Democratic-led Tax Relief Passes House Floor
Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos)
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Today, House Bill 6, which makes three important changes and updates to New Mexico tax rules, passed the House Floor.
HB 6 Sponsors:
…Rep. Christine Chandler (D-Los Alamos);
…Rep. Abbas Akhil (D-Albuquerque);
…Rep. Javier Martinez (D-Albuquerque); and
…Sen. Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe).
House Bill 6 will give direct tax relief and support to individuals and businesses economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am proud to sponsor this bill that supports economic development and is both family Read More
State Provides Los Alamos Retired And Senior Organization 400+ Free Boxes Of Food For Seniors; Disabled Residents
New Mexico Aging and Long Term Services Department has provided the Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization with more than 400 free food boxes for seniors over 60 or those with disabilities. You do not need to be a member or live in Los Alamos. You will be asked to provide your name, address, phone number and birthday, and a staff member will load your box into the vehicle. Call 505.662.8920 to arrange a pick, and free delivery is available in Los Alamos and White Rock. Visit www.losalamosseniorcenter.com to learn more about the free membership and services available. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen/LARSO Read More
Victory Garden On Bathtub Row Opens To Public Saturday
Historical Society News:
The community is invited to visit the new victory garden, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, on the east side of the Hans Bethe House at 1350 Bathtub Row,
Learn about victory gardens in Los Alamos, take home a seedling, a few seeds and get growing. The garden is open to the public daily.
Social distancing and wearing masks will be practiced at this event.
The Los Alamos Historical Society began planning a demonstration victory garden in the fall of 2018. With the support of Enterprise Bank & Trust, Los Alamos Home Improvement – ACE True Value Hardware, Los Alamos Landscaping, Read More
Today Is Juneteenth Marking Emancipation Of Last Remaining Enslaved African Americans In Confederacy
Illustrated print by Thomas Nast depicting life before and after emancipation. Keith Lance/Getty Images
Juneteenth News:
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed.
The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Read More
New Mexico House Democrats Introduce Budget Recovery Framework, Small Business Relief, Public Safety Reforms…
NMLEGIS News:
SANTA FE — At noon, Thursday, the Special Session of the 54th Legislature of the New Mexico House of Representatives gaveled in to address the pressing and urgent needs of the people of New Mexico in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The New Mexico Speaker of the House, Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe), opened the session by addressing all members present, speaking to the unprecedented circumstances New Mexicans are facing and how the Legislature can work to best support the people of the state.
“This truly is a historical and unprecedented moment in the history of this legislative Read More
On The Job In Los Alamos: Varela At Secret City Kitchen
On the job in Los Alamos is Secret City Kitchen owner Jeremy Varela conducting curbside delivery at lunchtime Thursday for a customer waiting in the parking lot outside the restaurant on the UNM-LA campus. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Owner Jeremy Varela explains Thursday that while the UNM-LA campus is closed to the public, Secret City Kitchen inside Building 2 is still in operation offering curbside pick-up and delivery. Order online or over the phone at 505.819.3676. For updated information and to view the menu, visit secretcitykitchen.com. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
State Land Office; Partners Offer Drought Resource Webinars
SLO News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico State Land Office (SLO), in partnership with the Quivira Coalition (QC), the Coalition to Enhance Working Lands (CEWL) and the Western Landowners Alliance (WLA), will offer a three-part webinar series for grazing lessees and agricultural producers with information and resources related to drought management.
The series will focus on New Mexico, but information and resources are relevant to other Southwestern states, and all are welcome to attend.
“New Mexico farmers and ranchers provide an invaluable service to our state, and we want to return the favor Read More
Viola’s Is Open For Takeout!
Viola’s Restaurant is now open for takeout at 1360 Trinity Dr. To place an order, call 505.662.5617. Courtesy/Viola’s Read More
Obituary: Demetrio ‘Tito’ Montoya Feb. 17, 1948 – June 8, 2020
DEMETRIO ‘TITO’ MONTOYA Feb. 17, 1948 – June 8, 2020
On Monday, June 8, 2020, Demetrio “Tito” Montoya passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loved ones at the age of 72.
Born in Santa Fe, NM., raised in Espanola, NM, and was a longtime resident of Albuquerque, NM.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Aurora Montoya.
Tito is survived by his wife, Barbara Montoya of Albuquerque, NM; children, Kendra Van Tiem (Husband Chris) of Rio Rancho, NM, Kelby Laabs of Denver, CO., and his beloved puppies, Victoria and Albert.
He is also survived by Eileen Alarid (sister) and family of Read More
Sign Of The Times Spotted In Local Yard This Morning
A sign of the times spotted this morning in the yard of a residence in White Rock. Photo by Nancy Ann Hibbs Read More
New Mexico State Police Cold Case Unit Makes Arrest In Connection With 2017 Disappearance Of Henry Duran
Sharise Herrera
NMSP News:
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — June 17, 2020, the New Mexico State Police Cold Case Unit arrested Sharise Herrera, 32, of Las Vegas, N.M., on charges stemming from the disappearance of Henry Duran in 2017.
This arrest follows a three-year investigation that started in March of 2017 when Duran was reported missing to the New Mexico State Police Uniform Bureau in Las Vegas.
In late July of 2018, the case turned cold after months of investigation with no new leads.
NMSP Investigations Bureau Agents got a break in the case in mid-December of 2018 when they received information Herrera Read More
NWS: Today’s High Near 80; Tonight’s Low Around 56
The National Weather Service forecasts today’s high in Los Alamos near 80 with patchy smoke in the air and tonight’s low around 56. Courtesy/NWS Read More
Daily Postcard: Tall Delphinium Blooms In Garden
Daily Postcard: Tina Nisoli with a tall delphinium blooming Thursday in a White Rock garden. Photo by Joyce WolffWatered-Down Version Of Election Reform Bill Clears New Mexico Senate Panel
By JENS GOULD
SFNM
A Senate panel significantly watered down a bill late Thursday that aims to streamline the voting-by-mail process if the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing during November’s general election.
Senate Bill 4, which is backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, had proposed to allow county clerks to automatically send mail-in ballots to registered voters without requiring people to request them.
But after a three-hour debate, the Senate Rules Committee voted to strike that provision from the bill. Under the revised bill, people would still need to apply for absentee ballots Read More
Chart 96: COVID-19 In New Mexico June 18
Covid-19 diagnoses in New Mexico. The bars show the number of new diagnoses versus day, and the line shows the seven-day average. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
New Mexico State Legislators Grapple With How Badly Budget Cuts Will Affect Classroom Learning
Sen. Mimi Stewart
By ROBERT NOTT
SFNM
As educators continue to wonder and worry about what school will look like for both them and their students this fall, state legislators began grappling with the reality of how badly budget cuts will affect classroom learning.
The outlook, some said, is not pretty.
The appropriations bill introduced in the House during the first day of a special legislative session proposes a number of cuts to help fill the state’s budgetary gap — including a $44 million-plus hit to the state’s public education funding formula and an across-the-board reduction Read More
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area Summer Operations Canceled
Pajarito Mountain Ski Area remains closed due to ongoing COVID-19 capacity restrictions. Courtesy/PMSA
PAJARITO News:
Pajarito will not be conducting operations this summer due to ongoing COVID-19 capacity restrictions and concerns about being able to cover costs due to these restrictions.
This includes the resorts’ chairlift operations for hiking and downhill mountain biking, as well as the Pajarito Mountain Cafe and retail store.
“We are disappointed to not be able to offer mountain biking and our usual activities,” Pajarito General Manager Tom Long said. “However, even while our Read More
McQuiston: Replacement Cost Value Versus Market Value … What’s The Difference?
By ALLEN McQUISITON
The Jemez Agency
Many homeowners often wonder why the limit on their homeowner’s insurance policy is more than the market value of their home.
In some cases, there can be a drastic difference between what you recently paid for your home versus how much insurance coverage you have. It’s just a way for the insurance company to get more premium, right?
Not quite. Keep in mind that market value and replacement cost value are two completely different things. For instance, a two-story home with 2,000 square feet of living area can have a range of market values contingent on a variety Read More
NM House Starts With A Sputter At Special Session
The House of Representatives began with a sputter at today’s Special Session in Santa Fe. File photo
By MICHAEL GERSTEIN
SFNM
If the world ends with a whimper rather than a bang, the House began Thursday with a sputter.
For hours, Republicans in the state House debated new rules on whether lawmakers should be allowed to vote remotely — a debate that was delayed because of trouble with the webcast, in turn delaying committee hearings scheduled for that afternoon until after representatives’ 6 p.m. dinner.
Complying with state rules on open meetings, lawmakers paused the debate for close Read More
Senate Bill 3 To Provide Financial Help For Small Business Owners Moves To Floor For Debate
Sen. Sander Rue
LEGISLATIVE News:
SFNM
A bill designed to provide financial help for small business owners struggling to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic cleared its first hurdle when the Senate Finance Committee voted 8-4 to move it to the Senate floor for debate.
Senate Bill 3 would invest up to $400 million in Severance Tax Permanent Fund money into a new fund that business owners could draw on for a three-year loan to help them weather financial storms brought on by the COVID-19 threat.
“Our backbone of economic development in this state are these small businesses, our moms and pops … this Read More