State

Bataan Survivors’ Stories Entered Into Library of Congress

U.S. SENATE News:
 
ALBUQUERQUEIn partnership with the office of Sen. Tom Udall and The Oasis Veterans History Project in New Mexico, New Mexico PBS has been asked to submit the unedited footage of interviews conducted for the television program BATAAN: A 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION, for inclusion into the permanent collection at the Library of Congress.
 
As a companion to the documentary TRAGEDY OF BATAAN, New Mexico PBS produced the program BATAAN: A 70TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION, with survivors of the surrender of Bataan.
 
New Mexico PBS recorded 1 1/2 hours of
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President Signs Katie Sepich Bill Into Law

President Barack Obama. Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall reported that today President Barack Obama signed the Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2012 into law.
 
Katie’s Law will expand DNA collection efforts from serious criminal offenders in order to save lives, solve crimes and prevent future tragedies from occurring at the hands of repeat offenders.
 
The bill was named for a New Mexico State University graduate student who was brutally raped and murdered in 2003.
 
Because New Mexico did not collect DNA from
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LWVLA and AAUW Host Annual Legislative Preview

Annual legislative preview in Fuller Lodge Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com

LWVLA News:

Some 50 people turned out for the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos and the American Association of University Women’s annual legislative preview in Fuller Lodge Wednesday, Jan. 9.

Los Alamos legislators including Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard and Senators Carlos Cisneros and Richard Martinez shared their views on the upcoming session.

Also, Dick Mason of Health Action New Mexico and Marcela Diaz of Somos Un Pueblo Unido addressed issues of health care and immigrant concerns. Read More

Community Invited to UNM-LA Dedication of Jeannette O. Wallace Lecture Hall Sunday

Courtesy/UNM-LA

UNM-LA News:

The community is invited to pay tribute to the memory of longtime Legislator Jeannette O. Wallace from 12:30-2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13 in room 505 (Building 5) at UNM-Los Alamos.

In honor of her long service to the Los Alamos community and tireless commitment to education, the faculty and staff of UNM-Los Alamos are privileged to dedicate UNM-LA’s newest lecture hall in her name. The dedication will take place at 1 p.m.

The long time community leader died from illness in April 2011. She was serving her 11th term as a New Mexico State Representative, which she had won at Read More

Former Bernalillo County Corrections Officer Sentenced for Civil Rights Violations

FBI News:

WASHINGTON—Demetrio Juan Gonzales, 40, a former corrections officer at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for violating the civil rights of an individual in his custody when he struck and choked the victim in the shower room/dress-out area of MDC. Gonzales pleaded guilty in October 2012.

According to court documents, during the early morning hours of December 21, 2011, Gonzales was assigned to the Receiving-Discharge-Transfer Read More

New Mexico in Focus Features Udall, Martinez

Host/Commentator Gene Grant

NMiF News:

With a new Congress assembling in Washington, D.C. and the upcoming legislative session in Santa Fe, this week NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS talks to key leaders.

• U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., just four years into his first term, is now the senior senator from New Mexico. NMiF producer Matt Grubs speaks with Udall about the fiscal cliff’s real cost to middle class taxpayers and the battle the senator is leading to reform the filibuster in the Senate.

• New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is already making news with the announcement that she’ll accept a federal offer to expand Read More

Luján Appointed Chief Deputy Whip

Ben Ray Luján

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District was appointed Chief Deputy Whip today for the 113 Congress by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer.

“I look forward to this new opportunity to work with Whip Hoyer and assist in House Democrats’ efforts to promote an agenda that creates jobs and opportunities for the American people,” Luján said. “Whip Hoyer’s efforts have led to a unified and strong Democratic Caucus, and I am excited to work closely with my colleagues to build a united front on policies that will lead to a stronger economy Read More

Senators Introduce Rules Resolution to Restore Senate Debate and Accountability

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) introduced on Thursday a resolution to enact meaningful Senate rules reforms that would end filibuster abuse and restore debate to the chamber.
 
In accordance with Article 1, section 5 of the Constitution, a majority of senators have the power to adopt or amend the operating rules of the chamber at the beginning of a new Congress, a procedure known as the Constitutional Option.
 
Earlier on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced the Senate will remain in the
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NMDOT Distict Five Honors Outstanding Employees

2012 Supervisor of the Year Kenny Gallegos has been directly involved in Los Alamos projects. Courtesy/NMDOT

NMDOT News:

  • NMDOT District Five Employees Honored

SANTA FE—NMDOT District Five has selected and honored the following employees for their outstanding achievements and contributions in the fourth quarter of 2012:

  • Rick Fernandez, Civil Engineer Technician-Advanced, Chama Project Office, has been named “Employee of the Fourth Quarter.”
  • Annette Trujillo, Assistant Supervisor, Pojoaque Project Office, has been named “Supervisor of the Fourth Quarter.”
  • Mallery Martinez, Bernadette
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Hazardous Fuels Treatment in Forest Begins Jan. 8

SNFN News:

The Santa Fe National Forest Fire Management plans a 20-acre hazardous fuels treatment on the Forest for January and February.

Santa Fe Watershed, Espanola Ranger District:

  • Approximately 20 acres of piles are to be treated at any point in time in the Santa Fe Watershed from Tuesday, Jan. 8 through the end of February, if conditions are favorable;
  • The pile burn location is approximately six miles east of Santa Fe, one mile east of McClure Reservoir;
  • The pile burn is expected to take place while snow is on the ground, which will help keep smoke levels low;
  • Smoke from the burning activities
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