Gibson: Electric Rates – Past, Present And Future
By ROBERT GIBSON
Chair
Board of Public Utilities
The electricity commodity rate (cost per kilowatt-hour) for retail Los Alamos customers was increased 9% last October. It will increase another 9% this July. These hikes seem steep, but are the first since February 2015.
In that time, the most familiar measure of inflation, the consumer price index (CPI), has increased about 34%. Adjusted for inflation, our electric rate will have gone DOWN 16% in that time.
Looking even further back, our electric rates have increased less than inflation at least since 1998.
Electric bills also include a service Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Formally Requests Major Disaster Declaration For New Mexico Wildfires
Figure 1: South Fork / Salt Fire Burn Scar Map as of June 18, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Courtesy/Southwest Area Incident Management Team
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham formally requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in response to the devastating South Fork Fire and Salt Fire, which began on June 17, 2024. The request highlights the urgent need for federal assistance due to the extensive damage and ongoing threats posed by these wildfires.
“Our first responders are heroes, but they need more resources to combat this disaster Read More
NMDWS Prepared To Process Unemployment Insurance Claims Quickly For New Mexico Workers Affected By Wildfire
NMDWS Secretary Sarita Nair
NMDWS News:
ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) is waiting for federal approval and guidance for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) to be offered to workers whose employment has been affected by the Southfork or Salt fires. Individuals may apply for Standard Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits now, a first step in the DUA process.
DUA updates and UI information are available on the NMDWS website https://www.dws.state.nm.us/DUA.
“Our Department is prepared to take Unemployment Insurance claims and help individuals Read More
Sen. Ben Ray Luján Issues Statement On Juneteenth
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement about Juneteenth, which is recognized as a federal holiday after Congressional action in 2021:
“June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas bearing news of freedom. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom in what became known as Juneteenth or Freedom Day. On Juneteenth, we celebrate and commemorate the day on which the last of America’s enslaved learned Read More
New Mexico True Advertising Campaign In San Francisco Market Inspires Nearly 20,000 Trips To Land Of Enchantment
NMTD News:
SANTA FE — According to an advertising effectiveness study commissioned by the New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD), the first New Mexico True advertising campaign in the San Francisco market influenced 19,700 trips to New Mexico and generated an estimated $34.3 million in visitor spending.
The report also estimated that the average spending per trip to New Mexico from the San Francisco equated to roughly $1,700. Overall, the inaugural campaign in the San Francisco market generated a return-on-investment of $52 in visitor spending in New Mexico for every $1 spent on the campaign. Read More
New Mexico Governor Declares State Of Emergency In Lincoln County And Mescalero Apache Reservation Due To South Fork And Salt Wildfires
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency today in Lincoln County and the Mescalero Apache Reservation and deployed additional National Guard to the area in response to the devastating South Fork Fire and Salt Fire.
These wildfires, which ignited yesterday, have damaged more than 500 structures and led to the evacuation of the entire Village of Ruidoso. Further evacuations in nearby communities are possible. The fires have consumed nearly 20,000 acres and are currently 0% contained.
The magnitude of the fires is beyond local control Read More
Heinrich, Collins And Cortez Masto Announce 20 More Senators Cosponsor BUMP Act Since Friday’s Ruling
U.S. SENATE News:’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), are announcing 20 additional senators have cosponsored their Banning Unlawful Machinegun Parts (BUMP) Act since Friday’s ruling by the Supreme Court to overturn a Trump-era rule banning bump stocks—devices designed to inflict the highest number of casualties in the shortest amount of time.
The BUMP Act would statutorily ban the sale of deadly bump stock devices that allow semiautomatic weapons to rapidly fire multiple rounds Read More
Gov. Lujan Grisham Meets With New Mexico Tribal Leaders During 2024 State Summit In Farmington
STATE News:
FARMINGTON – Leadership from New Mexico’s 23 Nations, Tribes and Pueblos met Tuesday with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, cabinet secretaries and state tribal liaisons for the annual State Tribal Leader Summit.
“The summit provides a valuable opportunity for us to engage in meaningful conversations about issues that matter most to the New Mexicans who hail from our 23 Nations, Tribes and Pueblos,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “I’m thankful to join hands with fellow leaders as we strengthen our bonds and unite to enrich the lives of all within our state.”
Established Read More
Unemployment Insurance Operations Center Closed Wednesday In Observance Of Juneteenth
NMDWS News:
ALBUQUERQUE — All New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ offices, including the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center, will be closed Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day.
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 Thursday, at 8 a.m. June 20. The business hours of the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center are 8 a.m. to 4:30 Read More
New Mexico State Parks To Hold Additional Meetings On Proposed Fee Adjustments
State Parks Division News:
SANTA FE — The State Parks Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (State Parks) announces another series of informational meetings to discuss adjustments to proposed park fees.
“We really appreciated the engagement and participation during the first round of discussions we hosted around the state on our fees adjustment proposal. “We realized that this change to our fees as originally proposed, while long overdue, required some modifications based on feedback received during our initial outreach sessions,” State Parks Division Read More
Santa Fe National Forest Waives Fees For Juneteenth
SFNF News:
- All District Offices closed June 19 for Federal Holiday
SANTA FE—To honor the significance of the Juneteenth holiday, the Santa Fe National Forest. (SFNF) will waive fees at many day use recreation sites Wednesday, June 19, 2024.
All SFNF District Offices and the Supervisor’s Office in Santa Fe will be closed and will resume business hours Thursday, June 20.
Observed on June 19 each year, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger freed enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay and across Texas, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed Read More
County Invites Community To BMX Track Listening Session
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Parks and Open Space Division is seeking feedback from the community for the proposed BMX track on North Mesa. With a new project manager and new contractor, Actions Sports Design, the project team is starting fresh with a listening session.
Community members are invited to meet the new team and provide input at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20 at Fuller Lodge, 2132 Central Ave.
Since its inception in 2019, this project has faced numerous challenges, including multiple false starts, the departure of key staff, project scope concerns, and the impact of the pandemic. Read More
Denish: Who Wins, Who Loses
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
It’s hard to know who the biggest loser in the Hunter Biden trial might be. Hunter Biden, of course, who was convicted on three felony counts on June 11 by a jury of his Delaware peers, lost the legal case.
Donald Trump lost something bigger; his complaints about two-tiered justice were stopped cold.
During the Biden trial, only snippets of the courtroom drama were reported: who was testifying and to what they were testifying. As with most news, it was hard to get the full context of courtroom action.
What is clear to voters is the split Read More
County Council To Hold Closed Session June 18, 2024
COUNTY News: Cone Zone: Week Of June 17, 2024
COUNTY News:
Public Works Projects:
Los Alamos County Public Works Department staff manages the projects listed in this section through contractors.
For more information, please email lacpw@lacnm.us, call 505.662.8150, or visit the “Projects/Public Works” link at https://lacnm.com/pw-projects.
ease slow down and use caution within the construction work zones. Please note the information below is based on a schedule provided by the contractors and may change due to weather or other delays.
DP Road Phase II Reconstruction Project Update
- TLC Plumbing & Utility works 7 a.m. to 5
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Elected To Lead Western Governors’ Association … Will Prioritize Housing
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham:
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SANTA FE – New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this week was elected chair of the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) at its annual meeting in Olympic Valley, Calif., and she pledged to focus on the region’s housing challenges as her primary initiative.
“Too many working-class families lack access to housing that meets their needs, and it diminishes quality of life and threatens our vibrant economic growth,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We are laser focused Read More
Heinrich On U.S. Supreme Court’s ‘Bump Stock’ Ruling
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON – Following this week’s 6 to 3 ruling by the United States Supreme Court to overturn a federal ban on “bump stocks” that allow semi-automatic firearms to increase their rate of fire and effectively operate as fully automatic weapons, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement, calling on Congress to take up and pass his bipartisan, bicameral legislation to outlaw these dangerous devices:
“After hundreds of Americans had gunfire rain down on them at an outdoor music festival in 2017, I led the effort to ban bump Read More
Gessing: New Mexico The Hoarder
By PAUL GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
Occasionally the evening news reports on people keeping more animals than they can handle.
Other times children of deceased parents are astonished by how much “stuff” their parents or grandparents hang onto only to leave piles of unwanted things to be thrown out.
The State of New Mexico is a hoarder. It hoards cash. One might think this is a good thing because, after all, isn’t keeping cash for a “rainy day” (such as a downturn in oil and gas) a good thing?
Not really. Government is not an individual. People work and save for a future when we cannot work Read More
Pueblo Of Santa Ana Announces Reacquisition And Preservation Of Ancestorial Land
Santa Ana Pueblo Governor Myron Armijo, left, and Santa Ana Pueblo Lt. Governor Kevin C. Montoya. Courtesy photo
The Pueblo of Santa Ana and the Bureau of Indian Affairs officials Wednesday at the official signing into trust 60,000 acres of ancestral land to the Santa Ana Pueblo. Courtesy photo
Pueblo of Santa Ana News:
- Pueblo Takes Stewardship of 60,000 Acres to Preserve its History and Culture
The Pueblo of Santa Ana and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Southwest Regional Office announced Wednesday the official signing into trust for Tamaya Kwii Kee Nee Puu, 60,000 acres of ancestral land, formerly Read More
Heinrich Applauds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony On New Major National Security Facility At Kirtland Air Force Base
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded Friday’s ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) facility at Kirtland Air Force Base (AFB) in Albuquerque.
Heinrich said, “Delivering for our service members and cementing New Mexico’s role as a leader in national security is a responsibility I take very seriously. Through my previous positions on the House and Senate Armed Read More
