State Economic Development Department Awards Record Job Training Funds To 13 New Mexico Companies In May
Pajarito Powder, LLC in Albuquerque hopes to hire 14 trainees. Courtesy/Pajarito Powder
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The May 2024 Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP) funding was approved to provide 13 New Mexico companies including UbiQD, Inc. headquartered in Los Alamos with a total of more than $6 million in potential training funds.
This month’s record allotment of funding will support up to 405 New Mexico employees.
“JTIP reimburses New Mexico companies a portion of the cost to train workers and thereby grow their local workforce,” Acting EDD Cabinet Secretary Mark Roper said. “This month’s Read More
State Ethics Commission Files Lawsuit Against The New Mexico Project To Enforce Campaign Reporting Act
SEC News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico State Ethics Commission filed a lawsuit against The New Mexico Project (“TNMP”) and Jeff Apodaca to enforce the disclosure provisions of the Campaign Reporting Act (“CRA”).
TNMP, a domestic nonprofit cooperation, or Apodaca spent thousands of dollars on creating and hosting a website and purchased radio and social media advertisements to influence the outcome of elections for at least 15 legislative districts in the New Mexico House of Representatives and Senate.
The CRA requires those who have made aggregate independent expenditures in excess of Read More
Op-Ed: New Mexico’s Memorial Day Weekend Made More Expensive By Credit Card Swipe Fees
By BENNY HODGES
Belen
With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, many Americans will be packing up their cars for trips to their favorite destinations. However, as folks fill up with fuel or stock the cooler with hot dogs and beverages, Visa and Mastercard will be right alongside every swipe of a credit card taking their cut. That’s because, unbeknownst to many, every time a credit card transaction is processed, merchants are charged on average between 1.5-3.5 percent of the total purchase amount, known as a swipe fee.
While initially charged to merchants, swipe fees are passed on to consumers Read More
FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office Launches Claimant Experience Survey
FEMA News:
SANTA FE — As of May 23, 2024, the FEMA Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office (Claims Office) has processed 3,697 claims and paid $659.8 million in compensation. Along the way, the Claims Office team has learned a lot of lessons and incorporated the community’s recommendations to improve operations.
As part of an ongoing commitment to improve the claims process, the office is launching comprehensive surveys to gather valuable feedback directly from claimants.
Beginning at the end of May, representatives from FEMA will begin reaching out to claimants via phone calls and mailed Read More
Luján, Wyden, Morrelle Introduce Fair Repair Act
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
-
-
-
-
- Legislation would eliminate corporate monopolies that cost consumers billions of dollars per year by finally giving small businesses and everyday Americans the right to repair their own products like cell phones, computers and more
-
-
-
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and U.S. Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) introduced the Fair Repair Act, legislation to guarantee consumers and small businesses a right to repair their own products by requiring manufacturers to make diagnostic repair information, parts, Read More
LAPS School Board Taps Ryan Adams To Fill Vacancy
Staff Report
The Los Alamos Public Schools Board voted unanimously this evening to appoint Ryan Adams to fill a vacancy in District 2 created when Antonio Jaurigue resigned a few weeks ago.
Adams is employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Financial Compliance Specialist. He has children attending elementary, middle and high school.
“I have four sons in the district, and am heavily vested in its continued success,” Adams stated in his letter of interest.
He also noted his extensive background and experience in accounting, auditing and compliance, and offered his expertise to benefit Read More
Rep. Vasquez Advances Billions For Military Installations, Families In Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez:
-
-
-
-
- Vasquez advocated for RECA and prioritized common-sense initiatives that improve the lives of service members and ensure New Mexico’s military installations remain at the forefront of national defense
-
-
-
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 22, 2024, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) secured major wins for New Mexico and voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) out of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to the House Floor for consideration.
“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Read More
Heinrich Presses Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm On Housing Shortages In Los Alamos, Questions Proposal To Build Transmission Line Through Caja Del Rio, Emphasizes Need To Invest In American-Made Grid Components, Highlights New Mexico’s Potential To Lead In Geothermal
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a hearing Wednesday before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee to review the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) pressed Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) Administrator Jill Hruby on a number Read More
Huang: Gaza Needs To Run Massive Reverse-Running Only Shredder – Who Could Press Its Power Button?
Scene of destruction in in Gaza. Courtesy/Zhen Huang
By ZHEN HUANG
Los Alamos
The other day, when my mother and I were watching the “United Nations Document Shredder Demonstration”, I couldn’t help laughing out, but my mother didn’t find it funny at all, because as an architect, the demonstration reminded her of the numerous houses in Gaza that have been “shredded” to pieces.
According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, more than 75% of all housing stock in Gaza has been damaged or destroyed since Israel declared war on Hamas following the October 7th terrorist attack, Read More
Luján Joins Press Conference Calling For House Vote On Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Delegate James Moylan (R-Guam) and RECA advocates last Thursday for a press conference calling on House Speaker Mike Johnson to allow a vote on a bill that would strengthen the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA).
As of May 16, the House will have just two weeks remaining to act on the Senate-passed RECA. The program, which provides health screenings and compensation for people sickened Read More
Collaborative State Effort Brings Lower Insurance Rate Increases For New Mexico Public Schools
NMPED News:
SANTA FE — During a special meeting of the New Mexico Public Schools Insurance Authority (NMPSIA) Board of Directors on Friday, May 17, the Board voted to approve an amended 10% rate increase for educator medical benefits and 14.99% for risk coverage.
These amended rates are significantly lower than the anticipated rate increases announced by NMPSIA in March 2024, which included an increase of 15.53% for medical benefits and 31.86% for risk coverage.
The new, lower rate increases are the result of cross-agency collaboration between the New Mexico Public Education Department Read More
United States And European Commission Make Joint Statement On Enhancing Radioactive Source Security
NNSA’s Jeffrey Chamberlin
NNSA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the European Commission (EC) made a Joint Statement on Enhancing Radioactive Source Security this week at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security.
This Joint Statement highlights the importance of the security of radioactive sources, the need to strengthen security to prevent the use of these materials in acts of terrorism, and builds upon existing U.S. and European Union (EU) Read More
Wildlife Groups Initiate Legal Action: Feds Too Slow To Protect Sonoran Desert Tortoise
Sonoran desert tortoise having lunch. Photo by Roy Averill Murray/USFWS
WildEarth Guardians News:
- Species threatened by climate change, livestock grazing, drought, invasive species, development
TUCSON, Ariz.—Today, WildEarth Guardians, Western Watersheds Project, and the Desert Tortoise Council and Tucson Herpetological Society, represented by the Western Environmental Law Center, are asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to reconsider its 2022 decision to deny protective status to the tortoise in the groups’ 60-day notice of intent to sue.
The groups are asking the Service to Read More
New Mexico Counties Elects Gerard Saiz As National Rep.
Gerard Saiz
Newly elected NMC National Representative
NMC News:
SANTA FE – During the New Mexico Counties (NMC) Board of Directors meeting on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Silver City, the Board elected Gerard Saiz, who is a Valencia County Commissioner, to fill the vacant position on the National Association of Counties (NACo) Board representing New Mexico at the national level.
Commissioner Saiz assumed his responsibilities upon adjournment of the Board meeting.
Since NMC is a 100% state, which means all 33 counties are members of NACo, it is allowed a second board representative. Harding County Read More
Los Alamos Federated Republican Women Express Appreciation To LAPD During 2024 National Police Week
The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women (LAFRW) expressed appreciation to members of the Los Alamos Police Department during National Police Week by presenting gift baskets to them. Cmdr. Daniel Roberts and Ofc. Jason Osborn accepted the gifts from LAFRW members Jean Johnson, Soo Shin, Linda Bullock, Dianne Coane, Adda Moldt, Cathy Walters and Cheryl Stead. Courtesy/LAFRW Read More
Heinrich Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Support Education In Rural Communities, Strengthen Educator Workforce
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M) introduced bipartisan legislation with U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) to support education in rural communities by allowing teachers on a J-1 visa to waive their two-year return home requirement and work up to five years in the U.S., if they enter into a contract with their employing school.
Foreign exchange teachers on three-year J-1 teaching visas fill important gaps in the educator workforce, particularly in rural, tribal, and bilingual education settings. Exchange visitor (J-1) visas are nonimmigrant visas for Read More
County Art In Public Places Board To Meet May 23
COUNTY News:Heinrich Marks 10 Year Anniversary Of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks Designation As National Monument
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich took the above photo of the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks on Saturday, May 18, 2024. Photo by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
LAS CRUCES — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in recognition of the 10-year anniversary of the designation of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument.
“On the 10-year anniversary of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks designation as a National Monument, two things are clear: the economic impact has been huge and the community pride is even bigger,” Heinrich said. Read More
New Mexico Unemployment Insurance Operations Center Closed Monday In Observance Of Memorial Day
NMDWS News:
-
-
-
-
- Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System Available Online
-
-
-
ALBUQUERQUE – All New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) offices, including the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center, will be closed on Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.
The Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System (https://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. Tuesday, May 28. The business hours of the Unemployment Read More
Environmental Sustainability Board May 16 Meeting Recap
By SHANNON BLAIR
Member
Environmental Sustainability Board
The monthly Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) was held last Thursday May 16. The board received an overview presentation on the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) Water Plans from the county’s Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator Abbey Hayward.
Hayward covered the five water plans the county updates and utilizes in their water planning and conservation efforts (DPU Guiding Water Plans, Source Water Protection Plan, Non-Potable Master Plan, Long-Range Water Supply Plan, and Water & Energy Read More
