NMSOP: Patient-Driven Report Reveals Corporate Takeover Playbook Of Healthcare In New Mexico
NMSOP News:
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- Calls for transparency, accountability and patient-driven solutions to healthcare in New Mexico grow as data reveals dark underside of corporate-driven healthcare
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ALBUQUERQUE – A New Mexico patient advocacy group named Safety Over Profits (NMSOP.org), released a powerful and first-of-its-kind report Monday on the healthcare crisis in New Mexico.
Ezra Spitzer, a patient advocate, explains, “Corporate interests are proposing corporate-driven solutions that harm patients in the name of increasing corporate and insurance profits. This report offers patient-driven Read More
State DoIT Budget Prioritizes Secure Digital Networks
DoIT News:
SANTA FE — The Department of Information Technology’s (DoIT) proposed budget is focused on protecting the state’s digital infrastructure with important cybersecurity measures, expanding the reach and stability of the state’s Public Safety Radio System and securing New Mexico’s information technology systems.
The FY26 $104 million proposed budget will enable DoIT to safeguard digital privacy of New Mexicans and ensure the availability of the government services.
“Our FY26 budget underscores DoIT’s commitment to modernize and transform the state’s digital infrastructure,” Read More
New Mexico Unemployment Rate: 4.3% In October 2024
NMDWS News:
New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in October, up from 4.2 percent in September and up from 4.0 percent the previous year.
The national unemployment rate in October was 4.1 percent, unchanged from September and up from 3.8 percent in October 2023. Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 11,500 jobs, or 1.3 percent, between October 2023 and October 2024.
The majority of gains came from the private sector. The private sector was up 9,000 jobs, or 1.3 percent, while the public sector was up 2,500 jobs, or 1.3 percent. Within the private sector, Read More
Luján: USDA Programs To Strengthen Specialty Crop Sector
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of new programs that will provide $2 billion to support U.S. specialty crop producers.
“Across New Mexico, specialty crop producers provide high-quality, nutritious produce to feed our nation and the world and support our trademark crops from pecans to chile. The Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops and Commodity Storage Assistance programs will Read More
Recap Of LAPS Nov. 12 School Board Meeting
From left, LAPS Superintendent Jennifer Guy, LAPS Liaison for Native American Students and Families Julie Dare and LAPS Native American Student Support Specialist Jovita Mowrer present a resolution in support of Native American Heritage Month, which the school board unanimously adopted at the Nov. 12 meeting. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Board met Nov. 12 in the School Boardroom and on Zoom.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Superintendent Jennifer Guy updated the School Board on the construction timelines for the new Piñon and Chamisa elementary Read More
Los Alamos School Board Selects 2024-25 Student Liaisons
Student liaisons Samuel Carmer and Annie White
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Board recently appointed three new student liaisons for the 2024-2025 school year. Juniors Tevita Funaki, Wrenne Sapp and Zachary Sestric and Los Alamos Middle School eighth graders Jamie Coriz and Liliana Dodge joined seniors Samuel Carmer and Annie White to serve as liaisons.
This is the seventh year that there have been student liaisons and the third year for middle school student liaisons.
Student liaisons Tevita Funaki, Wrenne Sapp and Zachary Sestric
School board student liaisons serve Read More
New Mexico Cultural Affairs Budget Expands Cultural Diversity And Preserves Heritage
NMDCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), has proposed a $48.8 million General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2026, emphasizing its role as the nation’s largest and most diverse state cultural agency.
“This budget is a commitment to safeguarding New Mexico’s identity, supporting our creative economy, and providing world-class educational resources,” Cabinet Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego said. “By investing in our state’s cultural legacy, we invest in the people of New Mexico and ensure that our past informs a vibrant future.”
The request represents a 10% Read More
Saenz: Fiber Optics And Transparency – A Need For Los Alamos (Part 2)
By ALLAN SAENZ
Owner
SALA Event Center and LANet
In Part 1 of my letter, I addressed the sudden proposal for the County to spend nearly $10 million on properties on Diamond Drive without adequate public input or transparency. Today, in Part 2, I focus on another significant item on the County Council’s agenda: the Community Broadband Project.
Unlike the unexpected property purchase, the Community Broadband Project has been in development for over 20 years, with substantial public support. As someone deeply invested in the future of connectivity in Los Alamos, I have actively supported Read More
Robinson: Days Of Mama Lucy Gang & Cowboy Coalition
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
In 1984 New Mexico voters took a turn to the right, sending more moderates and conservatives of both parties to the Legislature. Back then the parties entertained a greater range of ideas.
After voters had spoken, conservatives had a new opportunity to take back the House. Rep. Jerry Sandel, a conservative Democrat from Farmington, became the swing vote that unseated House Speaker Raymond Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, and replaced him with Rep. Gene Samberson, D-Lovington.
Last month, Sandel died at 82 in Farmington, where his family Read More
Dannemann: The Illogic Of Asylum Seeker Detention
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
About once a month, several volunteers from Albuquerque and Santa Fe travel to one of New Mexico’s immigrant detention prisons.
They are from VIDA, Volunteers for Immigrants in Detention Albuquerque (abqvida.org). They go to provide comfort and solace for incarcerated asylum seekers who are mostly abandoned in a prison where conditions are miserable. They are not lawyers and don’t provide legal services.
The VIDA members are part of a coalition seeking to end immigrant detention in New Mexico. There will probably be Read More
New Mexico House Democrats Choose Diverse Leadership
New Mexico House Democrats News:
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- Javier Martínez retains caucus nomination for Speaker; Reps. Szczepanski, Hochman-Vigil and Lara round out leadership team
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SANTA FE – New Mexico House Democrats united Saturday behind a diverse leadership team to steer the caucus for the next two years. Caucus leadership elections came on the heels of a consequential General Election, in which New Mexico voters maintained a strong Democratic majority in the Roundhouse, despite substantial Republican gains nationwide.
Current Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) won the caucus’s nomination Read More
Saenz: Fiber Optics And Transparency – A Need For Los Alamos (Part 1)
By ALLAN SAENZ
Owner
SALA Los Alamos Event Center and Los Alamos Network
This Saturday morning, many of us woke up to some surprising news. Two significant items have suddenly appeared on the agenda for the upcoming County Council meeting, set to be approved with barely any notice. The first is a proposed $9.8 million purchase of three properties on Diamond Drive—a decision that seems to have come out of nowhere.
The second is about the Community Broadband Project, which has been in development for over 20 years and has already consumed millions of taxpayer dollars. Both items are being pushed Read More
Lamborn: NM Should Use Science Of Reading Instruction
By PETER LAMBORN
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
My life changed dramatically at a school meeting during my son’s 4th grade year. This particular meeting was reviewing test results to see how he had progressed over the last three years of special education. In my mind, this child was doing OK but not great at school. However, the test results painted a bleak picture. His scores, relative to his peers, had significantly dropped, with the worst scores related to his reading. I was blindsided.
Sadly, this experience is all too common. I later learned that many New Mexico students are poor readers. Read More
Holsapple: Council Agenda Item Regarding Broadband
By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos
I wrote the Council today (Saturday) to express my objection to the recommended approval of the project (Broadband) without adequate public input and engagement.
The proposed project involves undertaking $35 million in public debt and entering into a business arrangement that will affect the daily lives of businesses and households for decades to come. A Friday afternoon partial document dump with a recommendation for a rubber stamp decision four days later may meet “the letter of the law” but is inappropriate if the County seeks to be perceived as transparent Read More
Senate Democratic Caucus Selects Leaders For New Mexico’s 57th Legislature
New Mexico Senate Democratic Caucus News:
SANTA FE – Members of the New Mexico Senate Democratic Caucus met Saturday to nominate their choice for Senate President Pro Tempore and to select the Senate Majority Leader, Senate Majority Whip and the Senate Majority Caucus Chair.
Senate Democrats chose Sen. Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) as their nominee for Senate President Pro Tempore. The election for Pro Tem will take place in January when the full senate convenes.
“I am honored to have the support of our diverse new Democratic Caucus for President Pro Tempore as we enter what will undoubtedly Read More
Pawlak: A VERY BOND-ILY THANK YOU!
By JOHN PAWLAK
UNM-LA Advisory Board Member
At the last UNM-LA Advisory Board meeting, I was congratulated for the good work done on getting the Bonds passed. Well, I don’t deserve that credit.
The credit goes to our community as a whole, a community that values education and always supports initiatives to improve the high quality of education our students enjoy. And for that, I thank you!
Now, if you voted Yes for the Bonds, I thank you for helping to show the State our county’s commitment to our students. And if you voted No against the Bonds, I thank you for voting. That might sound strange to some, Read More
Los Alamos County Council To Consider Two Key Broadband Agreements For Community Network At Nov. 19 Meeting
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council will review and vote on two key Broadband agreements during its regular meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19.
The agreements will support the design, construction, and operation of the Community Broadband Network (CBN) for Los Alamos County, a major step toward improving broadband infrastructure and connectivity for residents and businesses.
The meeting will be held in person in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave., with a remote option available via Zoom.
This has been a two-year effort, conducted Read More
County Council To Consider Purchase Of Diamond Drive Properties During Nov. 19 Meeting
Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council will consider a potential purchase of three properties at 1183, 1377 and 1399 Diamond Drive during its meeting on Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave.
The proposed purchase, valued at $9.85 million, is intended to advance several Council-adopted strategic priorities to enhance economic vitality and quality of life.
One such strategic priority is to improve access to behavioral, mental and physical health and social services and amenities to address identified issues and promote wellbeing in the region.
Several Read More
New Mexico Early Childhood Education And Care Advisory Council Holds Fifth Meeting Of 2024
ECECD News:
LAS CRUCES — The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) convened its fifth Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Advisory Council of 2024 on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in Las Cruces.
“New Mexico is moving forward several quality initiatives that will continue to transform early childhood education and care in years to come, including a redesign of the state’s child care quality improvement and rating system and the use of actionable school readiness data that will help inform the expansion and enhancement of ECECD programs and services,” ECECD Secretary Read More
Central Asian Officials Learn About New Mexico’s Broadband Expansion Initiatives During Visit To Albuquerque
Representatives from Central Asian countries meeting Friday in Albuquerque with the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) to learn about New Mexico’s broadband expansion and deployment. Courtesy photo
Business News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Representatives from five Central Asian countries visited Albuquerque Friday to meet with members of the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) to learn firsthand about New Mexico’s broadband expansion and deployment.
Twelve entrepreneurs and representatives of organizations encouraging commercial and social entrepreneurship Read More
