State

Leger Fernández Statement On Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act

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U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández spoke on the House Floor recently in support of the Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act.

“Last week, I was approached by someone who was there when the Community Services Block Grants first started. He told me that my father worked tirelessly to secure funds so the state of New Mexico could match this new program. He referred to him as the conscience of the state Senate. My father knew that these funds would make a real impact in the lives of New Mexicans. 

And he was right. It has made a difference. Read More

New Mexico Leaders Meet Taipei Officials In Albuquerque

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Front row from left, Rep. Joy Garratt, Deputy Director David Chen, Rep. Patricia Roybal Caballero and Rep. Debra Sariñana. Back row from left, Sen. Linda Lopez, Sen. Bill Tallman, Officer Jack Jheng, Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, Sen. Harold Pope, Rep. Christine Trujillo, Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty and Commissioner Walt Benson. Courtesy photo

From left, Rep. Roybal Caballero, Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, Mayor Tim Keller, Deputy Director David Chen and Officer Jack Jheng. Courtesy/NMDP

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexican Read More

Dark Sky Star Party At Fort Union Saturday May 28

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A sky full of stars and the Milky Way grace the heavens above the adobe ruins at Fort Union. Photo by Harun Mehmedinovic

Fort Union National Monument News:

WATROUS: Fort Union National Monument announces the first Dark Sky program of the season, beginning Saturday May 28. The solitude, remoteness, and arid landscapes of Fort Union National Monument make it an ideal place for observing a natural dark sky.

After sunset, the sky over the high prairie gives way to the glow of celestial bodies unaffected by the artificial light of distant communities. Immerse yourself in the culture and science Read More

New Mexico To Deliver $2.3 Million In Food Assistance For More Than 39,000 Students For COVID-Related Absences

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HSD News:

SANTA FE — Families for around 39,520 New Mexico school-aged students grade level K-12 will receive benefits May 22, to reimburse them for free and reduced-price school meals missed due to COVID-related absences.

Approximately $2,384,826 in Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) will be issued to cover meals K-12 students missed in December 2021 and January 2022, after schools returned to in-person learning. The issuance amount is $7.10 per day the child was absent from school due to COVID.

Beginning May 24, parents and guardians will be able to check whether their child Read More

ECECD Launches NM Infant Formula Support Network

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ECECD News:

SANTA FE — In response to a nationwide infant formula shortage, the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) launched the NM Infant Formula Support Network, a new Facebook group that establishes a space for New Mexico parents and caregivers to crowdsource access to formula and other nutritional supports for their babies.

“Although New Mexico is not experiencing as acute a shortage as some states, parents who rely on formula for their children are understandably anxious,” ECECD Cabinet Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky said. “To help parents find the formula Read More

Luján Introduces Legislation To Reduce Animal Testing

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U.S. Sen. Ben Ray

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– This week, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) introduced The Reducing Animal Testing (RAT) Act to remove the requirement for animal studies in the approval specific biosimilar drug applications.

This change reduces unnecessary animal testing, maintains patient safety, and reduces regulatory burdens of bringing lower cost, biosimilar drugs to market.

Robust scientific evidence states that animal models do not provide necessary information in the determination of safety and effectiveness for biosimilar drugs. The legislation would Read More

Cerro Pelado Fire: Zero New Growth, 75% Contained

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USDA Forest Service News:

Crews fighting the Cerro Pelado Fire burning in the Jemez Mountains encountered strong winds and low relative humidity for the second day in a row Friday and remained successful in keeping the fire within its perimeter.

The most active fire behavior Friday was deep in the interior in large areas of dead and down trees.

Today’s weather brings cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity, which will moderate fire behavior. Winds are expected to be lighter, around 8-13 mph with gusts up to 20 mph after 1 p.m. today. The potential for fire activity still exists as fuels Read More

AG Balderas: Two Home Depot Shoplifters Indicted

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AG News:

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced indictments Friday for organized retail crime (ORC) defendants Michael Arnold and Jayden Wheeler.

Beginning in December 2021, Arnold and Wheeler brazenly shoplifted nearly $10,000 in hardware, including chainsaws and drill sets, from an Albuquerque westside Home Depot in four separate incidents.

Jan. 7, 2022, Arnold displayed a can of mace to deter Home Depot personnel from interfering with their theft. 

Arnold was indicted on 10 counts and Wheeler faces 11 counts including Robbery, Shoplifting and Conspiracy. Read More

Rep. Leger Fernández Responds To U.S. Forest Service Decision To Pause Prescribed Fire Operations

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STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández released the following statement after the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to pause prescribed operations and conduct a 90-day review of protocols: 

“In letters and phone calls, I have pushed the USFS and Chief Forester Moore to investigate the (Las Dispensas) prescribed burn fire that later became the Hermit’s Peak wildfire to examine their protocols. This announcement to pause prescribed burns this fire season is a good first step. We don’t want any other communities to suffer the fate of those in New Mexico.”

Rep. Leger Fernández Read More

New Mexico Department Of Transportation Hosts Public Meeting Webinars On Building Out Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

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NMDOT News:

SANTA FE — The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program was created to provide funding to states to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network.

These historic investments in EV charging infrastructure will put the United States on a path to a nationwide network of 500,000 EV chargers by 2030 and ensure a convenient, reliable, affordable and equitable charging experience for all users.

New Mexico expects to receive approximately $38 million from this program over five years from the Read More