Congressional Delegation Urges Forest Service To Complete Mineral Withdrawal Process At Upper Pecos Watershed
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) called on the U.S. Forest Service to complete the initial steps of the mineral withdrawal process in the Upper Pecos Watershed.
Completing the initial steps of the mineral withdrawal process for the watershed would safeguard the lands, waters, and way of life in the Pecos from the dangers of future mining and ensure future generations can continue to benefit from this critical Read More
Op-Ed: We Need Doctors. Texas Has Them.
By ELIZABETH HELLER ALLEN
Santa Fe
-
-
-
-
- They need a safe place to practice medicine. We just need to get ‘em here.
-
-
-
For years, New Mexico has been seriously short of virtually all doctors: primary care, pediatricians, dentists, eye doctors, and other specialists … and all the people who help them take care of patients. It can take months to see a specialist and weeks to see a primary care physician, if you can find one. We are short almost 13,000 health care workers to serve our 2.1 million residents. That includes every kind of healthcare worker like EMTs, pharmacists and physical therapists as well as Read More
County Assessor: Amendments To New Mexico Constitution
By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos County Assessor
In the November election just passed, the voters approved two amendments to the New Mexico Constitution that changed the property tax benefits available to New Mexico veterans.
We have received the following guidance from the Property Tax Division of the Department of Finance Administration regarding the implementation of these amendments:
“… [an increase in] the Veteran’s property tax exemption for honorably discharged members of the armed forces and their widows and widowers from $4,000 to $10,000. The amount after 2024 will then be adjusted Read More
County: New Mexico State Road 4 Crossing And Multi-Use Trail Project Public Input Meeting Set For Thursday Dec. 5
COUNTY News:
The community is invited to attend and share thoughts on the New Mexico State Road 4 Crossing and Multi-Use Trail Project at this week’s public input meeting.
The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5 in Fire Station #3 on N.M. 4 in White Rock, as part of the Los Alamos County Transportation Board meeting.
Heinrich Cosponsors Bill To Make Affordable Care Act Premium Tax Credits Permanent, Lower Costs For Families
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Health Care Affordability Act, legislation to make permanent the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage as extended through the Inflation Reduction Act.
The enhanced premium tax credits, which have made health care more affordable and accessible for thousands of New Mexicans, are currently set to expire at the end of 2025. If these credits expire, working families will see a sudden increase in their health insurance Read More
NM Wildlife Federation: 2025 Legislative Session Priorities
JESSE W. DEUBEL
Executive Director
New Mexico Wildlife Federation
It’s hard to believe that 2024 is about to end. It seems like we just wrapped up the 2024 legislative session and now we are only six weeks away from starting the 2025 session.
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) will be working on some very important wildlife-related bills this year.
Our priorities this session include the following:
-
-
-
-
- Reforming the structure of the NM State Game Commission;
- Securing a substantial appropriation to fund the implementation of NM’s Wildlife Corridors Action Plan;
- Expanding the state’s
-
-
-
2024 General Election Results Are Official
COUNTY News:
The State Canvassing Board met Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, and certified the results of the 2024 Primary Election. This is the final step in the multi-step post-election, canvassing and auditing process that ensures accuracy and election results.
The Los Alamos County (LAC) Clerk’s Office has completed the canvassing process and officially certified the results of the 2024 General Election, which was held Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024.
The Canvass Board convened 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. The Board included Phillip Gursky (Democrat), Read More
Dannemann: Culture War Issues Take Time & Understanding
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Some 30 years ago, around a Thanksgiving dinner table, a gentleman in my family stated this opinion: Gay people should not be allowed to be schoolteachers because they wanted to recruit children into their way of life.
The gentleman was then about 50-ish and had never had more than a superficial acquaintance with anyone he knew to be gay. I knew that accusation was a myth that had been debunked long before.
Then his sister dropped the family bombshell. She revealed to her brother that his nephew was gay. The nephew was a bright Read More
Denish: Super Rich Appointees, Politicos Will Set Policy For Ordinary Americans
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Billionaires’ and multi-millionaires’ increasing presence in the Senate and in the Trump Administration? Yes, it’s true.
First up is Sen. Rick Scott of Florida. Scott’s net worth is near $350 million, making him the richest U. S. senator. He made his money in for-profit healthcare when he was CEO of Columbia/HCA hospitals. Part of his legacy at HCA is having to pay the largest Medicare/Medicaid fraud fine in history – $1.7 billion and his forced resignation as CEO.
In Ohio we have Republican Bernie Moreno, who defeated incumbent Read More
Op-Ed: Let’s Use Childcare Assistance To Lift Workers Out Of Poverty Too
By JACOB VIGIL, MSW
Deputy Policy Director
New Mexico Voices for Children
New Mexico has made some significant and historic investments in early childhood – and there is exciting new evidence that those investments are making a huge difference for improved child well-being. In fact, our state’s Childcare Assistance program is very likely one of the factors for why child poverty is so vastly improved in a measurement recently released by the Census Bureau.
When the Census only measures parental income, New Mexico’s child poverty level is distressingly high – 27%, or the worst in the nation. Read More
State Unemployment Insurance Operations Ctr Closed Friday
NMDWS News:
ALBUQUERQUE — All New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ offices, including the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center, will be closed Friday, Nov. 29 as part of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System (www.jobs.state.nm.us) is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customer Service Agents in the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center will be available when business hours resume at 8 a.m., Monday, Dec. 2.
The business hours of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Operations Center are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Read More
County Historic Preservation Advisory Board To Meet Dec. 4
Canceled: Dec. 3, 2024 Personal Board Meeting
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Personal Board meeting scheduled for Dec. 3, 2024, has been canceled.
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez On Celebrating Thanksgiving And Native American Heritage Day
By U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez:
For me, Thanksgiving has always been about family and comunidad. It’s about sharing a deep sense of gratitude and gathering for a delicious meal in the company of loved ones.
I am immensely grateful that my family will once again gather around the table to share this special meal. Everyone is bringing their signature dish, including the red chile to pour over the mashed potatoes — would it be a New Mexican dinner without chile?
This year, I’m feeling extra grateful. Earlier this month, you placed your trust in me and sent me back to Congress to fight for our fellow Read More
New Mexico Environment Department Releases Final Feasibility Study On Strategic Water Supply
Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
-
-
-
-
- Governor’s 50-Year Water Action Plan to develop new water supplies
-
-
-
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) released its final feasibility study for the Strategic Water Supply (SWS), marking a significant milestone in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s groundbreaking initiative in support of the state’s 50-Year Water Action Plan.
“Our 50-Year Water Action Plan protects our drinking water, diversifies our water supply, and strengthens our economy as we face ongoing water challenges,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “This Read More
Stansbury Visits State Of The Heart Recovery Center
Rep. Melanie Stansbury, left, speaks with members Wednesday at State of the Heart Recovery Center. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) toured State of the Heart Recovery Center, a nonprofit focused on treating substance abuse, and spoke on the importance of addressing the addiction crisis in New Mexico.
“Communities in New Mexico are suffering at the hands of addiction,” Rep. Stansbury said. “It’s my duty as a Member of Congress to help address this, and that is why I am committed to working on the federal level as well as partnering with Read More
Los Alamos Local Business Coalition To Host Public Forum
Los Alamos Local Business Coalition News:
The newly-formed Los Alamos Local Business Coalition (LALBC), a collaborative group of business owners and stakeholders dedicated to supporting local businesses, is hosting its first public forum at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, at SALA Event Center, 2551 Central Ave., and online via Zoom.
This inaugural forum will introduce the LALBC to the community and address a pressing local issue: the proposed Diamond Drive property purchase by Los Alamos County. The forum will provide attendees with an opportunity to learn about the coalition’s mission, Read More
New Mexico State Canvass Board Certifies 2024 General Election Results, Orders Automatic Recounts
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s State Canvass Board met today in Santa Fe and unanimously certified the results of the 2024 General Election.
The State Canvass Board is composed of the Governor, Secretary of State and Chief Justice of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
“The 2024 General Election was run with efficiency and integrity by the state’s election administrators and every New Mexican should have the highest level of confidence in these official election results,” said Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. “I want to thank the members of the State Canvass Board for their work this Read More
State Receives $18.6 Million To Keep Homes Warm This Winter
HCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) has announced that it has received $18.6 million of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds to help New Mexicans stay warm and safe during this winter season.
“No New Mexican should have to choose between staying warm and putting food on the table,” said Niki Kozlowski, director of Income Support Division. “This funding ensures that many families with limited income won’t have to make that choice.”
LIHEAP is a federal program administered by the Health Care Authority and currently provides utility assistance Read More
Robinson: Project 2025 & The New Look Of Disaster Recovery
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
In Roswell’s newly opened FEMA office, people who lost homes and vehicles in October flooding and people who are still trying to get the mold and muck out of their living quarters hope the government will help them get back on their feet.
In Ruidoso FEMA ensnared flood and fire victims with red tape. And Northern New Mexico’s fire and flood victims are still waiting for payments.
The nation’s disaster relief agency has its problems, but if you’ve just lost everything, FEMA is your only hope. Now FEMA and the whole mission of disaster recovery Read More
