Heinrich, Butler Introduce Legislation To Help Local Small Businesses Transition To Clean And Efficient Landscaping Equipment
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the co-founder and co-chair of the Bicameral Electrification Caucus, and U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to establish a new federal tax credit to enable local small businesses, including landscaping and lawn care businesses, to transition to zero-emission equipment more easily and without financial burden.
Transitioning to zero-emission, electric landscaping equipment—such Read More
Council Proclaims April 7-13 ‘National Library Week’
From left, Library Youth Services Director Melissa Mackey and Library Manager Gwen Kalavaza accept the proclamation designating April 7-13 2024 as ‘National Library Week in Los Alamos’ from Councilor Suzie Havemann during Tuesday night’s council meeting. Courtesy/LAC
Staff Report:
In a proclamation, Los Alamos County Council designated April 7-13 as “National Library Week in Los Alamos” during its meeting Tuesday night.
Councilor Suzie Havemann read the proclamation:
WHEREAS, libraries offer the opportunity for everyone to connect with others, learn new skills, and pursue their Read More
Jordan: New Mexico Is Right To Hold Out For Higher Prices For Its Most Valuable Commodity
By BILL JORDAN
New Mexico Voices for Children
New Mexico is a land with many valuable assets – from our rich cultural diversity to our stunning physical beauty, to our mineral wealth. These assets belong to us all and while it’s impossible to put a price on some of them – our culture and natural landscape, to be precise – we can and do put a price on our mineral wealth. And that price needs to be fair so that we are all receiving the benefit of the bounty beneath our feet.
That’s why we support State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard’s pause on certain leases on land in the Permian Basin. Commissioner Read More
Stansbury, Chavez-DeRemer, Heinrich Introduce Bill To Support Student Success In Higher Education
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-Ore.) and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Postsecondary Student Success Act, legislation to support evidence-based practices that support student retention, completion, and success in postsecondary education.
Over the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in high school graduation and college enrollment rates, reflecting a concerted effort to expand access to higher education. However, despite these strides, there remains a Read More
Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, Former AG Hector Balderas To Headline Event Commemorating 2nd Anniversary Of Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire
CFFF News:
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — The Coalition for Fire Fund Fairness (CFFF) – a grassroots coalition of victims of the 2022 Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire in Northern New Mexico – today announced that it will host an exclusive screening of the documentary “Mora is Burning,” followed by a panel discussion on the aftermath of the fire and FEMA’s ongoing failures to administer federal relief funds in accordance with state and federal law.
The event will feature remarks from former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas. New Mexico Lt. Gov. Howie Morales will headline the panel discussion, Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Expand Capacity For Abortion Services In New Mexico
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Senate colleagues to introduce the Abortion Care Capacity Enhancement and Support Services (ACCESS) Act.
This legislation would establish a federal grant program for health care organizations to expand their capacity to provide abortion services and additional reproductive care in New Mexico and other states where it remains legal.
Following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, nearly half of all U.S. states have adopted or attempted Read More
Governor Approves Historic $1.3 Billion Budget Boost For Higher Education Initiatives In New Mexico
STATE News:
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- Landmark funding includes tuition-free college, loan repayment programs and enhanced educational opportunities statewide
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SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has approved a record $1.3 billion to support higher education statewide in FY25, a nearly 4% increase from last year that includes expanded funding for proven tuition-free college, loan repayment programs and workforce initiatives.
“Under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s visionary leadership, New Mexico is steadfast in its commitment to fostering accessible and equitable education for all,” Higher Education Read More
New Mexico Businesses Receive State Job Training Funds
F5 Theming plans to use its first-ever JTIP funding to hire and train an art director and a scenic artist to meet current and growing production demand. Courtesy/F5 Theming & Design
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The Job Training Incentive Program Board approved awards to five businesses in March to assist with the workforce training of 70 trainees and two interns, Acting Economic Development Department Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper announced Wednesday.
The Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) is a powerful state tool to assist companies in hiring and training New Mexico residents. Funds become Read More
Heinrich, Kennedy Lead Introduction Of Bipartisan Legislation To Restore Wetlands And Migratory Bird Habitat
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) Wednesday led 10 Senate colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) through 2028.
The legislation would also increase authorized annual funding for the program to $65 million.
NAWCA was originally enacted in 1989 to provide federal matching grants —in partnership with funding from state and local governments, private industry, and non-profit organizations—to Read More
Council Proclaims Friday ‘National Vietnam War Veterans Day In Los Alamos County’
Los Alamos County Councilor Randall Ryti presents a proclamation designating March 29, 2024 as ‘National Vietnam War Veterans Day in Los Alamos County’ to Linda Carol Alt, chapter regent of the Valle Grande Chapter of National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution during Tuesday’s council meeting. Courtesy/LAC
Staff Report:
Los Alamos County Council presented during its meeting Tuesday night a proclamation designating March 29, 2024 as “National Vietnam War Veterans Day in Los Alamos County”.
Councilor Randall Ryti read the proclamation:
WHEREAS, the Vietnam War was officially Read More
New Mexico Economic Development Department Launches Interactive Business Resource Map
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Office has launched a new tool that will connect New Mexicans to business, entrepreneurial, and community resources from across the state, Acting Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper announced today.
New Mexico Economic Development Department Business Resource Map is now live on the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) website.
“At the core of this initiative lies the JEDI office’s unwavering commitment to fostering entrepreneurial growth, by addressing Read More
Heinrich, Luján Urge Senate Leadership To Act Immediately To Lower Prescription Drug Costs
SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a letter to Senate leadership, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) urged Senate leadership for immediate action on reforming pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in an effort to reduce the cost of prescription drugs.
“Immediate action is needed to address these harmful practices by PBMs. Americans deserve and expect protection from inflated prescription drug costs, forced pharmacy closures, formulary manipulation, and barriers to their pharmacy of choice that result from harmful PBM tactics. We cannot sit idly by while patients Read More
County Art In Public Places Board To Meet March 28
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Art in Public Places Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28 in person in Council Chamber in Suite 110 at 1000 Central Avenue, and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda for this meeting here.
Denish: Interesting Matchups In Primary Filings
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
It’s election year. This year all 112 seats in the New Mexico Legislature are up for grabs.
That isn’t totally accurate because 37 of those candidates have no opposition in either the primary or the general. No one else is “grabbing” for those seats.
On the Republican side, nine House seats and nine Senate seats have competitive races. For Democrats there are 15 completive House primaries and 11 competitive primaries on the Senate side.
Competitive primaries are created by numerous factors. This year, there have been a number Read More
Gessing: Land Commissioner Is Right – New Mexico Oil And Gas Boom Will Continue
By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
Recently, Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, after pushing the Legislature for a 25 percent tax hike on New Mexico oil and gas producers made the decision to pull those “highly valuable” tracts of land and not lease them. That decision has raised concerns that her actions may violate her fiduciary responsibility to maximize revenues from the lands under her control.
Garcia Richard told the Albuquerque Journal, “It’s worth it to temporarily forgo the dollars (from leasing immediately) to make billions more in the future by leasing Read More
County Planning & Zoning Commission To Meet March 27
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Planning And Zoning Commission is scheduled to meet 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 27.
The complete agenda packet for this meeting is available here.
This meeting is in person and open to the public. However, for convenience, the following Zoom meeting link and/or telephone call-in numbers may be used for public viewing and participation: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81885706651
Or Telephone: US: +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833
Webinar ID: 818 8570 6651
Agenda:
- CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
- PUBLIC
Robinson: War Veterans Join Public Debate Over Monuments
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
On Indigenous Peoples Day 2020 in broad daylight, a mob of vandals tore down the 154-year-old Soldier’s Monument in the center of Santa Fe Plaza because it was offensive to some Native Americans. Now veterans groups are demanding it be restored.
The destruction followed months of controversy that was notable for its absence of historical fact. Nobody seemed to know the obelisk honored Union soldiers, many of them Hispanic, who died in New Mexico’s two Civil War battles. But there was plenty of vitriol directed at one word that’s been Read More
County Social Services Manager To Present Comprehensive Health Plan Interim Report To Council Tuesday
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Social Services Manager Jessica Strong will present an interim report on the status of the Comprehensive Health Plan at Tuesday’s Council meeting at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave.
The Los Alamos County Council tasked the Los Alamos County Health Council in 2022 to develop a health plan in accordance with New Mexico legislation that would monitor local health and health care, advise on policies that affect health care, facilitate communication, and identify resources to improve health.
At the March 26 Council meeting, Strong will share the findings Read More
New Mexico’s Elections Ranked Number One In Nation
New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver
STATE News:
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- Prestigious Non-Partisan Ranking Measures Election Performance in Each State
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SANTA FE – New Mexico’s elections have been ranked best in the nation by the prestigious Elections Performance Index (EPI), a project of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Election Data and Science Lab described as “a non-partisan, objective measure of U.S. election administration.”
The rankings, released late last week and based on the 2022 midterm elections, use a variety of performance indicators measuring aspects of election Read More
Heinrich Pushes For Action To Tackle Fentanyl Crisis
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) held a press conference with New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, first responders, law enforcement, and a New Mexico resident personally impacted by the fentanyl crisis to highlight the urgent need for action and discuss efforts happening at all levels of government to keep families safe and get deadly fentanyl out of our communities.
Heinrich is leading comprehensive efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic and protect New Mexico communities from fentanyl. Most recently, as Read More
