State to pay federal extended benefits

ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions says it will extend eligibility for emergency unemployment insurance benefits through Nov. 30.

About 8,000 New Mexico residents are eligible.

Department Secretary Ken Ortiz says the system will be able to pay eligible claimants as soon as Sunday.

Two types of potentially eligible claimants are affected.

The first applies to anyone who has been certifying weekly since June 2. They will be paid on their next weekly certification.

The second affects claimants who stopped certifying in June and may be eligible. They will receive a letter next week directing them how to re-engage benefits.

President Barack Obama signed an extension this month of a federal compensation act, making benefits available to people who exhausted regular unemployment compensation under state law.

Children's museum to host ice cream event

The Santa Fe Children's Museum's signature summer event, Ice Cream Sunday, will take place Aug. 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the museum and to Ice Cream Sunday is only $2.

For 21 years, the museum has celebrated summer by organizing this fundraising event.

In addition to vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream sundaes (with all the toppings) and root beer floats, there will be carnival games such as a cake walk, fishing for prizes, and squirt the rubber ducky.

A great addition to this year's Ice Cream Sunday will be the Physics Bus — a science museum on wheels that tours the country — which is making a special stop at the Children's Museum. The bus itself is a study in science and hands-on experimentation. From its 50-foot, molecule-tipped TV antenna mast to a vegetable-oil-powered engine.

Ragle Park renovations begin Monday

Construction begins Monday at Ragle Park on several improvements, including new irrigation systems, new sports lighting, replacing aging park furniture and playground equipment, new walking trails and sidewalks, and shade pavilions.

The amenities will turn the park into a full youth-oriented sports field facility for baseball that include: one field for Pee Wee league, ages 12 and under; two fields for Willie Mays league, ages 10 and under; one field for Roberto Clemente league, ages 8 and under; and three smaller fields for developmental play for ages 4 to 6.

Beginning Monday the contractor will be installing temporary construction fencing to secure the park perimeters, including parking lots. The park will be closed until practice and league play resumes in 2011. The project is funded with Parks Master Plan Bond funds approved in 2008. Construction is expected to be completed in December.

A BMX course on vacant park land at the southeast end of the park will also be constructed through a joint cooperative venture between Western Summit and the city of Santa Fe.

Two killed in Texas plane crash

MIDLOTHIAN, Texas — Two people died after their small plane crashed in a wooded area after taking off from Mid-Way Regional Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the crash, which occurred Friday night near a rural road.

The plane was described as a single-engine, two-seat tandem aircraft.

No information was immediately released about the identity of the two who were killed.

Midlothian is about 25 miles southwest of Dallas.

-Staff and wire reports