Political News

New Mexico Unemployment Rate: 3.9% In February 2024

NMDWS News:

New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in February, down from 4.0 percent in January and up from 3.6 percent in the previous year. The national unemployment rate in February was 3.9 percent, up from 3.7 percent in January and up from 3.6 percent in February 2023.

Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 13,700 jobs, or 1.6 percent, between February 2023 and February 2024. The majority of gains came from the private sector, which was up 6,300 jobs, or 0.9 percent. The public sector was up 7,400 jobs, or 4.0 percent. Within the private sector gains, Read More

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Announces Over $15 Million For 26 New Mexico Projects In Final Appropriations Package

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced that he secured $15,416,195 million for 26 projects across New Mexico in the final appropriations package covering Congressionally Directed Spending funding across three subcommittees.

The projects Sen. Luján secured include investments in flood and fire mitigation, health care access, small business support, and workforce development.

“I’m proud to announce this next tranche of Congressionally Directed Spending projects to address New Mexico’s needs. These investments Read More

Española Mayor Dispels Rumors On Efforts To Solve Homeless Crisis

From the City of Española:

As City of Española Mayor John Ramon Vigil launches bold initives to address homelessness issues in the City, his administration finds itself having to dispel rumors as naysayers on social media undermine what the City is trying to accomplish.

“It’s easy to get people to agree that something needs to be done to address homeless issues when you have a group of decision makers in a meeting,”  Vigil said, adding that “the challenge is to implement real solutions that help the unhoused population, while also understanding and respecting the impact any solution may have Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Releases Quarterly Performance Assessment Highlighting Achievements, Enforcement Actions

NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) released the second quarter (Q2) performance assessment for fiscal year 2024 (FY24) that offers the public, stakeholders, and legislators the opportunity to track the department’s progress in protecting public health and the environment between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023. The assessment also provides insights on budget and staffing challenges impacting performance.

Second-quarter accomplishments highlighted include: 

  • Adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars and Advanced Clean Trucks rules by the Environmental Improvement
Read More

New Mexico Child Care & Education Association Celebrates Historic Tax Package Signing

NMCCEA News:

New Mexico Child Care & Education Association (NMCCEA) celebrated the recent signing of the Tax Package, which includes a Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) deduction.

This deduction marks a significant victory for families reliant on childcare assistance, as well as for the private businesses that provide these essential services.

The GRT deduction is a monumental achievement that will reverberate positively throughout New Mexico. By lifting the burden of GRT payments from families reliant on childcare assistance, this policy shift not only eases financial strain but also
Read More

Heinrich, Stansbury, Chavez-Deremer Introduce Bill To Support Student Success In Higher Education

Congressional News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M) and Lori Chavez-Deremer (R-Ore.) introduced on Wednesday the Postsecondary Student Success Act, legislation to support evidence-based practices that support student retention, completion, and success in postsecondary education.

Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in high school graduation and college enrollment rates, reflecting a concerted effort to expand access to higher education. However, despite these strides, there Read More

Transportation Board Meeting Update For March 7, 2024

By DAVID HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos Transportation Board

At our last Transportation Board meeting, March, 7, 2024, we started with a presentation and public comment on the Bathtub Row Reconstruction Project. This project will begin at Central and curve around Bathtub Row and Juniper Street to 15th Street, improving vehicle, pedestrian, ADA, and utilities conditions. Additional options for improvements to adjacent areas will be provided to Council for consideration.

The next presentation was on new Median Design Standards, which will be piloted on Canyon Road before being extended to Diamond Read More

NM Congressional Delegation Welcomes Funding For Semiconductor Projects In New Mexico

Congressional News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) have welcomed an announcement of historic federal funding of up to $8.5 billion to expand American semiconductor manufacturing, including in New Mexico.

This new funding is made possible by an agreement between Intel and the U.S. Department of Commerce. It will support 700 manufacturing jobs and 1,000 construction jobs in the state.

This investment was secured through Read More

LANL To WIPP First To Ship March 25, 1999

Truck with TRUPACTs leaving LANL on March 25, 1999 to begin the historic 315 mile journey to WIPP … the first of many thousands. Courtesy LANL

By STANLEY (STAN) KOSIEWICZ
Special Projects Manager

LANL Retiree, Class of 2005

  • Remembering First Shipment To WIPP On 25th Anniversary

Many Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) personnel worked together to make the first shipment to open the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) a reality. They designed a commemorative T-shirt that states, “As a team we made it happen.” Figure 1 Only a small fraction of the team them is named in this article. My technical Read More

Women Of Los Alamos County Manager’s Office Celebrate International Women’s Day

The women of the Los Alamos County Manager’s Office thank all the hardworking women in the Los Alamos County government for their passion and dedication to public service. ‘We appreciate everything you do … Happy International Women’s Day!’ From left, Senior Visual Information Sara Canfield, Deputy County Manager Linda Matteson, Public Information Officer Julie Williams-Hill, County Manager Anne Laurent, Executive Assistant Jackie Salazar, Human Resources Manager Mary Tapia, Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule, Senior Visual Information Specialist Jane Mathews. Not pictured Read More

Heinrich To Host Virtual Press Conference Friday Highlighting Need For Immediate Action On Fentanyl Crisis

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — At 9:40 a.m. Friday, March 22, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) will host a virtual press conference with New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, first responders, law enforcement and a New Mexico resident personally impacted by the fentanyl crisis to highlight the need for action and discuss efforts happening at all levels of government to keep families safe and get deadly fentanyl out of our communities.

Registration is required.

U.S. Sen. Heinrich will be joined by:

  • Attorney General Raúl Torrez
  • Chief Jeremy Story, Las Cruces
Read More

Los Alamos Field Office Finds No Impact To Floodplain From Waterline & Fiber Optic Cable Proposed Along N.M. 4

LANL News:

The National Nuclear Security Administration Los Alamos Field Office has determined there would be no long-term impacts to the floodplain as a result of projects to install a new waterline and fiber optic conduit and cable along N.M. 4.

The field office has issued a statement of finding for two projects by two separate proponents in Los Alamos County. Portions of the project are located on Department of Energy property.

One project is the construction and operation of a new water supply line within the right-of-way of N.M. 4 by Los Alamos County’s Department of Public Utilities.

The Read More

County ESB To Hold Hybrid Meeting Thursday

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) will meet  at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21 in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. and virtually on Zoom.

This meeting is open to the public.

Find the agenda to this meeting here.

Find the Zoom link to this meeting here. Read More

Dannemann: Nine Stealth City Elections

By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
©2024 New Mexico News Services

Nine municipal governments around New Mexico held local elections a couple of weeks ago. If you didn’t know anything about this, you’re in good company.

For these municipalities, according to the Secretary of State, there were a total of 122,035 eligible voters. Of those, 9,785 voted. That is 8.02%.

In the off-year consolidated local elections last November, the average turnout was about 20%, or two and a half times as much as this turnout. The municipalities that held elections in March were Artesia, Clovis, Española, Read More

DOE And Triad Receive NEPA Clearance To Deploy Atmospheric Monitoring Equipment In Maryland

DOE News:

The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and Triad National Security, LLC (Triad), the operating contractor for Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), are planning to deploy atmospheric monitoring equipment to support the Coast-Urban-Rural Atmospheric Gradient Experiment (CoURAGE).

DOE and Triad conduct atmospheric and environmental research and monitoring activities by deploying mobile facilities and equipment (including weather balloons) for one-to two-year campaigns at locations throughout the U.S. This project will characterize the extent, radiative Read More

More Than 450 Acres Of Piles Burned In Valles Caldera

A member of the NPS Pueblo Parks Fire Crew burns piles on South Mountain. Photo by B. Bolser/NPS

VCNP News:

JEMEZ SPRINGS – With winter concluding, the National Park Service has completed its prescribed pile burning in Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP) for the season.

These burns are part of a prescribed burn project to reduce material left from previous forest thinning work.

Over the past three months, fire crews successfully burned piles across 297 acres on South Mountain and 162 acres in Sulphur Canyon, totaling 459 acres of successful fuel reduction in the park.

Fire crews are monitoring Read More

House Committee Advances SCREENS For Cancer Act

Molly Guthrie

Healthcare News:

Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, has  commended members of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for passing the Screening for Communities to Receive Early and Equitable Needed Services (SCREENS) for Cancer Act, an important step in the legislation becoming law. 

Approved by the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions in December 2023, the legislation awaits approval by the full U.S. Senate and House, along with President Joe Biden’s signature, to become law.

The SCREENS for Cancer Read More

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Votes For Appropriations Bill, Secures $11.8 Million For New Mexico Projects

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández voted for H.Res. 1061, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 to prevent a government shutdown.

This bill funds several government agencies through Sept. 30, 2024, helps New Mexicans with the high cost of living, invests in affordable housing, protects women’s rights, combats the climate crisis, and honors our commitment to our veterans. It also includes numerous provisions and funding for community projects that Congresswoman Leger Fernández secured.

“This bipartisan compromise is a Read More

Mayor Tim Keller Visits Northern New Mexico College

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller signs an MOU between the City of Albuquerque and Northern New Mexico College as NNMC President Hector Balderas, left, and Regent Ruben Archuleta look on. Courtesy/NNMC

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller brought city leaders to visit Northern New Mexico College Feb. 23, from left, NNMC President Hector Balderas, Board of Regents President Michael Martin, Vice President Erica Rita Velarde, Regent Rubin Archuleta, Mayor Keller and NNMC Foundation Board President Alfred Herrera. Courtesy/NNMC

NNMC News:

ESPAÑOLA — Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller brought city leaders Read More

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