NNSA Issues Final Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program Environmental Impact Statement
NNSA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) published a Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register Jan. 19, 2024, announcing the availability of the final Surplus Plutonium Disposition Program (SPDP) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The SPDP would employ the dilute and dispose strategy to safely and securely dispose of up to 34 metric tons of plutonium surplus to the Nation’s defense needs, using new, modified, or existing facilities at sites across the Nation.
The EIS satisfies NNSA’s obligations under the Read More
Heinrich, Risch Bill To Clean Up Abandoned Mines Clears Major Committee Milestone
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Jim Risch’s (R-Idaho) legislation, the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act, passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee with strong bipartisan support. This legislation would make it easier for “Good Samaritans,” such as state agencies, local governments, nonprofits, and other groups, to clean up and improve water quality in and around abandoned hardrock mines.
“Gaining the bipartisan support of the Environment and Public Works Committee on our Good Samaritan Read More
House Panel Advances Clean Fuel Bill On Party Lines
By NATHAN BROWN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill that aims to reduce vehicle pollution in New Mexico is already working its way through the state Legislature.
After more than four hours of discussion, the House Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Committee voted 7-4 along party lines Saturday afternoon to advance House Bill 41.
The bill seeks to establish clean transportation fuel standards and reduce “carbon intensity” levels of transportation fuels to 20% below 2018 levels by 2030 and 30% below them by 2040.
To do this, producers of high-carbon transportation fuels like oil would be Read More
What Makes A Good Legislator? A Great Set Of Ears And A Thick Skin
Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, left, chats with Sen. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, on the Senate floor. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
dchacon@sfnewmexican.com
It’s been said politics is the art of the possible.
House Speaker Javier Martínez said politics also is the art of compromise, which makes being a good listener one of the key qualities of a good lawmaker — a trait that will prove especially important over the next three weeks during what will likely be a hectic 30-day session with contentious bills and dueling multibillion-dollar budgets under consideration. Read More
Republican Lawmaker Says ‘Thugs’ Broke Into Car In Santa Fe, Calls For Tough-On-Crime Bills
A screenshot from a video Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, posted on X in which he says his car was broken into in Santa Fe the night of Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Courtesy/SFNM
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
dchacon@sfnewmexican.com
A Republican lawmaker called on the Legislature to pass tough-on-crime bills this session after he said he was the victim of a vehicle break-in in New Mexico’s capital city Friday night.
“They’re just going to continue to do this kind of crap until we say no more and no more thuggery in New Mexico,” Rep. John Block said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Saturday afternoon. Read More
State Requests $600,000 To Pursue Program To Safeguard New Mexico Waterways
The spring-fed pond at the Leonora Curtin Wetland Preserve. The state says it needs full autonomy in managing its water resources as climate change makes droughts more intense and frequent. New Mexican file photo
By SCOTT WYLAND
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Regulators are requesting $600,000 this legislative session to aid the state in establishing the authority to safeguard New Mexico’s waterways after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling disqualified most of them from federal protection.
The need for full state autonomy in managing water resources, which are declining as climate change makes droughts Read More
Legislation To Increase Oil And Gas Royalty Rate On New Mexico State Lands Passes First Committee
New Mexico State Land Office News:
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SANTA FE – Legislation to increase the top royalty rate charged for oil and gas development on state lands from 20% to the market rate of 25% passed the House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Committee, New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced today.
House Bill 48 (also filed as Senate Bill 24), which is sponsored by Rep. Matthew McQueen and Sen. Bill Tallman, would bring New Mexico’s royalty rate in line with what is charged in Texas and Read More
Arts In Public Places Advisory Board To Meet Jan. 25
County Council To Hold Closed Session Jan. 23
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council will hold a Closed Session at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 23 in the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.
The purpose of this Closed Session is Pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 10-15-1 (H) (5)) – Collective Bargaining Negotiations with the International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 611.
New Mexico Governor’s Call For Panhandling Crackdown Raises Concerns
Lori Sena, 40, stands at the corner of St. Francis Drive and Paseo de Peralta on Thursday holding a sign reading, ‘Help us, please’. Sena, who grew up on Alto Street, has been living on Santa Fe’s streets off and on for about 10 years. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
A discarded cardboard sign used by an individual asking for donations lies on the median of St. Francis Drive near Cerrillos Road on Thursday in Santa Fe. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By GABRIELLE PORTER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Lori Sena stood in the median of Paseo de Peralta late Thursday morning, holding out a cardboard Read More
Senate GOP Blasts House Bill Limiting Oil, Gas Production
Sen. William Sharer of Farmington
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A Senate Finance Committee hearing about an agency budget turned testy Friday as legislators ripped into the potential effects of a House bill dealing with New Mexico’s oil and gas industry.
During Friday’s meeting, Republican Sens. William Sharer of Farmington and Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley of Elephant Butte put up a spirited defense of the industry in response to proposed legislation that would require all new wells to placed at least 2,250 feet — not quite a half-mile — from a health care and correctional facilities, Read More
SFCHA To Offer Residents Assistance On Jan. 24 With Los Alamos County Housing Choice Voucher Program
COUNTY News:
Christine Archuleta from the Santa Fe Civic Housing Authority (SFCHA) Española office will be in Los Alamos Wednesday, Jan. 24, to offer Los Alamos residents assistance with the Los Alamos County Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program (also known as Section 8).
Archuleta will accept walk-ins, 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 24, at the Los Alamos County Social Services office at 1183 Diamond Drive, Suite E. She advises that there may be extended wait times as she will meet with individuals on a first-come, first-served basis.
In the afternoon, she will meet with individuals who have scheduled Read More
Roundhouse Roundup: Days Remaining In Session – 26
Roundhouse Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Government ethics: The State Ethics Commission advocated Friday for the “swift passage” of a bill that would amend the Governmental Conduct Act, New Mexico’s primary statute on government ethics, conflicts of interest and corruption.
House Bill 8, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham approved for consideration during the session, would increase the maximum civil penalties for ethics violations, now set at $250, and regulate prohibited political activity by government officials and employees, similar to the federal Hatch Act.
“These amendments Read More
New Mexico Environment Department Issues Request For Information To Develop Strategic Water Supply
Cabinet Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
SANTA FE — Following Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai and as highlighted in the 2024 State of the State Address delivered earlier this week, the New Mexico Environment Department today released a Request for Information (RFI) related the strategic water supply.
“To meet the demands of communities now and in the future, to sustain our economic growth, and to meet this moment with a first-of-its-kind solution, the Strategic Water Supply will build a secure, resilient water Read More
Roundhouse Roundup: Days Remaining In Session – 27
Families, legislators and staff gather in the Rotunda to listen to music by Mariachi Estrella during the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department’s Early Childhood Day at the state Capitol Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, with activities for toddlers and preschool children including face painting, crafts, a photo booth, live entertainment and an address by the governor. Courtesy/SFNM
Roundhouse Roundup
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Digital Driver’s Licenses: New Mexico would join a growing number of states that offer electronic driver’s licenses under a bill Sen. Roberto “Bobby” Read More
Chacón: Lawmaker Calls CYFD An ‘Unfixable Agency’
A Senate Finance Committee meeting Thursday on child well-being focused heavily on the troubled Children, Youth and Families Department as Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley, (R-Elephant Butte), questioned CYFD Cabinet Secretary Teresa Casados, center. Human Services Secretary Kari Armijo, left, Health Secretary Patrick Allen, right, and Early Childhood Education Secretary Elizabeth Groginsky also spoke at the hearing on a collaborative effort among their agencies. Courtesy/Daniel J. Chacón/The New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Almost a year ago, Gov. Michelle Read More
Muñoz, Herndon Reintroduce Bill To Protect Kids Online
Sen. George Muñoz
U.S. SENATE News:
SANTA FE — Sen. George Muñoz and Rep. Pamelya Herndon Thursday announced their sponsorship and introduction of the New Mexico Kids Code, legislation to make technology safer for young users and protect their privacy.
Advocates including parents, families, educators, medical professionals hailed the lawmakers’ reintroduction of the age-appropriate design code bills as a landmark step in efforts to enhance public safety by protecting New Mexico children and teens online.
“Despite skyrocketing rates of youth depression, anxiety, eating disorders Read More
Heinrich Statement On Vote To Keep Government Open
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement Thursday after voting to pass a continuing resolution to keep federal agencies funded through March.
“Passing this continuing resolution today will help us avoid an unnecessary government shutdown that would have hurt New Mexico families and tanked our economy.
“While today’s vote is a temporary victory for the American people, we can’t keep kicking the can down the road. House Republicans have held the majority Read More
Community Development Department Zoom Meeting Jan. 23
COUNTY News:
The Community Development Department is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting at 12 p.m., Tuesday, Jan 23, 2024. Topic: LTAB Meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85072848071
Meeting ID: 850 7284 8071
Click here for the meeting agenda. Read More
Special Ed Teachers Hope Lawmakers OK Pay Raises, Admin Changes
Principal Brittany Behenna Griffith smiles Friday while extending her shaving cream-covered hand to 4-year-old Tenzin Dhangsel in a preschool classroom at Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe. Courtesy/Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher: data-driven, observant, organized, flexible, creative, communicative.
As principal of Nye Early Childhood Center, Behenna Griffith and her staff serve a unique population of students. In addition Read More
