I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The New Mexico Department of Health issued a statement giving the OK for schools to reopen after 16 schools closed because of fears about the H1N1 (or “swine”) flu. From the statement:
Based on new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the New Mexico Department of Health and the New Mexico Public Education Department announced today that school closures in New Mexico are no longer necessary for health reasons. Local school districts will need to decide when and how to best reopen the 16 schools previously closed in Socorro, Deming, Carlsbad, Lordsburg and Veguita due to probable cases of H1N1.
New Mexico has three confirmed cases. Two are in Socorro County and one is in Valencia County. There are also 24 “probable” cases of the H1N1 flu. The cases range from an infant to 57 and are located in nine counties.
“We are providing the best guidance we can with current information from CDC,” said Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil in a statement. “The national investigation into H1N1 is evolving daily. We know it’s challenging for families and schools to change plans, and we are doing our best to give the public information as soon as we have it.”
The new recommendation came after the CDC changed their recommendation on whether or not schools should be closed.
From the CDC’s suggestions:
- School closure is not advised for a suspected or confirmed case of novel influenza A (H1N1) and, in general, is not advised unless there is a magnitude of faculty or student absenteeism that interferes with the school’s ability to function
- Schools that were closed based on previous interim CDC guidance related to this outbreak may reopen
