News Flash

Virtual Spring Marathon

The City of Las Cruces Parks & Recreation Department will offer a Virtual Spring Marathon!

This no-cost program is for individuals, or family and friends in groups of five or less. Beginning April 4, leave the winter and COVID blues in the dust and sta...

Parks and Recreation Department Partners Again With NMSU

The City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department and New Mexico State University (NMSU) have again formed a partnership to continue to find ways to strengthen the City’s turf practices and to raise the level of service for our community.

Dr...

City's Industrial Park Gets New Name, Logo

The City of Las Cruces is taking a major move forward to attract new businesses to the city’s industrial park on the West Mesa. At a City Council Work Session on February 22, Senior Real Estate Specialist Cilicia Villegas presented a new name fo...

Las Cruces Public Art Seeks Artist for New Animal Services Center

Las Cruces Public Art (LCPA) seeks an artist or art team to create an outdoor, site-specific, public art sculpture for a facility expansion at the Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley (ASCMV), 3551 Bataan Memorial West. The deadline for applicatio...

Gov. Authorizes Expanded Busines Loan Program, Tax Relief, and Rebate

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, on Wednesday, March 3, signed Senate Bill 1 and Senate Bill 3 into law, a pair of economic measures that earned broad bipartisan support in the Legislature and will deliver additional stimulus and relief for businesses and ind...

Mural Projects Beautifies Alameda Arroyo Multi-Use Trail Tunnel

Colorful landscapes and iconic local symbols now beautify the walls of the Las Cruces Alameda Arroyo multi-use trail tunnel that runs beneath Interstate 25,(between Triviz Drive and Northrise Drive.

The newly painted symbols provide an enjoyable mural art ...

Utilities Cashiers Stations Closed Until March 11

City Hall cashiers and the Cashier station at the East Mesa Customer Service Center will be closed through Wednesday, March 10 and will reopen Thursday, March 11.Payments can still be made in the drop box in the City Hall lobby, and envelopes are availab...

City Council Recap for March 1

The Las Cruces City Council unanimously approved a Resolution establishing a new rates and fee schedule for Las Cruces International Airport at its Monday, March 1, 2021 regularly scheduled meeting.

The new rates and fee schedule will go into effect on Jul...

Sleeve Up Las Cruces

The City of Las Cruces continues its front-line efforts against COVID-19 with a new campaign, unveiled at the Las Cruces Farmers and Crafts Market last weekend. City staff created the “Sleeve Up Las Cruces” campaign to create more awar...

Las Cruces Utilities to Resume Compost Pickup

By Cassie McClure 

Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) has resumed its free residential and commercial distribution of its Class A+ compost, which had been paused due to COVID-19. Residents can receive five buckets per trip, and while they are encouraged t...

Parks and Recreation Closes Under Governer's Red Framework

Because Doña Ana County slipped back to Red-Level restrictions for public spaces due to the pandemic, the City of Las Cruces Parks and Recreation Department must close its aquatics facilities and all recreation centers with no clear date when r...

City Promotes Vaccine Awareness and Assists with Registration

SBA Prioritizes Smallest of Small Businesses in Paycheck Protection Program

The City of Las Cruces Economic Development Department would like to make sure small businesses in Las Cruces have all of the opportunities available to them if they have been impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic. The City of Las Cruces is sharing this infor...

Gov. Lujan Grisham Signs House Bill 11, Delivering $200 Million to N.M. Businesses

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, on Friday, February 26, signed House Bill 11 into law. The bill will deliver $200 million in grants to support New Mexico businesses to ease the hiring or rehiring of employees. 

“New Mexico will continue to ...

City Council to Meet March 1

The Las Cruces City Council will meet via video conference at 1 p.m. Monday, March 1, 2021 for a regularly scheduled meeting.

City Council will consider the approval of a Resolution that could establish a new rates and fee schedule for Las Cruces Internati...

Las Cruces Utilities Internship Program

Looking for a way to afford your Associate’s degree without student loans, with a paid part-time job during school?

Then, have the ability for that turn into a guaranteed full-time job immediately after graduation with a great future? Las Cruces ...

Did Your Trash Day Change? If Yes, So Did Your Recycling Day

By Cassie McClure 

With 24 percent of City residents getting used to a new trash pickup schedule, since the start of January, Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) suggests that customers also register, and re-register if they have previously, for the South ...

Las Cruces Utilities Ready for Growth at the Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park

By Cassie McClure 

The growth of Las Cruces is not only measured in its populations but the success of its businesses.

Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) can support the infrastructure needed for new and established large companies that may find a new home...

Las Cruces Utilities Has A Vital Part in City’s Class 1 ISO Rating

By Cassie McClure 

In December 2020, Las Cruces Fire Department (LCFD) learned that its Insurance Services Office (ISO) Inc. Public Protection Class 1 Rating would remain in effect for the City of Las Cruces (City) for at least another four years....

Real-Life Experience at Las Cruces Utilities for NMSU Graduate Students

By Cassie McClure 

Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) collaborates with New Mexico State University (NMSU) to give their graduate students access to the full scope of what lies beyond the textbooks and laboratories.

For Himali Delanka-Pedige, LCU shows her...

City Requests Responses to "Bicycle Friendly Community" Survey

The City of Las Cruces would like to hear from you about bicycling conditions in the City!  

City planners have recently submitted a “Bicycle Friendly Community” (BFC) application to the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) and ...

Kasandra Gandara Appointed to National Council on Youth, Education and Families

Las Cruces Mayor Pro Tem Kasandra Gandara has been appointed to the National League of Cities (NLC) Council on Youth, Education and Families for 2021.

Kathy Maness, president of the National League of Cities Council, informed Mayor Pro Tem Gandara of her a...

Governor, State Officials to Give COVID-19 Update Thursday, Feb. 25

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and state officials will conduct a fully remote news conference Thursday, February 25 to provide an update on COVID-19 in New Mexico.

WHAT: Remote news conference with state officials.

WHEN: 3:30 p.m. Thursday, February 25.

Please...

Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What's Right for Me or My Loved One?

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library is pleased to offer the second lecture in a series on Death and Dying: Hospice vs. Palliative Care: What's Right for Me or My Loved One?

Hospice and palliative care share many similarities. It can be hard to determ...

Department of Health County Map Update, Feb. 24

The New Mexico Department of Health, on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map for the two-week period beginning February 24, with 19 New Mexico counties at the Yellow Level and six at the Green Level, at ...

City to Host Virtual Meeting for the Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park Master Plan Update

Las Cruces community members have a great opportunity to hear about updates to the Las Cruces Innovation and Industrial Park Master Plan - formerly known as the West Mesa Industrial Park - at 5:30 p.m. March 4.

“This is an exciting time for the C...

Joint Information Center Notes for February 24, 2021

The objective of the Joint Information Center is to streamline communication between local government agencies during the COVID-19 response. Partner organizations include City and Doña Ana County representatives, local hospitals, the New Mexico...

P-EBT food benefits for 246,000 New Mexico children to be extended for school year 2020-2021

New Mexico’s Human Services Department and Public Education Department have partnered to issue another round of Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) to students who qualify for free or reduced meal program and who continue remote or hybr...

Branigan Cultural Center Closed for Facility Improvements

The Branigan Cultural Center will be closed for facility improvements through June 30, 2021.

Improvements including security, electrical, and ceiling upgrades will be completed in stages through the next four months. The updates will improve safety for vis...

Mayor Delivers 2021 State of the City Address

Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima delivered today, Feb. 24, 2021, his 15th annual State of the City Address via video conference.Because of the COVID-19 pandemic this was the first time the Mayor’s State of the City was provided remotely. During...

Benavidez Center Basketball Court Improvements

Benavidez Center Basketball Court reconstruction will begin March 1 and continue through April 1.

The Work will include demolition of the existing 4-inch concrete slab and installation of a new 6-inch concrete slab and goals. Parking spaces near the site m...

Take Out Stem Activities in March

The Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science continues to offer take out activity kits in March.

Kits are free but require reservations. To reserve kits please contact Stephanie Hawkins at shawkins@las-cruces.org. Kits are available while supplies last an...

City Council Recap for February 22

The Las Cruces City Council discussed priority projects and programs that could be included in Capital Improvement Plan and operating budget for City government’s 2022 fiscal year during its Monday, Feb. 22, 2021 Work Session.

No final decisions ...

Science Cafe - Sex in the Modern Era

The Museum of Nature & Science and Sigma Xi present “Science Café – Sex in the Modern Era – The Psychological Science of Human Sexuality,” with guest speakers Sarah Wheat and Angela-Faith Thomas. Join...

March Activities from the Branigan Cultural Center

Enjoy the museum from home through these online programs from the Branigan Cultural Center.

“Culture of Empowerment: Community Roundtable on Multicultural Programing in the Classroom”

5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 3

Hear perspectiv...

Mayor’s State of the City Address will be Wednesday, February 24

Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima will deliver his annual State of the City Address via video conference at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021.The Mayor’s speech will highlight Las Cruces’ accomplishments during the past year and will touch on the goals o...

Las Cruces Utilities: Know Who to Call

By Cassie McClure 

Getting the routine monthly bill for services like trash pickup, natural gas, water, and sewage may be the most interaction a customer may have with Las Cruces Utilities (LCU).

However, there may be other instances where customer...

Las Cruces Minimum Wage to Increase to $10.50 an Hour on January 1

The City of Las Cruces Minimum Wage Ordinance will increase on Jan. 1, 2021, to $10.50 an hour. The wage for tipped employees will be $4.20 an hour, plus any reported tipped wages.

The City’s minimum wage will follow the state of New Mexico&r...

City of Las Cruces Audit Report Released

The Office of the New Mexico State Auditor (OSA) has released a report involving a fraud examination and investigation initiated by the City of Las Cruces.

The report identified serious conflicts of interest and revealed more than $1.8 million in mishandle...

GO Bond Desert Trails Community Park Erosion Control Project to Begin

The General Obligation (GO) Bond rehabilitation of Desert Trails Community Park, 3492 Sonora Springs, is anticipated to start on December 28. Park visitors may see some pre-construction activity but will still have access to the park. Closures may occur ...

Larry Nichols Named to Region XI International Code Council

City of Las Cruces Community Development Director, Larry Nichols, was recently appointed to the Executive Board of Directors for the Region XI International Code Council (ICC). 

The Four Corners Chapter of Region XI includes the states Arizona, Ut...

Vehicle Warm-up Theft Warning, Tips

Las Cruces police remind drivers who warm up their vehicles to refrain from leaving them unattended, as they can be stolen within seconds.

With cooler morning temperatures approaching, many drivers start their vehicles and leave them running for extended p...

City Business Registration Fees to be Reduced in 2021

In a move to help Las Cruces businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Las Cruces City Council on Monday, December 7, approved a 12-month moratorium on collecting the full amount of the city’s business registration fees.

The Council adopted a Resolution...

Additional Funds Available for City of Las Cruces Small Business Continuity Grant Program

The City of Las Cruces has launched a second round of the Las Cruces Small Business Continuity Grant Program to assist Las Cruces businesses and nonprofits who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. The one-time grants of as much as $20,000 for quali...

Las Cruces Utilities Customer May See Trash Collection Day Change

Due to growth and analysis, Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) will be changing the regular solid waste and recycling pick up day for nearly a quarter of Las Cruces residents starting in January 2021.

For those affected by the change in their trash day, a notice w...

New Fees for City Building Permits Go into Effect on November 5

A new fee schedule for all building and inspection permits issued by the City of Las Cruces Community Development Department will go into effect on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020.

New fees will apply to:

1. Administrative fees, including the Technolo...

Avoid Being A Victim of Vehicle Warm-up Theft

Las Cruces police remind drivers who warm up their vehicles to refrain from leaving them unattended as they can be stolen within seconds.

Surveillance video from an Oct. 6 incident on Sombrero Court shows that it took less than 15 seconds for the suspect t...

Fall/Winter Water Restrictions Now in Effect

Citywide spring and summer daytime outdoor watering, from April 1 to September 30, restricted customers from watering during the daytime hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. But, from October 1 to March 31 customers are allowed to water during these hours on their ...

Updated New Mexico COVID-19 cases: Now at 136

New Mexico state health officials on Thursday announced 24 additional positive tests for COVID-19.

Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:

Seven new cases in Bernalillo County:

• A female in her 20s
• A female in her 30s
• A male in his 40s
• A m...

Updated New Mexico COVID-19 cases: Now at 100

Updated New Mexico COVID-19 cases: Now at 100SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Monday announced 17 additional positive tests for COVID-19.Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are:Five new cases in Bern...

City Manager Search Begins

The national search for a new city manager for the City of Las Cruces has officially begun. Well-qualified candidates may apply electronically to The Novak Consulting Group at thenovakconsultinggroup.com.

The application is accessed by selecting the blue &...

Noise Ordinance Input Meeting

The City is asking for public input on changes proposed to the City of Las Cruces Ordinance 1988 that regulates noise throughout the City of Las Cruces. Ordinance 1988, “Noise,” is included in Chapter 19, Offenses and Miscellaneous Pro...