Political News

NNMP Calls For AG Probe Of RCLC Audit Findings

NNMP Vice President David Neal, right, speaks to Santa Fe County Manager Katherine Miller at a February RCLC meeting in Pojoaque. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

 
By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Officers of the non-profit group Northern New Mexico Protecting Land, Water Rights also known as NNM Protects (NNMP) has formally asked Attorney General Hector Balderas to conduct a criminal investigation of the findings of “three recent audits” involving the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC), Andrea Romero Consulting, Inc., JLH Read More

Special County Council Meeting Set For Sept. 6

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Council will meet in Special Session on Thursday, Sept. 6 regarding the findings of the Adams+Crow report titled “Independent Investigation of Improper Use of Public Funds by the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities,” which was released last week. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers and will be streamed live as well as broadcast on PAC-8.

Prior to the meeting, County staff will be preparing a response to the Adams+Crow report, which will be sent to the Council to review no later than Tuesday, Aug. 28. The Council will review the Adams+Crow report Read More

O’Leary And Chrobocinski: Attorney General Should Complete Los Alamos County Investigation

Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary

 
By Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary, and
Former County Councilor James Chrobocinski

In late February, we read about alleged financial improprieties involving the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) in the Santa Fe New Mexican. As sitting County Councilors, we were aware that Los Alamos County has provided close to $1 million to support this organization since its inception about 10 years ago.

Former County Councilor James Chrobocinski

Los Alamos County has served as the RCLC fiscal agent and our County Council has had Read More

Former RCLC Executive Director Andrea Romero Issues Statement On Recent Audit And Investigation Results

Former RCLC Executive Director Andrea Romero

Staff Report

Democratic nominee for House Dist. 46 and former executive director of the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities (RCLC) Saturday issued a statement regarding the results of a recent audit by the office of State Auditor Wayne Johnson and an investigative report from the law firm of Adams+Crow, which was commissioned by the Los Alamos County Council.

In an email accompanying the statement, Romero said since the controversy over the RCLC began, there have been a lot of assumptions and finger-pointing, particularly in the media.

“I Read More

Democrats Host Campaign Headquarters Grand Opening

The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County held the grand opening Sunday of their new campaign headquarters at 1362 Trinity Dr. Suite B (between Subway and Viola’s). State and local candidates were on hand to talk with voters. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Michael Vigil, candidate for Supreme Court Judge, with candidates for Intermediate Appellate Court Judge from left, Megan Duffy, Kristina Bogartus and Jacqueline Medina. The Democratic candidates for all five Appellate Court positions are women. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
 
Los Alamos
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Johnson Designates ‘High Risk Pool’ Agency For Audit

State Auditor Wayne Johnson
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE State Auditor Wayne Johnson Tuesday designated the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool (NMMIP) for a special audit going back five years to 2013. Johnson says the public deserves transparency from government entities like the insurance pool.
 
“I am deeply concerned with the Board’s lack of responsiveness regarding the requirement that it comply with the Audit Act,” says Johnson’s letter designating the Agency for audit.
 
The Office of the State Auditor wrote to the Pool in April 2017 asking for documentation demonstrating
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Lunch With A Leader Features Geospatial And Population Studies Expert Robert Rhatigan

Robert Rhatigan

LWVLA News:

The League of Women Voters’ community event , Lunch with a Leader, is moving from the library to a new venue this month – The United Church at 2525 Canyon Road (between Canyon and Rose across from the Aquatic Center).

This month’s Lunch with a Leader is 11:45 a.m., Aug 21 in Graves Hall at the church. There is parking all around the church and  Atomic City Transit Bus #3 stops right outside the church on Rose Street.

The speaker is Robert Rhatigan from the Geospatial and Population Studies group at UNM. Originally from New York City, he moved here with his wife Allyson Read More

Luján Sends Bi-Partisan Letter Calling For House Hearing On Radiation Exposure Compensation Act

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03) sent a bi-partisan letter calling on the House Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing to examine the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
 
Earlier this year, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Eligibility Requirements for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program to Ensure all Downwinders Receive Coverage.” Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), Tina Cordova with the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, and Jonathan Nez, Vice President
Read More

Independent Investigative Report Released On County Role In Regional Coalition Funds Fiasco

Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess, right, and Deputy County Manager Steve Lynn at a Regional Coalition of LANL Communities meeting in Espanola earlier this year. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

 

MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

A 38-page investigative report with hundreds of pages of back-up documentation was released Thursday to Los Alamos County officials by the law firm of Adams + Crow. The law firm was hired by the County in March as a result of an ethics investigation request made by Councilor Susan O’Leary and former Councilor Read More

Shin: My Answers To Important Questions

By LISA SHIN
Republican candidate
House Dist. 43

Below are my answers to important questions posed during the Sandoval County Primary Election (link).

In your own words, what would you say is the biggest issue facing New Mexico today?

New Mexico’s child well-being score ranks last in the Nation. When the economy, education, health and community conditions are poor, it is our children who suffer the most. But they are the future, and unless we change direction, their prospects will remain dim.

How can you best serve the constituents of your district?

I support the long-term Read More

Rep. Lujan Grisham Applauds $5.2 Million Grant Awards For New Mexico Head Start And Early Head

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
 
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham:
 
ALBUQUERQUE U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) released the following statement in reaction to two federal grant awards totaling $5.2 million for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in New Mexico.
 
“I welcome this investment in the early education and future of New Mexico’s children and families. Early childhood education has a proven, beneficial impact in boosting graduation rates, increasing earnings, and addressing poverty overall,” Lujan Grisham said. “These Head
Read More

Balderas Joins 22 AG’s Demanding U.S. State Dept. Stop Online Spread Of 3D-Printed Gun Plans

From the Office of the Attorney General:
 
ALBUQUERQUE Attorney General Hector Balderas joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in sending a letter today to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions demanding that the Department of State take immediate action to remove from several websites downloadable plans for 3D-printed guns that were illegally posted online.
 
“These plans put the safety of every New Mexican at risk; especially our children” Balderas said. “It would allow unsafe, untraceable and undetectable guns to easily make
Read More

Judge Grants Los Alamos County Motions To Dismiss Lawsuit Brought By Local Sheriff Candidate Greg White

Greg White, candidate for Los Alamos County Sheriff, appears pro se Friday in First Judicial Court in Santa Fe. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

First Judicial District Judge Greg Shafer announces his ruling Thursday afternoon in Santa Fe. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

 

By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

First Judicial District Judge Greg Shafer Thursday afternoon dismissed all but one element of a case filed against Los Alamos County officials by local sheriff candidate Greg White. The case is mostly related to the County’s Read More

Governor Announces $1.5 Million In Relief Funds

Gov. Susana Martinez
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced $1.5 million in relief funds for Valencia and Santa Fe Counties to aid in recovery efforts following flooding in both counties.
 
The emergency funding provided under the New Mexico Disaster Assistance Program will provide relief through financial and technical assistance for recovery, mitigation and restoration of public infrastructure and operations.
 
“We’re working hand in hand with our local and federal partners to bring every resource available to the table,” Martinez said.
Read More

General Election Campaign Signs Begin To Surface

Political campaign signs are beginning to surface around the community for the Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018 General Election including this stretch of Grand Canyon in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Heinrich, Udall Announce $249K Grant For Native American Language Program

U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. Today U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced that the Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Indian Education Department’s Diné Bizaad & A:shiwi Language Program has received a $249,438 grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
 
The funding will support three years of instruction of both the Navajo (Diné) and Zuni (A:shiwi) languages in APS schools at the elementary and middle school levels.
 
Udall and Heinrich led the effort to include the Native American Language Program as part of the Every
Read More

Head2Head: It Takes Two

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon623@ladailypost.com

This is a new ongoing column on how to civilly disagree without compromising your core beliefs. This doesn’t mean that someone can’t change your mind. It means you don’t have to pretend you believe something you don’t.

I’m uncomfortable with the idea that the best way to handle what appears to be a political and cultural chasm in American society is to just shut up. We learn by opening ourselves to new ideas and exposing our own ideas to scrutiny and debate. How can you understand where someone is coming from if you never talk to

Read More

Former Councilor Mike Wismer Ponders Past

Former Los Alamos County Councilor Mike Wismer visited the Los Alamos Daily Post recently to talk about his eight years on council. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladaily.com

Former Los Alamos County Councilor Mike Wismer spent a couple of hours recently at the Los Alamos Daily Post reminiscing about his eight years on council.

“It’s sort of a magical thing to come back two years later and see some of the things we talked about and envisioned have now come to fruition,” Wismer said. “One of the things that has really blossomed during Read More

Lujan Grisham Cosponsors 3D-Printed Firearm Bill

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) co-sponsored the Untraceable Firearms Act of 2018 (H.R. 6643), which would help prevent felons, domestic abusers, and terrorists, from obtaining 3D-printed “ghost guns” that are untraceable and not subject to the background check system.
 
Ghost guns refer to 3D-printed and do-it-yourself guns that are assembled from parts ordered online.
 
“The State Department’s reckless decision to approve the release of blueprints for 3D-printable firearms
Read More

Regional Coalition Chair Henry Roybal: Inappropriate Reimbursements Should Be Refunded

Regional Coalition of LANL Communities Chair and Santa Fe County Commissioner Henry Roybal at a recent RCLC meeting. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com
 
By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post

Regional Coalition of LANL Chair and Santa Fe County Commissioner Henry Roybal said Wednesday that any inappropriate reimbursements made with RCLC funds should be refunded to the RCLC by those who received them.

Roybal’s comment was made in an interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post in the wake of the release Tuesday of a special audit of the RCLC by the Office Read More

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