britain and no money in the French Treasury. As Secretary of State, James Monroe was President Jefferson’s principal negotiator with France. Jefferson sent a delegation headed by Monroe to Paris and the U.S. bought 828,000 square miles for $15 million. No war. The Louisiana Purchase was just a good real estate deal.

Today, those upset with President Trump over his bid to acquire Greenland from Denmark need to understand how the U.S. became the world’s dominant power. What President Trump has done to protect our borders, expel illegal immigrants, protect our national security, the right of citizenship, our national defense and public health is nothing new to our history. It is America First and that is not new.

The media is quick to point out his approval rating has taken a dive to 42.5%. However, he has good company with our last three presidents who also occupied 42-43% at the end of their first year. Republicans rate him at 90% approval. Congressional job approval is now 22.7% with disapproval at 66.3%.

The U.S. became the nation we are by dealmaking. Some may not like the tactics of President Trump, but he will find good company in the history books.

Tom Wright is a Santa Fe columnist and El Rito Media investor.

Immigrant detention bill heads to House Floor

Michael Smith
-
0
Immigrant detention bill heads to House Floor

Alex Ross

El Rito Media

aross@elritomedia.com

A ban on local governments entering contracts to house undocumented immigrants was headed to a vote on the floor of the New Mexico House of Representatives.

House Bill 9 was advanced out of the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 28 on a 7-4 vote with all Democrats in support and Republicans voting against.

The vote came a week the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee voted to support the bill, also along party lines. It will next be debated and voted upon by all 70 members of the House, and if passed by that chamber, will go to the Senate for consideration.

If HB 9 reaches Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s desk, she will have until March 11 to sign or veto it.

The legislation, also known as the Immigrant Safety Act, would prohibit public bodies in New Mexico – such as counties, municipalities and school boards- from entering into agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and private contractors to house people on civil immigration violations.

Cibola, Otero and Torrance counties currently have such agreements where such detention centers operate, and HB 9 would force them to exit those contracts.

Similar proposals to block the agreements were introduced in past years, including during the 60-day session in 2025 where that year’s version passed the House but died in the Senate.

State Rep. Eleanor Chavez (D-26) of Albuquerque, one of the bill’s sponsors, pushed the proposal in response to concerns about conditions at New Mexico’s three facilities used to house undocumented immigrants.

But the proposal has taken on greater urgency this year as the tactics used by ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Minneapolis and elsewhere have sparked nationwide outrage.

Most recently a group of ICE agents shot and killed 37-year-old Alex Pretti during a demonstration in Minneapolis, inflaming tensions and leading to debate in the media on the agency’s tactics.

“We should be focused on taking care of our communities. We should refuse to continue propping up this mass detention center that puts so many people in harm’s way,” Chavez said.

Fernanda Bada, co-executive director of the New Mexico Dream Team, an immigrant advocacy group, said detention facilities were a danger to New Mexicans, and people who are undocumented that reside in the state.

“Our state has a choice. We can continue allowing detention centers to harm families and traumatize children, or we can pass the Immigrant Safety Act and choose dignity, families, safety and care,” she said.

Last week, Sen. Jim Townsend (R-34) of Artesia, sent a letter to the U.S Department of Justice, arguing H.B. 9 could violate the U.S. Constitution by running afoul of federal policy.

He urged the Department of Justice to publicly oppose H.B. 9 “to ensure that New Mexico does not enact legislation that conflicts with federal law and undermines federal supremacy.”

Leaders from communities where some of the facilities are located also expressed worry about closing or reducing operations at facilities they said provide jobs and economic benefit to rural areas.

Virgil Brummel, a member of Milan Board of Trustees, the governing body for the Village of Milan in Cibola County, said ending immigrant detention at the Cibola County Corrections Center would trickle down to several segments of his community.

“We’re going to close out this facility, and we’re going to lose a lot of jobs, and it’s going to trickle down into our school systems, which are already taxed, and we just can’t afford it,” he said

Bill prevents ICE from deputizing locals

At Wednesday’s hearing, Speaker Javier Martinez (D-11) of Albuquerque, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, introduced an amendment adding language to H.B. 9 to also block ICE from deputizing local law enforcement through contracts called 287(g) agreements.

Such agreements allow local law enforcement to be aid in immigration enforcement. Specifically, the amendment prohibits local agents from taking part in the investigation, detention, transportation or removal of people who are undocumented.

The committee accepted Martinez’s amendment on another 7-4, party-line vote.

“That is very important to me, because our law enforcement officers should not be doing the work of the feds,” Martinez said.

According to ICE’s website, the agency has 1,373 active “287(g) agreements” across 35 states. The only agreement that exists in New Mexico is with Curry County for a warrant service officer.

Opponent of the bill State Rep. Andrea Reeb (R-Clovis), whose district includes Curry County argued the county’s agreement only allows a specially trained officer to serve warrants to undocumented individuals housed in the Curry County Detention Center.

People suspected of immigration law violations are not housed there, but the agreement allows immigration warrants to be served by local police to inmates detained on other charges and found to be undocumented.

Reeb said blocking such an agreement and would hamper local law enforcement by not allowing police to work “even in a limited capacity” with ICE.

“I just feel like we’re doing something that could actually open a door to a worse situation,” Reeb said.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Dems block renewable energy tax bill

Michael Smith
-
0
Dems block renewable energy tax bill

Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

A southeastern New Mexico lawmaker’s proposal to impose a tax on renewable energy produced within the state was blocked by a committee of lawmakers.

Following a half-hour of discussion and comments from the public, the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 6-4 on Tuesday, Jan. 27 to table House Bill 113.

The committee would need to take a separate vote on the bill to bring it back off the table, and reconsider advancing the legislation. Legislation must pass at least two committees in the chamber where it originates before going before the full body.

After gaining such approval via a floor vote, the bill would head to the other chamber for similar approvals before being signed into law or vetoed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The vote to table HB 113, preventing it from continuing in the process, broke down along party lines with all Democrats on the committee supporting the motion.

HB 113 was introduced by Rep. John Block (R-51) of Alamogordo and would have levied a monthly tax of 3.75% of the value per megawatt-hour of electricity generated in New Mexico from solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal sources.

According to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, a megawatt-hour is “a unit of energy equal to 1,000 kilowatts of energy used continuously for one hour.”

The U.S Energy Information Administration reports that in 2022 the average residential electric utility customer purchased 899 kilowatt hours of electricity a month, which is equal to 0.899 megawatt hours.

Proceeds from the tax would go into the Severance Tax Permanent Fund, a fund composed of taxes assessed on the value of oil and natural gas extracted from land in New Mexico. Those funds are managed by the State Investment Council, with a portion of its earnings sent into the General Fund annually to support state spending.

Block, who described himself as an “all-of-the-above energy type of guy” said his proposed renewable energy tax is meant to offset revenue from oil and gas taxes he said could be lost as the state moves towards an economy where renewable energy assumes a larger role.

He said that his bill would make renewable producers “pay their fair share,” compared with taxes already paid by oil and gas producers.

“The purpose is not to stop renewable development, but to ensure that as New Mexico’s energy economy evolves, our Permanent Fund savings and long-term stability will evolve with it,” Block said.

HB 113 contained exemptions for renewable energy produced in New Mexico by the federal government, the state of New Mexico and its subdivisions and activities and by any Indian nation, tribe or pueblo on sovereign territory.

Electricity from renewable sources for personal use, including excess energy of less than 500 kilowatt-hours in a 24-hour time frame, would also not be subject to the tax.

In all, 51% of electricity generated in New Mexico comes from renewable sources., according to an analysis provided by the Department of Taxation and Revenue. An estimated 4% of that energy would be exempted from the tax, read the report.

Critics of the bill voiced concern about the tax, arguing it would be a reversal of the state’s yearslong policy of encouraging production for renewables through tax credits and other incentives.

“This bill sends the wrong signal to developers, just as we’re trying to expand our renewable energy economy and move away from our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Michelle Chavez, a member of the audience during the public comment portion of the hearing.

AnnaLinden Weller, a senior policy advisor for clean energy at environmental group Western Resource Advocates said the cost of the tax would be passed onto consumers, with those from low-income households being hit the hardest.

“Really this is a way of halting a great deal of development for our state to achieve a small amount of revenue that is mostly extracted from our poorest residents,” she said.

But Republicans on the committee believed that at some point the renewable energy industry needs to start paying more in taxes, comparing the growing industry with fossil fuels.

Rep. Mark Murphy (R-59) of Roswell, the president of an oil producer Strata Production Company voted against tabling HB 113.

He said New Mexico’s budgets have grown dramatically in recent years, but projections of the amount of oil and gas revenues are projected to decline as the state and other energy markets shift toward more renewable power.

“I think long term, it’s going to become very important for us in the state to find these funding mechanisms, or we’re going to have some real budget issues,” Murphy said.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Maggie the Bear is 21

Michael Smith
-
0
Maggie the Bear is 21

Photos by Adrian Hedden
Carlsbad Current-Argus
achedden@currentargus.com

Local children flock to Living Desert Zoo for resident black bear’s birthday party

Maggie the Bear mostly kept to herself during her 21st birthday party held Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State park.

A crowd gathered at the black bear’s enclosure during the party where she receives her annual present, an edible box filled with nuts and fruit.

Traditionally attendees get a glimpse of the massive animal’s power as she tears into the treat.

This year, Maggie chose to remain in a corner of the enclosure out of site of most of the attendees except to walk to the center, grab the present in her jaws and walk back.

Local children eagerly waiting their glimpse of the 360-pound bear received some solace in the zoo’s Visitor Center where they designed paper bear masks and other crafts, while enjoying birthday cake provided by zoo staff.

Freshman cheerleader sings national anthem

Michael Smith
-
0
Freshman cheerleader sings national anthem

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtkeith@elritomedia.com

In front of a packed house at the Bulldog Pit before the Artesia boys basketball game against Valencia, public address announcer Tony Jaramillo asked everyone to stand for the national anthem.

Artesia freshman Kaydi Pacheco stepped to the side of the press table and, microphone in hand, belted out “O say, can you see” in a pitch-perfect voice. She sounded professional and seemed unencumbered by the sellout crowd listening to her.

When Pacheco sang the last note, people applauded her rendition. After she was done singing, she moved to the end of the baseline to do her real job for the evening: cheering as a first-year cheerleader.

“I have been singing since I was 7 years old,” Pacheco said. “I used to take singing lessons, and I have been around music my whole life.”

She sings in the choir, has a soprano vocal range, and likes being both a cheerleader and a singer.

Pacheco said she was nervous the first time she stood in front of the Pit to sing but is no longer anxious.

She started singing the anthem after asking the Artesia choir director if she could do so, and the director said yes. Now, when the Artesia girls or boys basketball team needs her to sing, she always says yes.

Pacheco said she has no plans to quit singing anytime soon and feels that when she sings the anthem, she is supporting her country.

Pacheco said she thanks her cheer coach, Sabrina Roybal, who works well with the choir coach and everyone else involved, for allowing her to sing at games as well as cheer.

“I am really hardworking,” Pacheco said. “I love what I do, and I have worked for everything that I have. I never plan to quit.”

JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X @JTKEITH 1.

Campbell hits milestone: 1,000 career points

Michael Smith
-
0
Campbell hits milestone: 1,000 career points

JT Keith
Artesia Daily Press
jtketih@elritomedia.com

Artesia senior point guard Charlie Campbell IV has rare scoring skills: He can take an opponent off the dribble and lower a shoulder, getting physical while going to the basket, or he can pull up and hit a mid-range jump shot that is almost indefensible.

Campbell did just that in a 64-48 victory against St. Pius X on Jan. 16.

Campbell said that he remembers the moment when he scored his 1,000th career point. The Bulldogs were in a half-court trap with teammate Cael Houghtaling smothering a St. Pius X ball handler. Campbell came from behind, stripped him of the ball and scored on a layup in the first quarter.

“It feels nice,” Campbell said after scoring point number 1,000. “At the end of the day, that is not my personal goal; I want what is best for my team as well as what is best for myself. All I want is a blue trophy.”

Campbell said it was not his goal to score 1,000 points when he first started playing basketball. He said he did not realize he was close to reaching the milestone until his teammate, Braylon Vega, scored his 1,000th two weeks ago. When Vega reached his milestone, Campbell said it got him thinking about how close he was to scoring 1,000 points.

Campbell said having Vega as a teammate helps because Vega can hit an outside shot, taking the attention off Campbell and making it easier for him to score. Campbell said that he and Vega feed off each other.

Artesia basketball coach Michael Mondragon said Campbell began pursuing the milestone in his sophomore year.

Mondragon has coached three 1,000-point scorers in his 11-year coaching career: Nick Sanchez, Vega and Campbell.

“Just proud of him,” Mondragon said. “He did it since he was a sophomore, which is three years ago. That is about 350 points a year. He is so smooth with the ball and does such a good job of finishing at the rim. He loves his teammates and cares about winning. I am really proud of Charlie.”

Charlie’s dad, assistant Bulldogs basketball coach Charlie Campbell III, said that he is also proud of his son.

“It is awesome,” Campbell III said. “It is a little thing, nothing that was set in stone like this was our goal. We want wins and a state championship. The accomplishment is really cool for all the hard work he put in and for him achieving his dream. I am proud of him.”

JT Keith can be reached at 575-420-0061, or on X @JTKEITH 1.

Funding universal childcare will move New Mexico up

Michael Smith
-
0
Funding universal childcare will move New Mexico up

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales

The New Mexico Legislature has a rare opportunity in the 2026 legislative session to help working parents and move New Mexico forward by establishing a strong financial foundation for quality, universal childcare. For too long, our state has been disparaged for being last on national lists for various rankings of well-being. But thanks to the leadership of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and our state legislature, New Mexico today stands as the first state in the nation to create free, universal access to child care. It’s a guarantee that lifts up families, children and our economy. While there is disagreement at this moment about particular funding levels needed to implement the policy, it is merely a hiccup. By standing together now, we will accomplish historic progress.

Over the past seven years, we already have achieved remarkable expansion of child care services across our state with bipartisan support and phased growth. The biggest jump in more children receiving free childcare was in 2022, when the state’s eligibility cap for subsidy was raised to 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Creation of the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (NMECECD) also gave us a focal point to concentrate our administrative efforts successfully. When the Governor announced free, universal childcare on November 1st, 2025, approximately 25,000 additional children became eligible.

The actual costs of supporting a family in America today – and in New Mexico – have been going up for quite a while now, with growing inflation overall and the rising costs of groceries, health coverage, housing, and child care. The cost of infant care for working parents is staggering, averaging around $1,127 a month, and pre-school for 3- to 5-year olds around $800 monthly.

New Mexico has the wherewithal to make universal child care a top public policy priority in the 2026 meeting of legislature, and we will. Revenues continue to be strong, and we hold a state rainy day fund of over 35% of the state annual budget, a historic high. If we do it, thousands of working families across the state will be able to pocket the dollars for other purposes, making a profound difference in their household budgets and improving the quality of their lives.

Concerns that low-income families could be pushed out of accessing child care by making it universal are misplaced. New Mexico’s investments in the child care system benefit families across the whole income spectrum, including the lowest income families. The proof is that 41% families who have enrolled since November 1st have incomes below the existing eligibility cap (400% FPL), according to the NMECECD’s recent Child Care Brief.

The number of New Mexico infants and toddlers being served has increased since November. Before universal child care, infants and toddlers made up 29% of the caseload; as of December, under Universal eligibility, they accounted for 38% of new enrollments.

Child care provider capacity in the state is growing. Licensed child care slots have grown nearly 20% since 2019, and continue to increase. New capacity for 4,500 children is currently in the pipeline through a variety of supply-building strategies, including better rates for child care providers, and deployment of the new Child Care Revolving Loan Fund for infrastructure. In the past three months alone, 144 new provider applications have been received by the NMECECD.

Under our administration’s efforts, New Mexico’s critical child care workforce is growing. From 2019 to 2024, the child care workforce grew by 64% (ranking 4th in the U.S.), even as the national child care workforce declined. And increasing quality is a key element of our universal child care policy.

Our administration’s cost projections are realistic and solidly based on historical data. The goal is slow and sustainable growth of child care. We know that not all eligible families will find care immediately, but we’ll get there.

While attending nationwide gatherings of state and education leaders as part of my duties as Lieutenant Governor, I can confirm that New Mexico’s universal child care policy is the envy of every other state. We must continue our bold generational progress for New Mexicans.

While the Trump administration and Congress deepen cuts to federal services and budgets across the board, our state continues to invest, and with bipartisan support. This year’s state budget promises universal child care, free college, better schools and more health care protections. I am proud that New Mexico takes care of its own.

Howie Morales is lieutenant governor of the State of New Mexico.

New Mexico Rep. Jimmy Mason will not seek reelection

Adrian Hedden
-
0
New Mexico Rep. Jimmy Mason will not seek reelection

Alex Ross
El Rito Media
aross@elritomedia.com

State Rep. Jimmy Mason (R-66) of Artesia announced Monday that he will not run for reelection later this year.

Mason, whose district includes parts of Chaves, Eddy and Lea counties, revealed his plans in a post on his Facebook page, but insisted that he will finish out his current term, which ends Dec. 31, 2026.

New Mexico state representatives serve two-year terms. Mason was first elected in 2022 and reelected in 2024.

New Mexico Rep. Jimmy Mason

Mason was unopposed in the Republican primary and prevailed over Andrew Kennedy, a Libertarian, receiving 81% of the vote in the 2022 General Election. In 2024, Manson was reelected both in the Republican primary and general election without opposition.

He owns clothing store Bennie’s Western Wear, with locations in Artesia and Carlsbad.

“Serving the people of District 66 has been an honor. While I have decided not to run again, my responsibility to the people I represent remains unchanged. I will continue to do the work I was elected to do up to and through the final day of my term,” Mason’s statement read.

In the House Mason is currently the top Republican on the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee and is a member of the House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee.

At least one contender, Trinidad Malone of Artesia, is looking to succeed Mason.

Malone, who confirmed to El Rito Media on Wednesday that he is a Republican, began posting about his candidacy on Jan 18. A military veteran and business owner, Malone wrote in a Jan. 20 Facebook post that he is running for the seat “to gain an inside understanding of how the legislative process works so he can educate and inform others about how government works, what is being pursued, and why civic engagement matters.”

The deadline to file petitions to appear on the ballot in the June 2 Democratic or Republican primary is Feb. 3.

Legislative reporter Alex Ross can be followed on X @alexrosstweets.

Movie filmed in Ruidoso, starring Matthew McConaughey nominated for Academy Award

Michael Smith
-
0
Movie filmed in Ruidoso, starring Matthew McConaughey nominated for Academy Award

Todd Fuqua

Artesia Daily Press

tfuqua@elritomedia.com

A movie filmed in Ruidoso has been nominated for an Academy Award for visual effects.

The film, entitled The Lost Bus, tells the story of school bus driver Kevin McKay, who had to navigate a bus carrying 22 children and their teachers to safety during the Camp Fire, which devastated much of Paradise, California, in 2018.

Directed by Paul Greengrass, The Lost Bus stars Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey as McKay. Filming was done in and around Ruidoso because the area’s landscape resembled the California region where the Camp Fire occurred, according to an account posted on the Discover Ruidoso tourism website. The local scenes were shot in the spring of 2024, before Ruidoso suffered its own devastation from the Salt and South Fork fire.

“Ruidoso’s soaring pines, winding mountain roads, and even parts of Midtown provided the perfect backdrop for several of the film’s most intense scenes,” read the report on discoverruidoso.com. “Additional filming took place in Santa Fe, Española, Truchas, and Glorieta, where New Mexico’s diverse landscapes helped recreate the desperate escape at the heart of the story.”

“It’s awesome and amazing that Ruidoso has a $200 million feature film that’s been nominated,” said Eddie Ryan, film liaison for the Village of Ruidoso. “All it does is show that this is a viable filming community. If it wins, Ruidoso will have an Oscar-winning film under its belt.”

Nominations for the annual film industry awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences were announced Jan. 22. The awards, popularly known as the Oscars, will be presented Sunday, March 15, at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

The ceremony will be televised live on the ABC network and streamed on Hulu starting at 5 p.m. Mountain time.

Besides The Lost Bus, this year’s nominees for Best Achievement in Visual Effects are Avatar: Fire and Ash; F1: The Movie; Jurassic World: Rebirth; and Sinners.

The films were selected for their groundbreaking technical achievements, according to information posted on the Internet Movie Database.

Todd Fuqua is Editor for the Ruidoso News and can be reached at 575-937-0344.

1...353637...254Page 36 of 254