New Mexico Land Commissioner Garcia Richard Approves First-Ever Municipal Renewable Energy Utility Leases
Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
From the Office of the Land Commissioner:
…Solar generation sites part of City of Las Cruces ‘Green Initiative’
SANTA FE – In a first-of-its-kind effort, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard today approved four applications for municipal solar energy development from the City of Las Cruces.
The applications with the State Land Office (SLO) will serve as a component of the City’s ‘Green Initiative’, which seeks to put Las Cruces government buildings and public utilities on a path to a renewable energy future.
The four Read More
New Mexico Announces COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility For K-12 Educators, Early Childhood Professionals And Staff
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) announced today that all K-12 educators, early childhood (EC) professionals, and staff will be eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine beginning today, March 8.
In keeping with a White House directive, the state will offer first shots to these groups over an approximately three-week period, as follows:
- Week 1 (beginning today): Educators and EC professionals outside the Albuquerque metro area;
- Week 2 (beginning March 15): Educators and EC professionals within the Albuquerque metro area, likely at a mass vaccination site;
2021 International Women’s Day Celebrating Achievements
Karl Maria Stadler (1888 – nach 1943), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Courtesy/IWD
IWD News:
Today is International Women’s Day (IWD) – a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.
Marked annually March 8, IWD is one of the most important days of the year to:
- Celebrate women’s achievements;
- Raise awareness about women’s equality;
Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey Virtual Presentation On Los Alamos County 2019 YRRS Results March 18
LAPS News:
The community is invited to a virtual presentation 3-4:30 p.m., March 18 from the UNM Prevention Research Center and New Mexico Department of Health about Los Alamos County 2019 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey results.
These virtual meetings are designed for anyone interested in the health of students, including school district staff, students, parents, health professionals and other community members.
Click here to register for the virtual presentation. Once registered for the event, an email will be sent out the day before the presentation with information on how to connect. Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Statement On February Jobs Report
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the February jobs report indicating that the economy added 379,000 jobs last month:
“The February jobs report marks progress toward getting our economy growing again in the right direction, but more work remains to address the economic uncertainty facing American families, help small businesses and mom-and-pop shops recover and rebuild, and provide relief for those most impacted by unemployment like women, Hispanic, Black, and Native Americans. More than 65,000 Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Secures Critical Funding For Veterans In American Rescue Plan Act
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction (MILCON), Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, secured provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act that would provide essential resources to help New Mexico veterans get the health care, employment, and housing support they need during this unprecedented time.
“Veterans in New Mexico are facing unprecedented economic hardships and health concerns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why I fought to make sure that critical provisions Read More
Testing Of Autonomous Vehicles In NM Bill Passes House
Rep. Patty Lundstrom
STATE News:
Santa Fe — House Bill 270, a bipartisan bill authorizing the testing of self-driving vehicles in New Mexico, passed the House of Representatives Saturday.
In order to test autonomous cars on New Mexico roads, HB 270 requires users to notify the New Mexico Department of Transportation of their intent to drive.
In turn, NMDOT will develop its own rules and regulations for autonomous vehicles so those used in the state meet federal standards and operate in compliance with applicable traffic laws. It also allows for “platooning,” or flocking together of autonomous Read More
Manhattan Project National Historical Park Initiates Stakeholder Engagement Process, Seeks Comment
NPS News:
DENVER — The National Park Service (NPS) is initiating a stakeholder engagement process as part of the interpretive planning process for Manhattan Project National Historical Park (Manhattan Project NHP).
The NPS is seeking broad public participation in a series of virtual stakeholder engagement events beginning April.
Members of the communities and nearby cities in each of the three Manhattan Project NHP locations will be engaged in this process, together with other stakeholders who have ties to or interest in the park and its development.
The engagement activities are designed Read More
Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber Announces Bid For Re-election
Alan Webber announces Sunday his bid for re-election as mayor of Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
By ALAN M. WEBBER
Mayor
City of Santa Fe
It’s official — As you may have seen in today’s Santa Fe New Mexican, I’m running for re-election as Mayor of Santa Fe!
When you hired me three years ago, almost to the day, we were all excited about Santa Fe’s future. We started exactly where we said we would: creating new affordable housing and family-friendly programs on the Southside, fixing potholes and medians, and more than doubling our budget reserves from $6 million to $14 million.
And then came COVID-19. Read More
NACo: Federal Public Lands Counties Applaud Direct Aid In The American Rescue Plan Act
NACo News:
WASHINGTON — The National Association of Counties (NACo) Saturday welcomed inclusion of a new program to provide additional direct aid to public lands counties as a part of the American Rescue Plan Act.
Sixty-two percent of America’s counties contain untaxable federal public lands, yet counties are still responsible for providing many services in and around these lands.
The Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund, spearheaded by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), will provide $1.5 billion in direct, flexible aid to public lands counties over the next two years, in addition to the Read More
New Mexico [External Sources]
- New Mexico state senator won't seek second term - KOB 4
- New Mexico couple finds a genie lamp, gets three wishes - KRQE News 13
- FBI warns of threats in New Mexico - KOAT New Mexico
- Wildfire prompts evacuations in Timberon - KOB.com - KOB 4
- Thunderstorms develop Saturday in parts of New Mexico - KRQE News 13
- Chipmunk native to New Mexico could soon be protected by feds as population dwindles - KRQE News 13
