With Los Alamos County Revenue Projected To Decline, Council Ponders How Best To Respond
County Administrative Services Director Helen Perraglio
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
With Los Alamos National Laboratory expected to take advantage of the gross receipt tax (GRT) exemption for manufacturing once it begins its pit production, Los Alamos County Council was asked how this shortfall in revenue should be addressed in future fiscal year budgets.
The question was posed to council during its work session Jan. 23. Council voted 6-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed, to accept the County management’s recommendations for budget guidance Read More
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Approves New Mexico’s Petition To List PFAS As A Hazardous Substance
NMED Cabinet Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
Listing provides full authority to require cleanup of PFAS-contaminated sites
SANTA FE — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two new proposed rules today to ensure that certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” are classified as hazardous waste under federal law.
This action is in direct response to a petition from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to take bold action on the emerging threat that communities in New Mexico and across the nation face from decades of use of forever Read More
Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation To Promote Biliteracy And Bilingualism In High Schools In New Mexico
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) to introduce the Biliteracy Education Seal and Teaching (BEST) Act, legislation that would provide federal grants to states to create Seal of Biliteracy programs that encourage and recognize high school students who achieve proficiency in at least two languages.
“In New Mexico, we value our diversity as one of our greatest strengths. Bilingualism is baked into our state’s constitution,” Heinrich said. “We were the first Read More
Rural Libraries Go By The Book In A Hunt For Help
‘What sound does a snake make?’ Mara Herdmann-Herrera asks her 3-year-old daughter Mara Herdmann-Herrera as the pair color animals Wednesday during a visit to the Vista Grande Public Library in Eldorado. Many of the rural libraries in New Mexico could get a funding boost from Senate Bill 170, which would allocate $30 million to fully fund New Mexico’s existing Rural Library Endowment. Photo by Jim Weber/The New Mexican
Volunteers make up most of the staff at the Vista Grande Public Library in Eldorado; the facility employs a full-time director and a part-time assistant. Photo by Jim Weber/The Read More
Gessing: New Mexico’s Left Comes For Oil And Gas
By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
In recent years the “left” including most, but not all in the Democratic Party have turned sharply against traditional energy sources. Despite New Mexico’s status as a leading energy state, it has not been exempted from this trend.
In fact, while New Mexico has seen an unprecedented oil and gas boom (which has unlocked unprecedented government revenues) New Mexico’s political leadership has become virulently anti-energy. This is true for all five members of its congressional delegation which all reflexively support anti-energy policies Read More
County Staff To Investigate Expanding Downtown Zoning
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The downtown area in Los Alamos may grow. Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved during its Tuesday night meeting to direct the County Manager to investigate the possibility of rezoning the areas located at the beginning of DP Road and west of Oppenheimer Drive from general commercial to downtown.
More specifically, council requested that the County Manager determine if these modifications meet the requirements of Chapter 16 in the Los Alamos County Code, and if they are consistent with the goals of the Los Alamos Downtown Read More
New Mexico Senate Confirms Casados To Lead Troubled Child Welfare Agency
Teresa Casados receives a congratulatory hug Wednesday from Jen Paul Schroer, secretary-designate of the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department, after the Senate Rules Committee endorsed Casados’ confirmation as secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department on an 8-2 vote. Schrorer was among several members of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Cabinet who testified in support of Casados’ confirmation. Daniel J. Chacón/The New Mexican
By Daniel J. Chacón
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Teresa Casados choked with emotion Wednesday as she explained her decision to assume Read More
Heinrich Announces New Rules From Inflation Reduction Act To Lower Costs For New Mexicans In 2024
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With more than 450,000 people in New Mexico on Medicare, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is announcing that, for the first time ever, there will be a cap on total out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for New Mexico seniors.
Jan. 1, 2024, the Inflation Reduction Act began capping out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at an estimated $3,300, providing substantial relief for individuals facing high medication expenses. This new Medicare drug cap comes in tandem with several other major healthcare provisions Heinrich Read More
House Approves Budget With 6.5% Spending Increase
By MAYA HILTY
The Santa Fe New Mexican
“Keep your boots on the ground,” state Rep. Nathan Small, chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Finance Committee, told lawmakers on the House floor Wednesday as they prepared to approve a record state budget of about $10.1 billion.
The proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2025 has an increase of $621 million, or 6.5%, over the current fiscal year and about $1.3 billion in one-time spending.
New Mexico’s budget should continue to climb amid “near record” revenues, said Small, a Las Cruces Democrat.
The budget bill, which passed the House on Read More
Teach Plus New Mexico Celebrates Bi-partisan And Multi-organizational Passage Of SB 137 On School Board Training
Hope Morales
Executive Director
Teach Plus New Mexico
Teach Plus New Mexico News:
Teach Plus New Mexico commends the bi-partisan and multi-organizational support of SB 137, which mandates the development of local school board members and ensures that they have the necessary knowledge to create high-quality educational environments for students.
The bill also adds transparency around school board member training by utilizing New Mexico’s data system for reporting purposes.
Teach Plus is grateful to Senator Stewart and Senator Soules for sponsoring this legislation and to the members Read More
Roundhouse Roundup: Days Remaining In Session – 14
Roundhouse Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Women’s Bill of Rights: Oh, boy.
Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, has introduced a bill the House Republican communications office says will codify the “common sense understanding of the words ‘male’ and ‘female’ when used in law.”
The bill also “will help protect single-sex spaces, such as rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, prisons, athletic teams, locker rooms, and sororities,” a news release states.
As part of the push to promote House Bill 205, Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer from the University of Kentucky who has gained national Read More
New Mexico House Passes Bipartisan $10.1 Billion Budget
New Mexico House Democrats News:
SANTA FE – Today, the New Mexico House of Representatives passed House Bill 2, the General Appropriations Act, with a strong bipartisan vote of 53-16. The state budget proposal for fiscal year 2025 totals $10.18 billion, up 6.5% from last year, while maintaining a robust 32% reserve.
We are at a unique moment in New Mexico’s history,” said House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC) Chair, Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces). “Thanks to recent work stabilizing state revenues, we are less fearful about future economic downturns and more focused on Read More
Robinson: Advocates – Child Welfare Crisis Is Not A Priority
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
It was a rough week for CYFD. Already in the hot seat before exasperated legislators, the Children, Youth and Families Department was in the public eye again.
Two experts on child welfare reform blasted the department for crushing caseloads and a backlog of more than 2,000 investigations of abuse and neglect. In a letter to agency officials, obtained by The New Mexican, they demanded that the state take immediate action to remedy turnover and severe understaffing.
“(T)he agency must begin acting like there is in fact a crisis that Read More
House Committee Advances ‘Yes Means Yes’ Sexual Assault Policy For New Mexico Colleges
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By GABRIELLE PORTER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The distance between “no means no” and “yes means yes” got a little shorter Monday morning when a legislative committee voted in favor of a bill that would require public colleges and universities in New Mexico to adopt “affirmative consent” as the standard for consensual sexual activity.
House Bill 43 would give public post-secondary schools funding to adopt “trauma-informed policies and responses” when investigating instances of sexual assault, stalking, domestic violence or harassment involving Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation To Improve Roadway Safety In New Mexico With ‘Complete Streets Act’
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last week, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), to introduce the Complete Streets Act, legislation to improve the safety and accessibility of transportation routes across the nation.
“New Mexico’s rate of pedestrian-vehicle fatalities demands action,” Heinrich said. “The Complete Streets Act is an opportunity to not only make unprecedented investments in our state’s roadway safety, but pave the way for better, more Read More
Perry Klare Sworn In As Los Alamos Probate Judge
Los Alamos County Clerk Naomi Maestas swears in local attorney Perry Klare to the position of Probate Judge during a ceremony Tuesday afternoon in Council Chambers. Klare was accompanied by his wife Debrah and father Ken Klare. Probate Judge Michael Redondo announced in November his intent to resign his position effective Feb. 2. Council appointed Klare to complete that term, which ends Dec. 31, 2026. ‘Thank you Los Alamos County for your confidence in appointing me to the position of Probate Judge. I will carry on the same level of professional and timely probate proceedings that the Honorable Read More
Legislation To Increase Oil And Gas Royalty Rate On New Mexico State Lands Passes Senate Conservation Committee
Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
State Land Office News:
SANTA FE — Legislation to increase the top royalty rate charged for oil and gas development on state lands from 20 percent to the market rate of 25 percent passed the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced.
Senate Bill 24 (also filed as House Bill 48), which is sponsored by Sen. Bill Tallman and Rep. Matthew McQueen, would bring New Mexico’s royalty rate in line with what is charged in Texas and would generate millions more in revenue Read More
Climate Advocates Host Events In Los Alamos
Ben (Albuquerque), Martha (Silver City), and Sara (Los Alamos) gear up for a long day of lobbying with all five of New Mexico’s members of Congress in June 2023. Courtesy/CCL
CCL News:
Leadership of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) New Mexico State Chapter are hosting a suite of public events in northern New Mexico.
These events are all open to the public and will afford New Mexicans the opportunity to learn more about CCL, meet some of its local and regional leaders, and make connections to support their growth as climate advocates. Please contact Sara (mason.saraann@gmail.com) with any questions Read More
Reproductive Freedom Alliance Files Amicus Curiae Brief To Protect Access To Healthcare, Abortion Medication
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — Tuesday, the Reproductive Freedom Alliance filed an amicus curiae brief with the New Mexico Supreme Court in the case of Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, arguing that, if the Court allows a recent Fifth Circuit decision to stand, it could undermine Governors’ ability to provide adequate healthcare services and would have far-reaching implications beyond reproductive healthcare.
“New Mexico has seen the impact of the Dobbs decision directly and has stepped up to provide reproductive Read More
Governor On 50-Year Plan To Sustain State Water Supplies
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham holds a news conference Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, at the Capitol to announce a 50-year water plan on how the state can prepare for and allay the impacts climate change will have on New Mexico’s waters above and below ground in the next half-century. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By SCOTT WYLAND
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday the rollout of a 50-year water plan for how the state can allay the effects of climate change on New Mexico’s waters above and below ground in the next half-century.
The governor released the water plan Read More
