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High school athletes across the state this week got an injection of hope that there will indeed be games to play this spring after nearly a year of COVID-19 restrictions.
But while the decision makers made clear that could happen – from the Governor announcing the green light on a return to in-person learning on Feb. 8 to the Public Education Department and the New Mexico Activities Association essentially confirming a tentative start date of Feb. 22 for high school sports – there hadn’t been talk about how that could be so within the parameters of the existing public health order.
After all, a return to in-person learning at high schools only solves half the equation for a return to the fields and courts. A public health order remains in place that prohibits mass gatherings like practices and games.
SANTA FE – Luna County is one of three counties that saw an increase in COVID-19 positivity tests this week. The two other counties are Lincoln and Taos. The increase is based on per-capita tests for each county determined by positivity for population.
Luna County is currently as a 15.71 percent positivity rate and must come down to under 5 percent to leave the Red restrictions.
The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map for the two-week period beginning Jan. 27, with seven New Mexico counties at the Yellow Level and one at the Green Level, reflecting an improving overall COVID-19 outlook for the state.
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HIPICO Santa Fe is for sale for 4.96 million. The owners say they are being forced to sell because of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19. (Courtesy HIPICO
SANTA FE – An equestrian center near Santa Fe is up for sale and owners are blaming it on restrictions intended to slow the spread of COVID-19 imposed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
HIPICO Santa Fe, located on South Polo Drive, said in a Monday news release that restrictions imposed by the governor led to the closure of most its operations and the cancellation of events, resulting in a 97% decrease in revenue during 2020. Owners of the property say they would rather not sell it, but they would need investors to keep it going.
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Emmanuel Kuac tries to alter a shot for New Mexico during the Lobos’ 67-51 win over San Jose State on Thursday. The game was played at Dixie State University in St. George, Utah. The Lobos’ Valdir Manuel (22) looks on. (KC Knoop Photography)
Other than the score, one stat more than any others has been reflective of the New Mexico men’s basketball team’s success or failures this year: Points in the paint.
The Lobos (5-8 overall, 1-8 Mountain West) are 5-0 when scoring 40 or more points in the paint and 0-8 when scoring fewer in the paint.
They’ve also had the edge in points in the paint over their opponent in all five wins and lost or tied that category in all eight losses. In both Nevada losses, the Lobos tied in points in the paint scoring, but lost one game with a historically bad free throw shooting performance and the other after allowing nine second-half 3-pointers.
They can come home again. An amendment this week to the state s "COVID-Safe Practices for Intercollegiate Sports" guidelines has opened the door to allow for college sports teams in New…