CHECK ITS WEBSITES FOR NEXT STEPS. THERE ARE NEW CHANGES TO OUR STATE’S SNAP PROGRAM. ALIYAH CHAVEZ REPORTS ON WHAT THESE UPDATES COULD MEAN FOR YOU. NEW FRIDAY THE STATE IS CHANGING HOW CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES ARE VERIFIED WHEN FAMILIES APPLY FOR SNAP OR REPORT CHANGES. AS OF MAY 1ST, NEW MEXICO WILL REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION FOR HOUSING, UTILITY AND DEPENDENT CARE EXPENSES, ALL TO HELP ENSURE SNAP BENEFITS ARE CALCULATED ACCURATELY, STATE OFFICIALS SAY. IF THOSE EXPENSES AREN’T VERIFIED, THEY MAY NOT BE COUNTED, WHICH COULD MEAN SOME FAMILIES RECEIVE LESS ASSISTANCE THAN THEY QUALIFY FOR. HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN USE TO VERIFY HOUSING COSTS A LEASE, MORTGAGE STATEMENTS, HOUSING AGREEMENTS, OR A LETTER FROM YOUR LANDLORD. YOU ALSO NEED TO SHOW UTILITY BILLS AND OTHER RECORDS, LIKE DAYCARE PROVIDER LETTERS. IF YOU’RE ALREADY RECEIVING SNAP, YOU LIKELY WON’T SEE ANY IMMEDIATE CHANGES. MANY OF THESE EXPENSE VERIFICATIONS ARE REVIEWED DURING YOUR RENEWAL PERIOD, ESPECIALLY IF YOUR INFORMATION HAS CHANGED. PEOPLE REALLY SHOULD KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS WELCOME. THE NEW MEXICO FARMERS MARKETING ASSOCIATION IS ALSO OFFERING INCENTIVES TO HELP SNAP CUSTOMERS BUYING LOCALLY GROWN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AT FARMERS MARKETS. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS AT THE FARMERS MARKET. SNAP CUSTOMERS SHOULD FIRST STOP AT THE INFORMATION BOOTH. THERE, THEY’LL BE ASKED HOW MUCH THEY’D LIKE TO USE FROM THEIR SNAP CARD, AND IN RETURN, THEY’LL RECEIVE SPECIAL TOKENS TO SPEND AT THE MARKET. IT BASICALLY GIVES SNAP SHOPPERS 50% OFF THEIR PURCHASE OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES YEAR ROUND. SNAP CUSTOMERS GET THEIR BENEFITS DOUBLED, BUT FROM NOW THROUGH AUGUST 31ST, YOU’LL GET YOUR BENEFIT TRIPLED. IF THEY’RE TAKING $10 OFF THEIR SNAP EBT CARD, THEY WILL GET $30 WORTH OF TOKENS TO SPEND AT THE MARKET, MILLER SAYS. THERE ARE 51 OUTLETS ACROSS NEW MEXICO OFFERING THIS SERVICE, SO JUST GIVE IT A TRY AND AND YOU’LL PROBABLY FALL IN LOVE. ALIYAH CHAVEZ. KOAT. ACTION 7 NEWS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, SNAP RECIPIENTS CAN CONTACT THEIR LOCAL INCOME SUPPORT DIVISION OFFICE OR THEY CAN VISIT YES.NM.GOV. AUTOMATED TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT IS RETURNING TO SANTA FE AS CITY LEADERS LOOK TO CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDING AND AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. THE CITY IS BRINGING BACK ITS TRAFFIC OPERATIONS PROGRAM TO TRACK BOTH SPEED AND NOISE LEVELS. DRIVERS WHO WHO VIOLATE THE RULES WILL RECEIVE CITATIONS IN THE MAIL, INCLUDING FINES UP TO $500 FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE. CREWS WILL CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS ON THE HUMMINGBIRD FIRE IN THE GILA WILDERNESS THAT’S NOW 12% CONTAINED, UP FROM 7%. FIREFIGHTERS ARE MOPPING UP HOT SPOTS NEAR THE WILLOW CREEK SUBDIVISION, WHICH REMAINS UNDER EVACUATION. MORE THAN 5600 ACRES HAVE BURNED. CRISTIANA. ALL RIGHT, WE WAIT THREE HOURS FOR OUR FAVORITE TIME OF THE MORNING AS PETS OF THE WEEK. THIS IS HENRY. HE IS A FOUR YEAR OLD AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG. MIX. LOVES HIS DAILY WALKS IN HUMAN ATTENTION. SO PERFECT FOR HIKING IF YOU WANT TO TAKE HIM OUT. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A LOYAL, LOVING, SLIGHTLY DRAMATIC BEST FRIEND, HENRY IS READY TO MEET YOU AT THE EAST SIDE SHELTER. NEXT UP, WE HAVE JADA, A TEN MONTH OLD DOBERMAN PINSCHER MIX STOP. SHE’S SUPER SWEET AND HAS TONS OF ENERGY, AND SHE WOULD ALSO MAKE A GREAT HIKING COMPANION. YOU CAN MEET HER AT EAST SIDE. I LOVE DOBERMANS, I THINK THEY’RE ACTUALLY THE SWEETEST. THEY ARE. I KNOW, I LOVE THEM. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS SATURDAY MORNING. ACTION 7 NEWS IS GOING TO BE BACK AT FIVE. AND REMEMBER YOU CAN GET THE LATEST NEWSCAST ANYTIME ON THE FREE VER
Historic elementary school in Silver City will get a fresh start
Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who went to Sixth Street School, likes what’s ahead for the building.
The closing of a beloved elementary school with a long history can be sad, but when a public school’s student population shrinks, it’s just a fact of life.Sixth Street Elementary School in Silver City was the first public school building in the New Mexico Territory in 1882, and the last school day there on Friday, May 1, was a bittersweet event, especially for Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who grew up in Silver City.”There was a lot of emotion, but at the same time, a big celebration for this community,” Morales said. “The children were dancing. They were singing, and it really brought out the whole tradition and culture of what Sixth Street Elementary School means: over 140 years of history, of stories, of heartbreak, of perseverance. It was all wrapped up today, and I think the community was very appreciative of the way we were able to close it all in.”Also, there was a silver lining to the closing of this Silver City school, Morales said. Western New Mexico University, which won an award as an Early Childhood Education Center of Excellence, had plans for a new $30 million building near its campus. Instead, with the state’s help, the university will refurbish the Sixth Street School building for $8 million. “What a wonderful opportunity for the community to continue serving the youngest populations within the Silver City area,” said Morales, who went to the school.Other famous students include former Sen. Jeff Bingaman and astronaut Harrison Schmitt.”Even though it did feel like there was a lot of emotion there, there’s a lot of hope because the building is going to be there,” Morales said. “It’s going to be refurbished. It’s going to be utilized in the exact way that we wanted it to be done.”
The closing of a beloved elementary school with a long history can be sad, but when a public school’s student population shrinks, it’s just a fact of life.
Sixth Street Elementary School in Silver City was the first public school building in the New Mexico Territory in 1882, and the last school day there on Friday, May 1, was a bittersweet event, especially for Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who grew up in Silver City.
“There was a lot of emotion, but at the same time, a big celebration for this community,” Morales said. “The children were dancing. They were singing, and it really brought out the whole tradition and culture of what Sixth Street Elementary School means: over 140 years of history, of stories, of heartbreak, of perseverance. It was all wrapped up today, and I think the community was very appreciative of the way we were able to close it all in.”
Also, there was a silver lining to the closing of this Silver City school, Morales said. Western New Mexico University, which won an award as an Early Childhood Education Center of Excellence, had plans for a new $30 million building near its campus. Instead, with the state’s help, the university will refurbish the Sixth Street School building for $8 million.
“What a wonderful opportunity for the community to continue serving the youngest populations within the Silver City area,” said Morales, who went to the school.
Other famous students include former Sen. Jeff Bingaman and astronaut Harrison Schmitt.
“Even though it did feel like there was a lot of emotion there, there’s a lot of hope because the building is going to be there,” Morales said. “It’s going to be refurbished. It’s going to be utilized in the exact way that we wanted it to be done.”
