Now You Know, Sept. 11, 2026

Acoustic music

Black Box Theatre, 430 N. Main St. in downtown Las Cruces, continues with its third and final live musical performance of beautiful acoustic music in the three-concert “For the Love of the Black Box Acoustic Music Series” series with a 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13, performance, as singer/songwriter Bree Gordon of Chicago; “Room to Roam” trio, comprised of Bob Hull, Laura Humphreys and Kelly Hoskins; and bluegrass and country touring artists Wil Maring and Robert Bowlin. Visit breegordon.com and wilmaring.com.

Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling BBT at 575-523-1223. Seats will be reserved with a credit card, but payment will be made at the door. A portion of each ticket sale will benefit Mesilla Valley Community of Hope’s "Tents to Rents" fundraising campaign. Visit tentstorents.org and mvcommunityofhope.org.

State investment in affordable senior housing

The City of Las Cruces is moving forward with the acquisition of approximately 6.49 acres in the Royal Crossing Subdivision for the future development of affordable housing, supported by a nearly $2.84 million investment from the State of New Mexico. 

Through an intergovernmental agreement with the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions Office of Housing, the state has made up to $2,837,044 available to the city for the Royal Crossing affordable housing project. The funding is part of a fiscal year 2027 state appropriation supporting housing, affordable housing, transitional housing, homelessness initiatives and housing services statewide. 

The city will use $2,827,044 of the funding to acquire lots 23, 24 and 25 in the Royal Crossing Subdivision, totaling approximately 6.49 acres. The property is intended for the future development of affordable housing targeted to seniors age 55 and older. 

The acquisition represents the first step in a longer development process. Following the purchase, the city will own the property, and Enriched Communities, LLC will serve as the city’s exclusive development partner for an initial three-year period to pursue Low-Income Housing Tax Credits through Housing New Mexico and other financing necessary to develop the property. 

During that three-year period, Enriched Communities is required to submit at least one complete and timely LIHTC application and diligently pursue financing for the project. If sufficient financing is secured, the city and developer would then negotiate the agreements necessary to move the development forward. 

The city council previously pre-committed $4.7 million toward land acquisition and construction of the proposed Royal Crossing affordable housing development in November 2025. 

The Royal Crossing acquisition is part of a broader city strategy to increase the supply and diversity of affordable housing while leveraging local, state and federal resources to bring additional housing investment into Las Cruces.

Holocaust collections

New Mexico State University’s Zuhl Library will host a presentation by Camelia Caton-Garcia, New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum collections archivist, who will present via Zoom to an in-person audience. The event is set for Thursday, Sept. 17, 3-4 p.m.

Guests will hear stories of those who survived in refugee communities in China, Brazil, and England, and later came to New Mexico. Caton-Garcia will discuss how Holocaust history and Jewish life have shaped communities across the state through the individuals and families who rebuilt their lives after immense loss. The presentation will share the stories of neighbors, friends, and community members that give us an intimate connection to history and help build the communities we have today.

Audience members will have a chance to ask questions during a Q&A session at the conclusion of the presentation. The programming event is part of Americans and the Holocaust, a traveling exhibition from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum and American Library Association that examines the motives, pressures and fears that shaped Americans’ responses to Nazism, war and genocide in Europe during the 1930s and 1940s.

Caton-Garcia is the collections manager at the New Mexico Holocaust & Intolerance Museum in Albuquerque where she has helped care for its remarkable collections over the past eight years.

Americans and the Holocaust will be on display at Zuhl Library from Monday, August 24, 2026, to Friday, September 25, 2026.  A series of related special events will be held each Thursday afternoon during the exhibition period. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.

District 3 commission forum

Chaparral will take center stage for civic engagement on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, as residents gather for the Doña Ana County Commission District 3 Candidate Forum at the Betty McKnight Community Center. Confirmed to attend is write-in candidate Julia T. Brown, incumbent District 3 commissioner and independent candidate Susie Kimble and former Democrat representative Willie D. Madrid.

Moderating the forum will be Dr. José Z. García, former Secretary of the New Mexico Higher Education Department, longtime New Mexico State University government professor, political educator, commentator and host of La Politica New Mexico.

Dr. García brings decades of experience in government, higher education, public policy and civic education. His work in Doña Ana County has extended beyond the classroom through political commentary, blogging, community radio and public discussions connecting residents with candidates, elected officials and important issues facing southern New Mexico.

The forum continues a more than two-decade tradition of grassroots civic engagement in Doña Ana County, including the work of the SouthWestOrganizing Project to promote voter education, candidate forums, community participation and opportunities for residents to directly question those seeking public office.

Developing Youth Leaders Academy 2026

More than 2,000 employees work for the City of Las Cruces. With so many employees, there are countless career opportunities for teens to explore. The city is offering the perfect fall break program for teens curious about the wide variety of jobs available.

The City of Las Cruces' Community Engagement Office is inviting students ages 14–18 to register for our Developing Youth Leadership Academy. This year, two exciting pathways will be offered: the City Trades Career Path and the Office & Professional Path.

Not sure which is the best pathway to explore? Teens can participate in both programs and discover all the possibilities available.
The deadline to register is Oct. 2.

City Trades Career Path

When: Oct. 5-9
Time: 8:15 a.m.–noon.
Location: Meet daily at Las Cruces City Hall Lobby (700 N. Main Street) 
Register: Online at the City of Las Cruces website LasCruces.Gov/DevelopingYouthLeaders

City Office & Professional Pathway

When: Oct. 5 - 9
Time: 1-4:30 p.m.
Location: Meet daily at Las Cruces City Hall Lobby (700 N. Main Street) 
Register: Online at the City of Las Cruces website LasCruces.Gov/DevelopingYouthLeaders

Teens can build leadership skills, explore civic careers, and connect with the people who help make Las Cruces a great place to live.

For information, contact Catrina Godinez at (575) 528-3003/TTY 711 or by email at CGodinez@LasCruces.gov.