Gessing: LNG Permit Ban Absurd
By PAUL GESSING
President
New Mexico’s Rio Grande Foundation
What if I told you that one federal government policy could do the following:
-
-
-
-
- Undermine Russia’s war against Ukraine (without the US spending a dime);
- Strengthen economic ties between the US and Asian and European nations;
- Reduce CO2 emissions; and
- Increase US tax revenues and American jobs (including in New Mexico).
-
-
-
The policy I’m referring to is to allow American exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Thanks to American technological prowess the US is producing enough energy not only for itself, but for the world as well.
Sadly, Read More
NMDOT Introduces Work Zone Safety Mascot ‘Zippy’
NMDOT News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has introduced the newest member of the NMDOT team, “Zippy” the roadrunner mascot.
Zippy is dedicated to promoting work zone safety across the State of New Mexico, and will raise awareness around work zone safety, educate drivers and share messages about the importance of staying safe in work zones.
Zippy’s introduction coincides with the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) today, April 15, and the roadrunner educator will be sharing safety messages for the next several months. Zippy will be featured Read More
VIDEO: Heinrich On First Ever Electrify New Mexico Event
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Electrification Caucus, provided a video keynote speech to the first ever Business to Business Electrify New Mexico event hosted last week by Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico.
“Very soon, most of us will power our cars, heat our water, and heat and cool our homes with clean electrons rather than hydrocarbon molecules,” Heinrich said. “This will not only help us meet the moment Read More
Dannemann: A Medical Cost You Didn’t Know About
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Most of us have never heard of independent medical examinations. We might need to know a little more about them.
An independent medical examination (IME) is an exam performed when there is litigation related to a sick or injured person’s medical condition that requires more than the opinion of the treating physician. A doctor is hired – or, if necessary, a few doctors with different specialties – to give an unbiased opinion.
New Mexico workers’ compensation has an unusual system for IMEs. If the parties can’t agree to an IME Read More
Harris: Two New Mexico Political Groups Using Opposite Tactics To Reach Common Goal … Elect Democrats
By LINDA G. HARRIS
Politics Two Ways
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Two New Mexico political groups are using opposite tactics to reach a common goal—elect Democrats. While the West Side Democrats in Albuquerque focuses on personal activism, Blue CD2 New Mexico uses data and remote messaging techniques to reach new voters. Both groups say their specific methods are helping win elections.
The West Side group is led by Dorothy Wilkinson. She spent 28 years teaching in Gallup before retiring to Albuquerque, where she had planned to take it easy. “But 2016 happened,” she said. Her return to activism Read More
New Mexico Economic Development Department Finalizes Energy Transition Act Awards To Four Projects
EDD News:
FARMINGTON — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) has finalized awards from the Energy Transition Economic Development Assistance Fund to four projects that will diversify the economy and create jobs unrelated to fossil fuel development or use.
The 2019 Energy Transition Act (ETA) established a statewide target for investor-owned utilities and rural electric cooperatives to achieve 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and 80 percent by 2040, with accompanying targets for utilities and co-ops to reach zero-carbon resources by 2045 and 2050, respectively.
The Read More
County Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board To Meet April 16
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board (LTAB) will meet at noon Tuesday, April 16 in Room 110 in the County Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.
The agenda is available on the County Website. Read More
Heinrich Cosponsors RETAIN Act To Improve Teacher Pay, Retention, Address Educator Shortage In New Mexico
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is cosponsoring the Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now (RETAIN) Act to address severe nationwide shortages of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impact students from low-income backgrounds and students of color.
The goal of the RETAIN Act is to provide an incentive to retain, rather than just recruit educators to high-need schools.
“Investing in our educator workforce is also an investment in our children and our future economic competitiveness,” Heinrich Read More
FEMA: Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office To Host Hiring Fairs April 29 And May 1, 2024
FEMA News:
SANTA FE — The FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office is hosting two hiring fairs at the end of April and beginning of May for full-time Claims Office staff.
The hiring fairs will help fill full-time positions to support the important mission of processing claims and compensating those impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
Interested individuals are encouraged to attend the hiring fairs to learn more about these opportunities to serve their communities 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 29 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 1 at Santa Fe Higher Education Center, Second Floor (1950 Siringo Read More
Heinrich On Final BLM Rule For Oil & Gas Leasing Reform
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) welcomed Friday’s announcement that the U.S. Department of the Interior has finalized its rule to revise the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) oil and gas leasing regulations to ensure a balanced approach to development, provide a fair return to taxpayers, and help keep drilling activities from conflicting with the protection of important wildlife habitat or cultural sites.
“We are finally providing American taxpayers with a fair return for the development of oil and gas on our public lands,” Read More
County Utilities Board To Hold Regular Session April 17
COUNTY News:
The Board of Public Utilities will hold a regular session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Council Chambers.
The meeting is open to the public.
Members of the public may view proceedings online or attend and provide public comment in person or via Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88515885437.
The complete agenda packet is available online: https://losalamos.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Read More
Secretary Schroer To Embark On Statewide Tour To Promote Department On Aging Initiatives
Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — This spring, New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) Cabinet Secretary Jen Paul Schroer will embark on the first leg of a statewide tour. This tour aims to highlight the department’s initiatives, engage directly with communities, and foster dialogue around aging-related issues across New Mexico.
“I am thrilled to embark on this journey across our state, engaging directly with the communities that our department serves,” Secretary Schroer said. “As New Mexico’s aging population continues to increase, it is Read More
Governors Of New Mexico And Arizona Seek Federal Support To Transform Uranium Mining Cleanup
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs Tuesday called for significant changes in national abandoned uranium mine cleanup policy in a letter to the federal government.
In a letter to Brenda Mallory, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Lujan Grisham and Hobbs request a renewed commitment from the federal government, including a clear point of contact to work with Arizona, New Mexico, and tribal communities to address long-standing uranium contamination on state and private lands. A strategic Read More
LAMC CEO Tracie Stratton Attends ‘Plática On Latino Access To Rural Healthcare’ Hosted By Rep. Leger Fernandez
Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Tracie Stratton, right, attended the ‘Plática On Latino Access To Rural Healthcare’ hosted by U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, left, April 4 in Albuquerque. The event was part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus On The Road series and also featured United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. Courtesy photo
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, left, and United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, center, at the ‘Plática On Latino Access To Rural Healthcare’ April 4 in Albuquerque. Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Read More
Los Alamos Golf Course Pole And Netting Project Scheduled To Begin Week Of April 15
Los Alamos County Golf Course, Courtesy photo
COUNTY News:
Judge Netting Mountain West will begin the Golf Course Pole and Netting Project the week of April 15, pending weather conditions.
This project is scheduled to be completed by early June.
Traffic Impact:
Heavy equipment will be introduced to the site in the first week of the project and remain there until the project is complete. Flaggers will be present to help guide motorists during this transition. Pedestrians on sidewalks will not be affected. Pedestrians who walk the golf course and golfers are asked to avoid the work area and Read More
FOG Asks DOJ To Investigate Rolling Quorum Claim
Foundation for Open Government News:
ALBUQUERQUE –The Foundation for Open Government (FOG) has asked the New Mexico Department of Justice to investigate whether the Bernalillo County Commission violated the Open Meetings Act by engaging in a rolling quorum prior to its April 9, 2024 meeting.
FOG filed the complaint after receiving several calls about a possible violation on its public hotline. The citizen complaints centered on a Commission resolution that would create a search committee to decide how to fill the position of county manager. Current Manager Julie Morgas Baca will Read More
New Mexico Delegation To Host Virtual Q&A Session On Military Service Academy Nominations Process
Congressional Delegation News:
ALBUQUERQUE — At 6 p.m. MT, Thursday, April 18, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury, Teresa Leger Fernández and Gabe Vasquez will host a Virtual Q&A Session for New Mexicans interested in attending a U.S. Military Service Academy.
The conversation is an opportunity for high school students and recent graduates to ask questions about the nomination process for appointment to U.S. Military Service Academies. The New Mexico delegation will be accepting online applications for nominations to enter Read More
Facts About Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Compensation
FEMA News:
The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act states compensation for losses resulting from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire is not considered income for federal, state and local taxes.
Additionally, entitlement programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, welfare programs and other social programs WILL NOT be affected.
Know the facts about Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon claims compensation:
RUMOR: Compensation from the Claims Office is taxable.
FACT: The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act says compensation received from Read More
Unique Documentary Examining ‘Community In Conflict’ Over Internment Camp Marker April 21 At SALA
Internment Camp internee Bill Nishimura at the Santa Fe Internment Camp Marker. Courtesy photo
SALA News:
A unique documentary film examining a “Community in Conflict” will be shown again at SALA Los Alamos Event Center 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at the invitation of SALA members Nancy and John Bartlit.
The event is free. High school students studying New Mexico’s role in WWII history are especially welcome to learn Film Director Claudia Katayanagi’s quest to understand the decades-long controversy over the Santa Fe Internment Camp Marker. Albuquerque Co-Producer Nikki Nojima Louis (whose Read More
UNM-LA Advisory Board Curative Special Meeting April 15
UNM-LA News:
The UNM-Los Alamos Advisory Board will hold a Curative Special Meeting via Zoom at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 15.
During this meeting there will be a vote on the UNM-LA budget, ballot language for a bond in the November 2024 election, as well as the annual adoption of the Advisory Board Bylaws.
Direct questions to UNM-LA by calling 505.662.5919 or emailing unmlainfo@unm.edu. Read More
