State, Nation & World

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján Receives Coronavirus Vaccine

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 19, 2020

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján receives his first dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Courtesy photo

From the Office of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:

Washington, D.C. – Following the advice of the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, received the first dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

“This week I was pleased to see that health care workers were the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in our state. As the first New Mexicans receive the coronavirus vaccine, I have a responsibility to lead by example and show my constituents that this Read More

Governor Taps Julie Vargas For New Mexico Supreme Court

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 19, 2020

Judge Julie J. Vargas

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed Julie J. Vargas to the state Supreme Court, closing the vacancy left by the Honorable Justice Judith K. Nakamura, who retired.

“Judge Vargas has demonstrated her quality as a consistent and conscientious jurist,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “She is a fair, trustworthy and thoughtful representative of New Mexico’s judicial system, and I know New Mexico will benefit from her service now as a justice.”

Vargas has served as a judge on the New Mexico Court of Appeals since her election in 2016, reviewing

Data Cross-Checks ‘Find’ 4,926 New Mexico Students

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 19, 2020

NMPED News:

SANTA FE — The Public Education Department announced Friday it has accounted for almost 5,000 of the 12,000-plus New Mexico students who were enrolled in public schools last spring but not this fall and were feared to be outside the educational system.

Most of the 4,926 students are being home-schooled, are enrolled in private or Bureau of Indian Education schools, or have moved out of state. Others switched school districts or withdrew for reasons like pregnancy or to pursue a GED, Deputy Secretaries Katarina Sandoval and Gwen Perea Warniment told the Legislative Education Study Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Fuelwood Permits Expire Dec. 31

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 19, 2020

Fuelwood tags and permits purchased during the 2020 calendar year expire Dec. 31. Courtesy photo

SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) reminds all fuelwood cutters that tags and permits purchased during the 2020 calendar year expire Dec. 31, 2020.

Fuelwood permits for next year will be available for purchase in spring 2021.

If you plan to cut and gather fuelwood on the Santa Fe National Forest, remember to:

Bring your fuelwood permit and tags with you when collecting fuelwood.
Review the Fuelwood Area maps and firewood guide available on the Santa Fe National Forest website

Environment Department COVID-19 Watchlist: Dec. 18

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 19, 2020

NMED News:

The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has updated its daily Rapid Response COVID-19 Watchlist, which includes New Mexico places of employment that have had two or more rapid responses in the last 14 days.

There are 188 establishments on the Watchlist.

The current Rapid Response COVID-19 Watchlist and closure list, which includes all establishments that have been required to close, are posted here.

The state initiates a rapid response when it learns of a positive COVID-19 case in a workplace. The state agency initiating the rapid response will offer direction to establishments Read More

New Mexico Insurance Office: Vaccinations Must Be Free

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2020

State Insurance Superintendent Russell Toal

OSI News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has directed all health insurers operating in the state to cover COVID-19 vaccinations and related services at no cost to a patient.

“Costs must not be a barrier to getting a COVID-19 vaccine,” Superintendent Russell Toal said. “Having a number of safe and effective vaccines available marks a turning point in the fight against this deadly virus – but a vaccine is only effective if people can afford to get vaccinated.”

Every major medical plan must cover any costs associated Read More

Los Alamos County Ice Rink Closed Until Further Notice

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2020

COUNTY News:

The Dec. 16, 2020 amended Public Health Order concerning COVID-19 identified ice rinks as close-contact recreational facilities that must remain closed while the county is in “Red” status.

Because of this amended Public Health Order, the Los Alamos County Ice Rink will remain closed until further notice. Read More

Chart 279: COVID-19 In New Mexico Dec. 18, 2020

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2020

The bars in this chart show the number of COVID-19 diagnoses in Los Alamos County versus date, and the line shows the seven-day average. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-Naim

Heinrich On Massive Cyberattack On U.S. Government

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 18, 2020

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the extensive cyberattack that breached the networks of U.S. federal agencies and private companies:

“The scale and complexity of this cyberattack should have us all alarmed.

“We need a whole-of-government approach with engagement between the private and public sectors to provide a full accounting of what happened and deter future cyberattacks.

“Given the Read More