Senate Strikes Bipartisan Compromise On Driver’s Licenses For All New Mexico Residents
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The Senate Public Affairs Committee (SPAC) passed Senate Bill 653, co-sponsored by Senators Stewart Ingle, R-Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Lea and Roosevelt and John Arthur Smith (D-Dona Ana, Hidalgo, Luna and Sierra, to establish a two-tiered system for the issuance of driver’s licenses and ID cards in New Mexico.
The bill passed by a vote of 5-3.
Under the bill’s proposed amendments to the Motor Vehicle Code, the same licenses that would be given to United States (U.S.) citizens, may be applied for by non-U.S. citizens. These could not be used by federal agencies for official Read More
Senate Passes Bill To Reconcile State’s Accounts
Sen. George Munoz
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Senate Bill 543, which requires the State Treasurer’s Office and the Department of Finance (DFA) to balance the state budget, has unanimously passed the Senate floor.
Bill sponsor Sen. George Munoz, D-Cibola, McKinley and San Juan, said he was not surprised to see this bipartisan bill pass the Senate.
“We have a real serious problem: between $100 million to $175 million dollars have been unaccounted. It’s mind-boggling to me that we are the only state in the country that does not balance our state’s finances,” Munoz said. “We need to stop playing games and Read More
Letter To The Editor: ‘Right-to-Work’ Legislation Not Good For New Mexico
By EDWARD BIRNBAUMFirst, Right to Work (RTW) legislation is misnamed. It should really be called “right-to-a-free ride”, or RFR, because under RFR, non-union workers will still receive all the wages and benefits granted under a union contract WITHOUT paying union dues. If pollsters asked if this is oaky, I suspect that far fewer people would support RFR legislation.
The second argument is that companies won’t consider moving to states without RFR legislation in place. Although one can find reports that agree or disagree with this assertion, and it is an assertion, not a fact, Read More
Unitarian Church Forum Explores Electric Cars
Wally Watts with his electric car. Courtesy photoUCLA News:
The Unitarian Church of Los Alamos invites the public to the latest in the Forum Series, “Electric Car, My Journey, and Separating Fact from Fiction” with Wally Watts.
The talk is 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 15 and open to the public.
Watts has always been intrigued with electric cars since an early age. This forum will discuss his obsession and some history of electric cars.
It will cover what cars are currently available for sale in New Mexico and will attempt to separate fact from the fiction that both sides use to attempt to Read More
Pet Of The Week: Penelope The Dilute Tortie
Penelope the cat. Courtesy/FOS
SHELTER News:
Penelope is a 2-year-old, dilute tortie, shorthaired cat, surrendered due to owner allergies. She is exceptionally friendly and affectionate. Penelope would be love to have an attentive home again, so she can show people affection.
The Los Alamos Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, 505.662.8179, has a great selection of adoptable pets; see the Petfinder website for photos here. For information about volunteering, adopting and donating and learning more about special needs animals and cats and dogs in foster care, visit www.lafos.org Read More
The Paseo: First Invited Artists For 2015 Taos Festival
Artist Paul Santoleri at work. Courtesy photoART News:
TAOS-Five artists are presenting three installation pieces during this year’s The Paseo, which is part of the Taos Fall Arts Festival, Sept. 25-26.
The selection of our Paseo- invited artists is the start of the exciting journey in curating this year’s Paseo. Matt Thomas, founder and director of The Paseo said. “These installation pieces are a fantastic example of what The Paseo is all about. We have local, national, and international artists creating the type of participatory work that The Paseo is known for, including large scale installation, Read More
Many Home-Based Businesses Can Use Simplified Method For Claiming Home Office Deduction
IRS News:
PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service today reminded people with home-based businesses filling out their 2014 federal income tax returns that they can choose a simplified method for claiming the deduction for business use of a home.
This is the seventh in a series of 10 daily IRS tips called the Tax Time Guide. These tips are designed to help taxpayers navigate common tax issues as the April 15 deadline approaches.
In tax year 2012, the most recent year for which figures are available, nearly 3.4 million taxpayers claimed deductions of more than $10 billion for business use of Read More
Santa Fe Opera Guild Presents ‘So, Ya Wanna Be An Opera Singer?’
Largest Storm In Decade Boosts New Mexico Ski Resorts
NMTD News:
The largest storm in a decade blanketed the northern part of New Mexico during the past two weeks, dropping more than six feet of new snow on New Mexico’s ski resorts.
The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is hopeful that the record-setting snowfall will lead to record number spring break visitors to the state’s ski resorts.
“We are excited about the timing of this late season snow to encourage those who have been on-the-fence about picking a Spring Break vacation spot,” NMTD Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Latham said. “All eight of New Mexico’s alpine ski resorts and four Nordic Read More
House Passes Legislation To Streamline Regulations For Ride-Sharing Services
Rep. Monica Youngblood
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday to regulate ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft in New Mexico. HB 272, sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque, passed by a bipartisan 56-8 vote.
The ridesharing services, which were introduced in Albuquerque and Santa Fe over the past year, have expanded safe, reliable transportation options for New Mexicans.
“Ride-sharing services provide a safe ride home,” Youngblood said. “Putting this law on the books will not only expand ridesharing services Read More
Art Students Present Two Events March 14-19
NMSA News:
New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) Dance Department and the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) presents “Making Dance for Playing House,” an interdisciplinary performance installation at 3 p.m., March 14 at CCA’s Munoz Waxmen gallery, 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe.
This event is free and open to the public.
NMSA Dance students will immerse themselves within the Playing House exhibit, created by the family artist team Hillerbrand + Magsamen and installed at the CCA’s Munoz Waxmen gallery.
Using the site-specific choreographic skills they have developed in the Dance Read More
State Senate Passes Bill To Protect Behavioral Health Industry And Clients
Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen
N.M. LEGISLATURE News:
SANTA FE – Thursday, the Senate passed Senate Bill 55 (SB 55) to clarify the definition of Medicaid fraud, and mandate that due process is given to health providers who are accused of Medicaid fraud.
The bill is sponsored by Senate Pro Tempore Mary Kay Papen, D-Dona Ana. Known as a tireless advocate for behavioral health issues, Papen has been especially vocal following the debacle of 2013 in which most of the state’s behavioral health providers were accused of Medicaid fraud and forced out of business without due process by the Department Read More
Los Alamos Police Blotter: March 5 To March 11, 2015
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.
AMY JUSTICE
March 5 at 8:59 a.m. / Police arrested Amy Justice, 43, of Los Alamos at 2500 Trinity Dr., on an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction.
KRYSTI HERNANDEZ
March 5 at 11:51 a.m. / Police arrested Krysti Hernandez, 44, at 2500 Trinity Dr., on an outstanding Magistrate Court warrant.
March 6 at 9:14 a.m. / Police charged a 14-year-old Los Alamos boy on Arkansas Read More
Los Alamos Bombshells Rugby Team Excels In Tournament And Recruits Cheerleaders
Sopahn Kellogg runs for a Try (similar to a touch down in American Football). Photo by Derek Lucero
Danae Nielson successfully hands off the ball following a tackle. Photo by Derek Lucero
STAFF REPORT
The Los Alamos Bombshells girls Rugby Team won four of five games in the High School High Desert Tournament Saturday and took second place against eight teams from throughout New Mexico.
When a competing coach at the tournament commented on the depth of the Los Alamos team this year, LA Bombshell Coach Daniel Sheppard smiled and replied that he had recruited a few cheerleaders … these Read More
Mountain Elementary Student Yunseo Kim Wins DPU/PEEC Water Festival Logo Contest
DPU’s Conservation Coordinator Christine Chavez presents ‘Every Drop Counts’ logo contest winner Yunseo Kim with an award today at the County Municipal Building. Courtesy/LAC
DPU News:
Yunseo Kim, a fourth grade student from Mountain Elementary School was recognized today as the winner of the “Every Drop Counts” logo contest held by the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities and Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC). The contest was open to fourth grade students throughout Los Alamos Public Schools.
Yunseo Kim’s ‘Every Drop Counts’ Read More
New LANB Leaders Visit Los Alamos Kiwanis
LANB CEO/President John GulasJohn Gulas, the new president and chief executive officer of Los Alamos National Bank (LANB), and Rod Pittman, LANB’s new chief administrative officer, visited the Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos March 3, telling the club that the bank is strong and has a good future ahead.
Gulas said, “The bank is doing well.” He added that it is “extremely committed to this community,” and currently has an 86 percent share of the community’s banking business. It will be “here to serve,” he said, as long as he has any say in the matter.
He Read More
Knights Of Columbus Hosts Fish Fry Friday
IHMC News:
The popular Lenten Friday night fish fries hosted by the Los Alamos Knights of Columbus are in full swing again at Karen McLaughlin Hall next to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church on Canyon Road.
The Knights will serve fish with coleslaw, wild rice or fries and dessert with tea, lemonade/limeade, or coffee for $10 for an adult meal and $7 for a kid’s meal. Grilled cheese sandwiches with fries also are available for $7.
The fish fries will run 5-7 p.m. each Friday through April 3. Read More
Skiesta! At Pajarito Mountain All Day Saturday
UNM-LA Advisory Board Raises Tuition 6.3 Percent
In an effort to keep up with rising costs and falling state revenues, the UNM-LA Advisory Board voted unanimously Monday evening to raise the current $69.25 per credit hour tuition for New Mexico residents by 6.3 percent or $4.75. This tuition increase amounts to about $60 per semester for a full-time student. The UNM-LA Advisory Board includes, from left, Chair Stephen Boerigter, Micheline Devaurs, Michele Hall, Michael DiRosa and David Sutton. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
UNM-lA Advisory Board Chair Stephen Boerigter thanks outgoing Board member Linda HullLAPS Board Votes To Submit Pre-Application For State Matching Funds To Build New School
Community members and teachers attend Tuesday’s Regular School Board Meeting. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladialypost.com
Superintendent Gene Schmidt addresses the School Board. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladialypost.comFull details of the Los Alamos Public Schools 20-Year Facilities Plan were laid out at the Feb. 26 Work Session and reported in the Los Alamos Daily Post March 3 (https://ladailypost.comcontent/twenty-year-facilities-study-unveiled-school-board-meeting).
The committee that developed the plan recommended Read More