Political News

State Legislators Give Briefing On 30-Day Session

Rep. Christine Chandler and Sen. Leo Jaramillo discuss the 30-day Legislative Session, which ended Feb. 15, during the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast Feb. 29 at SALA Event Center. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

Participants at the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast Feb. 29 at SALA Event Center. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

The 30-day New Mexico legislative session, which ended Feb. 15, may be primarily for passing the budget and other revenue issues, but a variety Read More

UNM-Los Alamos Advisory Board To Meet March 11

UNM-LA News:

The UNM-Los Alamos Advisory Board will meet 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 11, 2024, in Wallace Hall, Building 5, room 505 on the campus of UNM-Los Alamos.

Agenda items will include administrative reports from members of the UNM-LA executive team.

Direct questions to Sarah Jimenez at 505.662.0334 or sarahjimenez@unm.edu.

Read More

Last Step Completed In Middle DP Road Site Cleanup

Field crews at the Middle DP Road Site excavated and packaged in containers nearly 6,000 cubic yards of debris for shipment to an off-site repository. Restoration at the site also included grading and reseeding. Courtesy/N3B

N3B News:

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) agreed on Feb. 14 that investigation and remediation of soil and debris from legacy operations at the Middle DP Road (MDPR) Site in Los Alamos was complete.

The priority cleanup project was executed by Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B), the legacy cleanup contractor for the Department of Energy Environmental Read More

Heinrich Selects Teacher As His State Of Union Guest

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced Tatiana Del Toro-Frank, Community School Coordinator at MacArthur Elementary School in Las Cruces, N.M. as his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union Address.

Sen. Heinrich selected Del Toro-Frank to recognize her work to bolster New Mexico students’ education, health, and well-being, and also underscore the work that still lies ahead to expand access to early childhood education and increase funding for full-service community schools.

“New Mexico’s kids deserve a future as bright as they are, Read More

Heinrich Releases Report On Taking On Corporate Greed

JEC News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC), and the JEC Democrats released a report titled, “Democrats are Taking on Corporate Greed and Fighting for American Families.”

Data shows that big companies have raked in abnormally high profits, driving up prices. Typically, company profits account for only 13% of price increases. However, between April 2020 and December 2021, company profits accounted for 54% of overall price increases and remained above normal levels through 2022. This was especially Read More

Española Mayor John Ramon Vigil Announces Bold Step Toward Addressing City’s Social Issues

From the Office of the Mayor:

Española – Mayor John Ramon Vigil recently unveiled an ambitious plan to establish a new Department of Social Services in order to tackle pressing issues such as homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and the allocation of the National Opioid Settlement funds within the City budget.

Under general direction of City Manager Eric J. Lujan, this position is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating a comprehensive range of programs and services that impact the quality of life of all City residents in areas including mental health, public health, Read More

LAHS Students Meet With Legislators At Chamber Breakfast

Los Alamos High School students, from left, Asher Koh, Michael Bane, Rep. Christine Chandler, Sen. Leo Jaramillo  and student Brandon Stokes participate in the Chamber Business Breakfast Feb. 29 at SALA Event Center. During the breakfast, Chandler and Jaramillo gave an overview on the recent 30-day legislative session. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
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Cannabis In New Mexico Officially A Billion-Dollar Industry

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced that cannabis sales in New Mexico have topped $1 billion in adult-use and medical sales.

The sales record comes a month prior to the second anniversary of legal adult-use cannabis sales in New Mexico.

Cannabis consumers have purchased more than $678.4 million worth of adult-use cannabis products and $331.6 million in medical products since April 1, 2022. To date, the state has recorded more than 21 million transactions with $75 million in cannabis excise taxes going to the state Read More

Luján Announces $62 Million For 74 New Mexico Projects In First Appropriations Package

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced today that he secured $62,796,064 for 74 projects across New Mexico in the minibus package covering six subcommittees.

The projects Sen. Luján secured funding for include investments in public safety, agriculture, behavioral health services, affordable housing, military installations, and acequia and water infrastructure upgrades.

“Today, I’m proud to announce Congressionally Directed Spending will soon be heading to New Mexico as part of the first package of appropriations bills. Read More

County Transportation Board To Meet March 7

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Transportation Board will meet 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 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 link to this meeting here.

Meeting ID: 813 5706 0773 Read More

New Mexico Becomes Fourth State To Enact Clean Fuel Standards As Governor Signs Legislation

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Tuesday signed House Bill 41, Clean Transportation Fuel Standards, into law. New Mexico is the fourth state in the nation to enact the standards.

HB41 allows producers and importers of low-carbon transportation fuels to generate clean fuel credits to sell to producers and importers of high-carbon transportation fuels. HB41 then directs the emissions of transportation fuels in New Mexico to decrease over time.

“Clean fuel standards not only decrease emissions and move us toward our climate goals, but also diversify Read More

Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation To Expand Access To Affordable Housing, Tackle Homelessness In New Mexico

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Housing for All Act, comprehensive legislation to expand access to affordable housing in New Mexico and supporting those experiencing homelessness.

The bill would invest in proven solutions and provide a historic level of federal funding for strategic, existing programs to keep people housed and reduce homelessness, as well as for innovative, locally developed solutions to help vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness.

“Tackling New Mexico’s affordable housing and homelessness crises Read More

Heinrich Meets With Jennifer Garner, Discusses Successful Work To Secure Funding For WIC, Early Childhood Education

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, & Related Agencies, hosts Jennifer Garner in his Washington, D.C. office to discuss efforts to support women and children in the FY24 Appropriations bill, March 5, 2024. Courtesy/Heinrich Office

From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich: 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, Read More

Canceled: Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meeting

Historic Preservation Advisory Board News:
This is official notice that the Historic Preservation Advisory Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 6, has been canceled due to lack of quorum.
The next scheduled meeting is April 3, 2024 at Room 110 in the Municipal Building and online.
Read More

Governor Signs Public Safety Legislation Into Law

From the Office of the Governor:

ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today signed critical public safety legislation to reduce gun violence and strengthen penalties for violent criminals.  

“This legislation strikes at the heart of issues that are keeping New Mexicans up at night,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We are losing far too many lives when guns get into the wrong hands and violent criminals are allowed to recommit again and again. This legislation addresses both.” 

House Bill 129, Firearm Sale Waiting Period Crimes, establishes a statewide 7-day waiting period for the purchase Read More

Gessing: New Mexico Emergency Laws Still Need Reform

By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation

March 11, 2024, is the fourth anniversary of Gov. Lujan Grisham’s first public health emergency dealing with what was then the start of the COVID 19 pandemic. Although restrictions varied widely throughout the next three years, the public health emergency did not end until March 31, 2023

Under New Mexico’s public health emergency laws governors have wide discretion to make policies unchecked by the Legislature or any other elected body.

Objectively, it is hard to see any significant achievements thanks to the Gov.’s restrictive COVID Read More

Robinson: Ukraine Can Prevail In David And Goliath Fight

By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote

© 2024 New Mexico News Services

As we enter the third year of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson and congressional Republicans are dithering on aid as if the United States will never need allies again. As if Russia is our new best friend. As if he’ll be Speaker forever.

Johnson, a politician and not a military man, has said Ukraine can’t win this war. Gen. Philip Breedlove, former NATO supreme allied commander in Europe, says: “If the West chooses to give Ukraine what they need to win, Ukraine will win this war. This war is going to end exactly how Read More

Council To Hold Closed Session On County Manager Goals

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Council will hold a Closed Session at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 5 in the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.

The purpose of this Closed Session is regarding “NMSA 1978, 10-15-1 (H) (2) Discussion of Limited Personnel Matters – County Manager Goals”.

Find the agenda to this meeting here. Read More

New Mexico Congressional Delegation Welcomes $35 Million+ In Federal Funding For Rural Development

New Mexico Delegation News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), are welcoming over $35 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for rural development projects across New Mexico as part of the Administration’s Investing in America initiative.

“As Chair of the Appropriations Read More

Ahead Of Critical RECA Vote, Luján Announces New Mexico Downwinder As Guest For State Of The Union Address

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of a Senate vote on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, as his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address.

Last year, Sen. Luján led a bipartisan coalition of Senators to pass RECA as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the most significant Congressional action in decades to strengthen the program. Republican leadership ultimately blocked its inclusion in the final Read More

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