Now You Know Oct. 16, 2026

SkyFiesta brings high-speed excitement to Las Cruces

High-speed air racing, spectacular aerobatics and family entertainment will fill the skies at Las Cruces International Airport on Saturday, Oct. 17, during SkyFiesta 2026.

The aviation celebration features Sport Class air racers reaching speeds exceeding 350 mph, along with aerial demonstrations, opportunities to meet pilots and get close to aircraft, interactive STEM exhibits, live entertainment and food vendors. Gates open at 10 a.m., with air racing and airshow performances beginning at approximately 11 a.m.

Free parking and shuttle service will be available from the Southern New Mexico State Fairgrounds. Tickets and additional information are available at www.skyfiesta.org.

Tax Department grants extensions for flood-harmed taxpayers

The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department on Monday granted extensions to individuals and businesses harmed by flooding in September.

The department is also waiving penalty and interest on the extended tax deadlines. This marks the first use of a new authority granted by House Bill 291 from the 2026 legislative session, which allows the department to waive interest when extensions are issued for good cause, such as natural disasters. Previously, state law prevented penalties from accruing, but interest was due when the department granted an extension.

Extensions include the following tax programs with due dates after Sept. 30, 2026:

For gross receipts tax, compensating tax, withholding taxes, oil and gas taxes, combined fuel tax and other excise taxes:

New due date: Jan. 25, 2027

Original due dates: Oct. 26, 2026; Nov. 25, 2026; and Dec. 28, 2026

For personal income tax

New due date: Jan. 15, 2027

Original and previously extended due dates: Oct. 15, 2026

For estimated payments of income taxes

New due date: Jan. 15, 2027

Original due date: Oct. 15, 2026

Taxpayers can request the extension by submitting form TRD-41432, Disaster Relief Extension Notification, to the department via email or mail. Taxpayers can request the extension before filing or after receiving a notice for late payment penalties and interest.

Taxpayers can also request a longer extension by submitting Form RPD-41096, Extension of Time to File.

Both forms can be found online at www.tax.newmexico.gov, under the Forms and Publications page, subfolder “Extensions.”

Taxpayers can email completed forms to tax.extension@tax.nm.gov or mail forms to P.O. Box 630, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0630.

For more information on disaster relief extensions, see department bulletins 100.49 and 100.43, found online at www.tax.newmexico.gov, under the Forms and Publications page, subfolder “Publications” then “Bulletins.”

Train collision claims young girl’s life

A 9-year-old Las Cruces girl died early Tuesday morning after being struck by a BNSF train near the intersection of south Main Street and Conway Avenue.
 Shortly after 2 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, Las Cruces police and fire were dispatched to the railroad tracks near Conway Avenue where the young girl, later identified as Nancy Harvey, was found deceased.
 Initial information from the investigation indicates the girl, who was autistic, wandered from her residence on the 200 block of Conway Avenue. Nancy Harvey’s family reported her missing shortly before she was found deceased near the tracks.
The southbound BNSF train came to a stop after the collision.
The investigation is ongoing.

Southwest New Mexico Walk to End Alzheimer's

Loved ones, caregivers and supporters of New Mexicans living with Alzheimer’s disease will come together Saturday morning, Oct. 24, for the Southwest Regional New Mexico Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Las Cruces.

One of seven Alzheimer’s Association of New Mexico Walks to End Alzheimer’s in 2026, the Walk in Las Cruces will raise funds to provide essential services to families and support research to find a cure. The Walk has a fundraising goal of $65,000. Collectively, the seven New Mexico Walks have a target of $546,000.

There are 46,000 New Mexicans among more than 7.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s, the sixth-leading cause of death and the only leading disease without a prevention or cure.

The proceeds from the Walks are the primary source of funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of New Mexico, enabling it to continue to provide the information, programs and services for those who receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, as well as services for their family and caregivers. All of those services are provided at no charge.

Walks also support research to find a cure. The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s leading non-profit funder of Alzheimer’s research. Currently, it is funding 1,220 projects with over $490 million in 59 countries on six continents.

Registration for the Southwest Regional Walk to End Alzheimer’s opens at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Pat and Lou Sisbarro Community Park, 3205 Arrowhead Dr., Las Cruces.

To register, volunteer or make a donation to any of the seven New Mexico Walks to End Alzheimer’s, go to www.alz.org/walk. For more information, contact Anthony Casaus at ancasaus@alz.org or 575-644-4379.

Great Pumpkin candy drop
From high in the sky, a Great Pumpkin will drop free candy.
The City of Las Cruces, Friends of the Community and Weaver’s Welding will conduct the Annual Great Pumpkin Candy Drop! The event begins 11 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 25, at Maag Field, 1700 E. Hadley Ave. 
The candy drop happens at 1 p.m. The event will include an afternoon of music, information booths, games, and goodies. There will not be a drop for children 1 to 4 years old. Children in this age group will be given a goody bag and can participate in all the free fun activities. 
If you wish to donate candy, call Weaver’s Welding at (575) 524-2990.