Robinson: Tax Foundation Calls New Mexico Tax Ranking Respectable
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Let’s start with the good news: New Mexico is number one on an important ranking. We have the nation’s lowest property taxes, and they’ve been the lowest for a long time.
The reason goes back in history to the 1800s, when New Mexicans lost land to tax sales because they didn’t understand American taxation imposed on them, and the territory was infested with unscrupulous lawyers. Today property tax rates reflect the reality that in New Mexico many people are land rich and cash poor.
Other components in the Tax Foundation’s 2024 State Read More
2024 Elder Abuse Awareness Month Kicks Off With 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament To Raise Awareness
ALTSD News:
The Aging & New Mexico Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) in partnership with the Albuquerque Pickleball Club, has announced the 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament to combat elder abuse.
The free two-day tournament is June 29-30 at Manzano Mesa Park in Albuquerque. The tournament will bring together pickleball enthusiasts and community members in an effort to raise awareness and prevention of elder abuse.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the tournament again after the success of last year,” Acting State Ombudsman Jennifer Scott said. “This event is not only a fantastic Read More
Denish: Read Election Mailers With Care
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
The last weeks before Election Day during the early-voting period, voters are bombarded with information through direct mail, texts and social media.
If you are a voter in a district where there are competitive races, no doubt your mailbox is stuffed with political mail. As of this writing, I am buried in 49 pieces of political mail; 37 of them are from just four legislative candidates. The remaining 12 are for five other races.
This year I’ve found some interesting things in mailers and not just in my district. (I get Democratic mail.) Read More
Rep. Christine Chandler To Hold Office Hours June 8
Rep. Christine Chandler
From the Office of Rep. Christine Chandler:
Rep. Christine Chandler, state representative for District 43, which includes Los Alamos and White Rock, has posted her local office hours for June as follows:
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- 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, June 8
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Rep. Chandler’s office is in Room 218 on the second floor of the building at 1247 Central Ave. The office can be accessed via stairs in the front of the building or via elevator at the back of the building.
Members of the public are invited to visit with Rep. Chandler regarding state issues of interest to them.
Feel free to drop by or schedule Read More
New Mexico Superintendent Of Insurance Announces Kickoff Meeting For Health Care Consolidation June 7
Superintendent of Insurance Alice T. Kane
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI) has announced it will hold a kickoff meeting for public and stakeholder engagement related to oversight of health care consolidation.
The kickoff meeting will be held 2 p.m. June 7, 2024, at the UNM Lobo Rainforest at 101 Broadway Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.
Earlier this year, the State Legislature passed the Health Care Consolidation Oversight Act (SB 15), which gives OSI tools to provide oversight of certain hospital transactions that result in a change of control.
The Read More
DOE & NNSA U.S. Delegation Lays Out Present And Future Of Nuclear Security At 2024 ICONS in Vienna
DOE Deputy Secretary David Turk
NNSA News:
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- International Conference on Nuclear Security offers opportunity to highlight successes and map a safe, carbon-free future for the world
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the 2024 International Conference on Nuclear Security (ICONS) last week, representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and its National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) promoted U.S. nuclear security priorities, celebrated achievements and those of its partners, and discussed how to tackle the security challenges of today and tomorrow.
ICONS, sponsored by the International Read More
County Board Of Public Utilities Work Session June 5
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Board of Public Utilities will hold a work session Wednesday, June 5, 2024. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Room 330, 3rd Floor of the Municipal Building.
Members of the public may view proceedings online or attend and provide public comment in person or via Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89412512522.
The complete packet is available online at https://losalamos.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. Read More
New Mexico Selected To Participate In Intensive National Multi-agency Caregiver Workforce Grant Program
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico has been selected to participate in a multi-agency intensive grant focused on improving the direct caregiver workforce.
This opportunity, spearheaded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), will provide individualized technical assistance and expertise to help New Mexico address challenges in recruiting and retaining the direct care workforce.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, this initiative aligns with the Biden Administration’s 2023 Executive Order to increase access to high-quality care and improve Read More
Los Alamos Utilities Board To Consider Rate Increase
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities (BPU) will discuss a potential natural gas rate increase to be effective Oct. 1, 2024, at its next meeting. An additional three public meetings, including two public hearings, for changes to the existing natural gas rates are planned.
The initial discussion will take place at the BPU work session on Wednesday, June 5. The BPU will not take any action on rate changes at this meeting. The first public hearing is scheduled for the June 26 BPU meeting. If the BPU approves a proposed rate ordinance at that time, it will be introduced to the Los Alamos Read More
LAPS Board Selects Ryan Adams To Fill Dist. 2 Vacancy
Ryan Adams
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools Board of Education has selected Ryan Adams to fill the vacancy in District 2, which resulted from the resignation of former School Board President Antonio Jaurigue. District 2 includes Chamisa Elementary School in White Rock.
Adams will be sworn in at the start of the June 11 School Board meeting.
Board members cited Adams’ “fresh perspective and new eyes” as well as his experience in accounting as reasons for their selection. Adams is a relative newcomer to Los Alamos. He has children attending elementary, middle and high school.
“I am humbled Read More
Councilor Melanee Hand Briefs Community On Meeting
Los Alamos County Councilor Melanee Hand provides a briefing on the May 28 council meeting during a taping Thursday at the Los Alamos Daily Post newsroom. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Board Of Directors Approves Over $72M In Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
At its May 2024 meeting, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Board of Directors approved approximately $12.4 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for Country Club Apartments in Santa Fe. Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority will rehabilitate 62 apartment units for households with children. Courtes/SFCHA
At its May 2024 meeting, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Board of Directors approved approximately $15 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits for Elk Meadows, a new 72-unit apartment development for households with children in Ruidoso. The board also approved loans Read More
Utilities Board Approves Rule Change … Customers With Solar Powered Residences Will See Lower Credit On Bills
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The Los Alamos Board of Public Utilities (BPU) passed a motion 4-1 to approve the proposed changes to Rule E-5, which covers interconnection with cogeneration and small power producers, during its regular meeting May 15.
The changes to the rule immediately take effect.
This was not a popular decision for those Department of Public Utilities (DPU) customers who will be affected by these changes – mainly those who installed rooftop solar power systems on their homes. A number of these customers attended the meeting to voice their Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján And Colleagues Introduce Resolution To Recognize May As Stroke Awareness Month
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
Washington, D.C. – This month, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced a resolution to recognize May as Stroke Awareness Month.
The resolution encourages continued coordination and cooperation between the federal government, researchers, families, and the public to improve prognoses by increasing access to timely treatments for individuals who suffer strokes.
“As a stroke survivor, I’ve come to realize that the battle doesn’t end with recovery – it extends Read More
Environment Department Releases New Environmental Review Request Process
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Utility Operator Certification Program (UOCP) is implementing a new web-based application called Certemy, which will be available for use June 4, 2024.
Certemy is a web-based tool specifically designed for managing certifications with a robust interface for both external certification holders and program staff. The new tool will play an important role in the application and certification process for new and existing utility operators.
The certification process is critical in the development of knowledgeable and conscientious Read More
New Mexico Delegation Welcomes $6.9 Million To Help Albuquerque Public Schools Purchase 20 Electric Buses
Congressional News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming $6.9 million in Infrastructure to help Albuquerque Public Schools replace older, diesel school buses with 20 new electric school buses.
“Electrifying school buses is about making sure our kids aren’t breathing in dangerous diesel fumes. This new funding will protect our kids’ health, make our air cleaner, and save taxpayer money. This is the latest example of how our Infrastructure Law is building Read More
Conrad: Rebuttal To Robinson Op-Ed On Produced Water
By STEVE CONRAD
Algodones
The recent op-ed by Sherry Robinson entitled “Step into the future with Produced Water” (link) exhorts us to “trust technology and step into the future.” The problem with her premise is that the oil and gas wastewater treatment technology she suggests that we trust is unproven to be even remotely economically viable. In addition, no specified standards of what constitutes “clean” have been set. The treated water will necessarily have some solutes remaining after treatment. Will the water be safe enough for its intended use? We need unambiguous quantitative cleanup Read More
New Mexico Offers $5 Million In Teacher Loan Forgiveness
NMHED News:
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SANTA FE – The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is encouraging teachers with outstanding student loans to apply for debt forgiveness through the state’s Teacher Loan Repayment Program, which is now accepting applications until Aug. 1, 2024.
New Mexico licensed teachers working in high-need fields and schools statewide may be eligible for up to $6,000 per year for two years toward principal debt and interest on federal student loans related to teacher education.
The program received a record number of applications in 2023 for the second consecutive Read More
Heinrich Welcomes Action To Bolster America’s Power Grid
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the co-founder and co-chair of the Electrification Caucus, is welcoming the White House’s announcement of a Federal-State Initiative to Bolster America’s Power Grid to accelerate improvements to the electric transmission and distribution network, which are critical to meeting the country’s needs for affordable, clean, reliable, and resilient power.
“A strong electric grid and reliable access to power are critical for every aspect of our lives. Read More
Council Recognizes First Born On 10-Year Anniversary
Los Alamos County Councilor Suzie Havemann presents a proclamation to First Born Board President Karen Holmes and Executive Director Ellen Specter surrounded by friends and supporters during the Council meeting Tuesday evening in Council Chambers. The proclamation recognizes the First Born program on its 10 year anniversary. Courtesy/LAC Read More
