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
On The Job In Los Alamos: At Overlook Park
On the job in Los Alamos this afternoon workers are painting the facilities at the Overlook Park Sports Complex in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
New Mexico State Police Ask For Help Identifying Witnesses Of Shooting In Albuquerque
NMSP News:
ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico State Police (NMSP) is asking for the public’s help with identifying witnesses in a shooting incident in Albuquerque.
NMSP Investigations Bureau agents were called today to take over a shooting investigation from the Albuquerque Police Department.
The shooting incident occurred around 8 p.m., June 15 near the intersection of 20th Street NW and Mountain Road NW during a physical altercation involving several individuals at a protest for the removal of a Spanish Conquistador statue of Onate.
A male individual was shot during the physical altercation and Read More
New Mexico Legislators Weigh Smaller Raises, Less Spending To Balance Budget
Sen. John Arthur Smith
By MICHAEL GERSTEIN
SFNM
State workers would see a drop in their pay raises for fiscal year 2021 and spending for most agencies would be cut significantly under the draft budget overhaul lawmakers began debating Wednesday.
Whittling a record $7.6 billion budget to $7.34 billion — and filling wide spending gaps with cash reserves, pandemic-related aid from the federal government and other measures — is no small task for the New Mexico Legislature as it convenes Thursday for a special session to address a steep decline in projected revenues.
Members of the state House and Read More
NMDOH, NMED Issue Smoke Advisory For Most Of State
NMDOH News:Heinrich Statement On Supreme Court DACA Ruling
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the Trump administration cannot move forward with its plan to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“This ruling is a major relief for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers whose lives have been thrown into turmoil since President Trump ordered an end to DACA.
“While today’s decision is a major victory for our American ideals, the Trump administration’s assault on immigrant communities continues. Read More
New Mexico Flags Lowered To Commemorate Juneteenth, Anniversary Of Ultimate End To Slavery At Sundown Today
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has ordered state flags to half-staff in observance of Juneteenth.
State flags will be flown at half-staff beginning sundown Thursday through sundown Saturday.
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves Jan. 1, 1863, but it was almost 2.5 years later, June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger read the federal orders in Galveston, Texas, informing enslaved people in Texas that they were free. Juneteenth marks that day.
“Juneteenth is a celebration of human dignity and freedom, but it’s also a reminder of the dark Read More
LAPS Parents Provide Feedback About 2020-21 School Year
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools sent a survey to all parents and families June 5 requesting feedback about options being considered for starting school safely in August 2020.
Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus explained that communicating with parents is essential and the data from this survey will be useful in planning for the upcoming school year.
“We greatly appreciate parent engagement and feedback on this important topic,” Steinhaus said. “We hope that CDC and state health guidelines will allow us to return to more normal times. Until then, we are planning to provide the best possible Read More
New Mexico COVID-19 Cases Now At 10,153 With 4 More Deaths And 4,439 Patients Recovered
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials have announced this afternoon 94 additional positive tests for COVID-19.
Los Alamos County remains at 7 cases that have tested positive for COVID-19.
Today’s update includes 4 additional deaths reported in New Mexico related to COVID-19.
The New Mexico Department of Health reported today the most recent cases:
- 13 new cases in Bernalillo County
- 2 new cases in Cibola County
- 5 new cases in Curry County
- 9 new cases in Doña Ana County
- 1 new case in Eddy County
- 1 new case in Lincoln County
- 12 new cases in Luna County
- 20 new cases in McKinley County
- 1
AGU: Utah’s Arches Continue To Whisper Secrets
Nate Richman, field assistant, sets up a nodal seismometer atop a natural stone arch. Photo by Paul Geimer
The top of a natural stone arch with seismometers. Photo by Paul Geimer
AGU News:
Two new studies show what can be learned from a short seismic checkup of natural rock arches and how erosion sculpts some arches—like the iconic Delicate Arch—into shapes that lend added strength.
A study published in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters begins with thorough measurements of vibrations at an arch in Utah, and applies those measurements to glean insights from 17 other arches with minimal Read More
Sen. Sedillo Lopez Self-isolating After COVID Exposure
By JENS GOULD
SFNM
State Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez was self-isolating at her hotel in Santa Fe Thursday after being exposed to a person who tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Sedillo Lopez, D-Albuquerque, said she received a call from the state Department of Health notifying her she had contact with someone who tested positive.
The senator said she was feeling fine and had no symptoms associated with the virus.
She was given permission to travel to Santa Fe for the special legislative session, but isolated in her office at the Capitol and then moved back to her hotel.
“I came to my hotel Read More
Dogs Lifting Spirits Around Los Alamos: Meet Quincy
Quincy is 8 weeks old and is bringing lots of snuggles and kisses to her new family. She’s tiny but thinks she can play with the big dogs. Quincy is a member of the Kristen Martines family and loves lifting spirits all over Los Alamos. Courtesy photo Read More
U.S. Senate Passes Bill For Land & Water Conservation Fund
NMW News:
ALBUQUERUQE — The United States Senate has passed legislation co-sponsored by Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich to fully and fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).
S.3422, the Great American Outdoors Act, would also provide funds to address the maintenance backlog for the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal public land agencies.
“The Senate’s passage of this legislation is a bright spot during an otherwise difficult time, as we are now one step closer to realizing the full potential of the nation’s premier conservation program,” said Mark Allison, executive Read More
LAMC Enacts Strict Measures To Help Keep Community Safe
LAMC Screener Anita Vigil checks Geniece Courtright’s temperature as part of the screening process before entry into the hospital. LAMC Infection Preventionist Joyce Richins, RN, is in the background observing the process. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) began enacting strict measures in March in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
While other communities have seen high numbers of COVID-19 cases in New Mexico and across the nation and world, Los Alamos has seen Read More
Pongratz: ‘These Are The Times That Try Men’s Souls’
By MORRIE PONGRATZ
Former County Councilor
The new year, 2020, has brought forth an oil price war that wrecked the State of New Mexico budget, the COVID-19 virus that threatens our lives, instances of racism that are an affront to our values, and a stock market crash that challenges our financial security.
On the local front we find that radioactive waste put a hold on plans to build housing on DP Road, we’re surprised to learn that the Mari Mac shopping center will be razed and that we’ve once again asked for land from the feds, we see the future of the Family Strengths Network in jeopardy, two mainstays Read More
Los Alamos Small Businesses Need Community Support
Owner Catherine Richmond, right, and employee Sydney Turner are smiling behind their masks. They’re happy to be open again at Seeking Chameleon, 35 Rover Blvd. in White Rock. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
It’s been a tough road for local small businesses. Some, like Bliss and the Reel Deal didn’t make it. Others are struggling.
“So many businesses are barely getting by,” said Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Director Ryn Herrmann. “If we should see another closure, some may not be able to reopen. I’m urging everyone Read More
Offensive Phone Calls Disrupt House Rules Committee
By ROBERT NOTT
JENS GOULD
SFNM
A House committee charged with creating rules for running the special session got an earful Wednesday when some telephone callers into the meeting criticized social protests and uttered racial epithets.
The scene, legislators on both sides of the aisle said, pointed to the challenge of running a nontraditional session of the Legislature.
Members of both political parties expressed outrage at the calls, which effectively ended any effort to take public comment by phone during Wednesday’s meeting of the House Rules and Order of Business Committee at the Roundhouse. Read More
Los Alamos Historical Society Seeks Community Support
Participants in a past historical walking tour. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Summertime is typically the Los Alamos Historical Society’s busy time. Visitors walk through the exhibits at the history museum, participate in the historical walking tours and shop in the museum’s gift shop. COVID-19 changed all that.
The museum is empty, and a lot of its activities and programs moved online. While the Historical Society has adapted to accommodate the state’s public health order; the pandemic has made the organization Read More
Los Alamos Police Blotter: June 10 To June 16, 2020
LAPD News:
The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.
Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.
MARK D. HENINS
June 10 at 11:26 a.m. / Police arrested Mark D. Hennis, 53, of Los Alamos at 2500 Trinity Dr., on an outstanding Municipal Court warrant.
JAMES DANIEL LUJAN
June 11 at 12 a.m. / Police arrested James Daniel Lujan, 59, of Española on 1410 North Paseo De Ornate and charged him with harboring or aiding a felon and bribery/intimidation/retaliation Read More