Heinrich Issues Statement On Vote To Strengthen National Security, Deliver Support To Democratic Allies
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement after voting to support an aid package that would strengthen America’s national security by delivering aid to U.S. allies in Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific and humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza.
“I am pleased the Senate has finally passed bipartisan legislation that will support Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to defend their democracy against Vladimir Putin’s war and deliver aid to Israel and innocent civilians in Gaza. Supporting Ukraine’s fight for freedom and standing Read More
Senate Conservation Committee Action Likely Kills Governor’s ‘Strategic Water Plan’
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The Senate Conservation Committee on Tuesday tabled Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s high-profile plan to tap and treat brackish water to create a “strategic water supply,” potentially killing the effort this session.
Committee members agreed Senate Bill 294 needed more work before the state can proceed with what began as a plan to use $500 million in severance tax bonds to boost long-term water supplies for industrial uses. The committee slashed that amount to $100 million in a substitute bill before voting to table it.
“We know we’re going to Read More
Op/Ed: Response To Editorial On Joe Biden’s Age
By DIANA MARTINEZ
Los Alamos
In regard to James Rickman’s editorial on Joe Biden’s age (link), I wanted to provide a synopsis of what a neuroscientist wrote to the NY Times. Dr. Charan Ranganath, a professor of psychology and neuroscience and the director of the Dynamic Memory Lab at the University of California, Davis said that everyone begins losing memories and words in their 30s. He said there is “forgetting” and “Forgetting.” The first is when we mis-speak the name of someone like the president of Mexico, and the second is when we don’t remember having met that person. He also spoke to Biden’s Read More
Legislative Clock Is Ticking, Putting Some Key Measures Into Doubt
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN & ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hasn’t made much use of her pen this legislative session.
With only about a day and a half before the session ends, lawmakers were feverishly debating a number of bills Tuesday night with the hope of getting them over the finish line and onto the governor’s desk for her signature.
So far, their record is nothing to brag about.
As of 6 o’clock Tuesday, only 35 pieces of legislation out of 777 bills, memorials and resolutions filed before and during the 30-day session had made their way past both the House of Representatives Read More
Ban On Firearms At Polling Sites Narrowly Passes House
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Gun safety advocates won a narrow victory late Tuesday when the House of Representatives voted 35-34 in favor of a bill prohibiting firearms within 100 feet of a polling site.
But Senate Bill 5 won’t head straight to the desk of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who included the measure in a broad public safety package she unveiled just before the session’s start.
The House voted 35-34 to adopt an amendment by Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque, exempting gun owners with a valid concealed carry permit — which means the measure Read More
State Awards SBIR/STTR Grants To 7 Innovative Businesses Including Palladias Of Los Alamos
Southwest Sciences lab in Santa Fe at the forefront of research and applications in trace gas detection using tunable diode lasers received a Phase II matching grant of $50,000. Courtesy/NMEDD
NMEDD News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Economic Development Department (NMEDD), through its Office of Strategy, Science and Technology (OSST), has awarded SBIR/STTR Matching grants to seven companies to support innovation development and jumpstart commercialization – including Palladias in Los Alamos.
The companies awarded FY2024 grants were chosen with input from the Technology Research Collaborative Read More
Faster Than ‘Forever’: House Clears Public-Private Infrastructure Development Proposal
Rep. Joy Garratt, D-Albuquerque, listens as Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, fields questions during a House debate Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, on one of his two proposals to amend House Bill 190, which would allow public and private partnership agreements for infrastructure projects. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
By GABRIELLE PORTER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The estimated time to get a road built in New Mexico is, roughly, “forever.”
That’s straight from the mouths of several legislators who sang out in response to Rep. Patricia “Patty” Lundstrom, D-Gallup, during a Monday afternoon Read More
New Mexico Lawmakers Bemoan Backlog Of Capital Projects But Move Bill Forward
By GABRIELLE PORTER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A $5 billion traffic jam of unfinished capital projects around the state, some of them now as many as eight years in waiting, riled up lawmakers in a powerful legislative committee Tuesday morning.
Members of the Senate Finance Committee voted in favor of Senate Bill 246, a measure to reauthorize funds for projects that were funded through the capital outlay process in recent years but have been delayed.
But some lawmakers, including committee Chairman George Muñoz, D-Gallup, gave their approval with a major asterisk: They don’t want to keep Read More
Roundhouse Roundup: Days Remaining In Session – 1
Roundhouse Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Moo-ving to the governor’s desk: The Meat Inspection Act garnered unanimous support from the New Mexico House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon. Senate Bill 37 is headed to the governor’s desk.
The bill, sponsored by a mix of Republican and Democratic lawmakers, would give the New Mexico Livestock Board authority over the safety of meat and poultry processed in the state and create an Office of Meat and Poultry Inspection Director authorized to conduct inspections. Currently the federal government, not the state, conducts meat inspections Read More
New Mexico House of Representatives Passes Bill To Require Identification Of AI-Generated Campaign Materials
Majority Leader Gail Chasey
NMDP News:
SANTA FE — Monday night, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed HB 182 by a vote of 38-28, which would improve transparency and regulate the use of artificial intelligence in election campaigns.
House Bill 182 would require a disclaimer for materially-deceptive media generated by artificial intelligence (AI), often referred to as a “deep fake” when it is used in campaign or election-related material.
The notice must be clearly and conspicuously displayed to indicate any manipulated media used in web, print, radio, or televised political Read More
Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Offices Closed Presidents Day
FEMA News:
SANTA FE — The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims offices in Las Vegas, Mora and Santa Fe and the Helpline will be closed Monday, Feb. 19, in observance of Presidents Day.
The public may leave a voice message on the Helpline at 505.995.7133 and those calls will be returned during regular hours of operation Tuesday, Feb. 20.
Claims Office locations and hours of operation:
- The Santa Fe Claims Office, is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday at 1711 Llano St., Suite E.
- The Las Vegas Claims Office, at 216 Mills Ave., and Mora Claims Office, at 1 Courthouse Drive, are open 7:30 a.m.
Governor Names Michael Coleman Communications Director
Michael Coleman
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday announced the appointment of Michael Coleman as her new Director of Communications.
“I have known Michael professionally for more than 20 years, and I look forward to working with him in his new role to advance communications around the historic work of this administration,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “I want to thank outgoing Director of Communications Maddy Hayden for her years of service in my administration – I know she will be exceptional in her next endeavor.”
Coleman has more than two decades Read More
LAHS Students Attend American Indian Day At State Capitol
Students from the Los Alamos High School Native American Culture Club last week in front of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy/LAPS
Sen. Leo Jaramillo speaking to students last week from the Los Alamos High School Native American Culture Club at the State Capitol last week. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Seventeen students from Los Alamos High School Native American Culture Club were part of the celebration of American Indian Day at the State Capitol last week.
The visit included a ceremony in the rotunda which began with an invocation by Governor Max A. Zuni, Pueblo of Isleta, the posting of Colors Read More
Senate OKs $10.22 Billion Budget, Tax Package For FY ’25
Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, and Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, talk during a Senate floor debate on a tax package Monday, Feb. 12, 2024. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACON
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Debate on two of the most consequential bills the New Mexico Legislature is considering this year — the state’s proposed $10.22 billion budget and an omnibus tax package — mirrored each other Monday in the Senate.
There were parts lawmakers liked and others they didn’t.
In the end, both House measures cleared the Senate but are headed back to the House for a concurrence Read More
Roundhouse Roundup: Days Remaining In Session – 2
Roundhouse Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Former LFC director recognized: The Senate recognized David Abbey for his more than 25 years of guiding New Mexico lawmakers through the ups and downs of the state budgeting process as the longtime director of the Legislative Finance Committee.
A certificate read on the floor praised Abbey, who retired last year, as legislators’ compass and one of New Mexico’s greatest assets.
“In times of trouble, David Abbey saved us,” said Sen. George Muñoz, a Gallup Democrat who serves as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. “In times of good, David Abbey Read More
Governor Issues Statement On Fallen Ofc. Jonah Hernandez
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday issued a statement following the death of Las Cruces Police Department Officer Jonah Hernandez, who was killed in the line of duty on Sunday.
“I am horrified to hear of the murder of a young officer in Las Cruces last night. Officer Hernandez was, by all accounts, a dedicated and brave public servant and an outstanding son, husband and father.
“I am praying for Officer Hernandez’s wife, his two sons, his friends and family, his colleagues at the Las Cruces Police Department, and the Las Cruces community as they grieve Read More
Scenes From Governor’s Surprise Visit To International Womens Forum-New Mexico 2024 Legislative Luncheon
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham made a surprise appearance at the annual International Women’s Forum-New Mexico (IWF-NM) Legislative Luncheon Jan. 24 at Rio Chama in Santa Fe. IWF-NM member Patsy Madrid (former New Mexico Attorney General) introduced the governor who presented a first-hand look at current initiatives, challenges and successes in New Mexico. IWF-NM members Carol Robertson López and Sayuri Yamada co-chaired the event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaking at the annual IWF-NM Legislative Luncheon Jan. 24 at Rio Chama in Santa Fe. Photo Read More
Robinson: A Better Way To Govern
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
One of the most important bills this legislative session has tiptoed through the House with scant publicity and no controversy.
House Bill 232, to create the Infrastructure Planning and Development Division within the Department of Finance and Administration, sounds a dry and bureaucratic, but it could transform the state’s dysfunctional capital outlay system.
Communities need public works, such as senior centers or libraries, and their legislators secure capital outlay money to get them built. However, small entities Read More
Heinrich Welcomes Biden Administration National Security Memorandum To Ensure U.S. Security Assistance Is Used In Line With International Law
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)
From the Office Of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
- The memorandum, modeled off of an amendment that Heinrich cosponsored, also requires all countries that receive U.S. security assistance to facilitate U.S.-supported humanitarian aid and creates robust reporting requirements to Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) welcomed a new Biden Administration National Security Memorandum (NSM) aimed at ensuring all U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law, including international humanitarian law.
The Read More
People Impacted By Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Highly Encouraged To File Claim For Flood Insurance By March 1, 2024
FEMA News:
SANTA FE — People impacted by the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire are highly encouraged to submit claims for flood insurance by March 1 and no later than April 1.
There is a 30-day mandatory waiting period for all new National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies. Submitting a claim for flood insurance coverage by March 1 will help ensure coverage goes into effect before snowmelt and monsoon season begin.
Eligible households have two options for securing flood insurance through the Claims Office:
- Up to five-years of NFIP coverage, with premiums paid directly by the Claims Office
