Denish: Start Your Own ‘Say Hi’ Campaign
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Recently in talking with a friend, I mentioned I was mulling over topics for my regular column. I always have ideas about current events, and there is always lots to write about – children’s issues, women’s struggles, voter issues, for starters. And it’s easy to get mired in the heartbreak of two vicious wars, climate crisis, gun violence and more.
My friend had a better idea – more suited to the holiday season. He suggested I write about how people are being nicer to each other. I was intrigued and asked him to tell me more.
I listened as Read More
State Land Office Breaks Another Record, Earning $2.75 Billion In FY23 To Benefit New Mexico Schools, Hospitals, Colleges
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, in her office in Santa Fe shortly after taking office in 2019, has broken another record, earning $2.75 billion in revenue in FY23. Photo by Carol A, Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
- Revenue To Benefit New Mexico Schools, Hospitals, Colleges
Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced Monday that the New Mexico State Land Office has broken another record, earning $2.75 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2023 (FY23).
This record revenue benefits New Mexico’s public schools, Read More
Unemployment Insurance Ops Center Closed For Holidays
NMDWS News:
ALBUQUERQUE — All New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ (NMDWS) offices, including the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Operations Center, will be closed Monday, Dec. 25 in observance of Christmas; and Monday, Jan. 1 in observance of the New Year holiday.
The Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System (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, Dec. 26, after the Christmas holiday, and Tuesday, Jan. Read More
Skolnik: Reducing Alcohol-related Deaths In New Mexico – Part 2
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
One essential part of reducing alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico will be raising taxes on alcohol. The evidence shows that every 10% increase in alcohol taxes leads to a 7% decrease in consumption. My article of Dec. 15 (link) focused on this issue, especially in light of recent information about the apparent “sell out” of our state officials to some lobbyists on alcohol taxes.
The article also referred to using alcohol taxes to fund other measures to reduce alcohol consumption. Indeed, as a number of people kindly and correctly highlighted in response to my Read More
Robinson: Asha Can’t Be A Regular Wolf – She Has A Role In Lobo Recovery
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Asha, the Mexican grey wolf, took us on a journey this year.
The region’s most famous escapee, she made her break from a federal wolf reintroduction program in Arizona and migrated through New Mexico before her recapture Dec. 9.
Coincidentally, the feds will soon transplant gray wolves from an Oregon program into southern Colorado’s prime wolf habitat, where Asha was headed. However, our nomadic Asha would not have been allowed to breed with the newcomers because she is a subspecies, Canis lupus baileyi, or “lobo,” the most genetically Read More
NNSA: United States, Japan And Republic Of Korea Sign Trilateral Framework Encouraging Scientific Cooperation In Critical And Emerging Technology
NNSA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, senior representatives of the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the Cabinet Office of Japan, and the Ministry of Science and ICT of the Republic of Korea (ROK) signed a Trilateral Framework on cooperation in science and innovation.
Under the Framework, the participants will develop a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in early 2024 to facilitate scientific collaboration in critical and emerging technology areas.
The signing of the Framework memorializes political commitments made during the historic Aug. Read More
Op-Ed: Public Comments Made Regarding NM PED 6.10.5, School Calendar Requirements
By MORGAN WHITE
Los Alamos
My name is Morgan White, I’m a parent of three students in the Los Alamos Public Schools. I came today (Monday) because I felt it was important that you heard the voice of at least some parents, and I could be one of them. I am worried that the voice of parents may not be heard as loudly as it should because of the midday, workday timing of this hearing. Thank you for the opportunity to offer comments.
I’d like to start by asking, whatever you decide, we must keep our students’ best interest at heart.
I am sure that everyone agrees that any changes that you make should enhance their Read More
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Appointed To Institute Of American Indian Arts Board
Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs, was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) last Thursday by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
“Art provides a vital pathway to learn, discover, and appreciate culture, identity, and heritage,” Rep. Leger Fernández said. “My first visit to the IAIA was decades ago when it was in a small space in Santa Fe, doing big things. Now it occupies a vibrant campus with dormitories, Read More
EA For Chromium Plume At LANL Now Out For Review
DOE/EA News:
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- DOE/EA-2216: Chromium Interim Measure and Final Remedy; Los Alamos
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Summary
Groundwater sampling data from monitoring wells at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) indicate the presence of chromium contamination in the regional aquifer resulting from historical use of potassium dichromate, a corrosion inhibitor, in cooling tower water that was discharged to an outfall as part of operational maintenance activities.
DOE is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate alternatives for remedial action as part of the Chromium Interim Measures and Characterization Read More
Erinna M. Atkins Named 2024 State Bar President
2024 State Bar President Erinna M. Atkins
SBNM News:
SANTA FE — Dec. 6, 2023, the Supreme Court of New Mexico officiated the swearing-in of Erinna M. “Erin” Atkins as President of the State Bar of New Mexico for 2024. In addition to President-Elect Atkins’ swearing-in, Aja N. Brooks was sworn in as the President-Elect and Allison H. Block-Chavez as the Secretary-Treasurer.
The swearing-in took place at La Fonda in Santa Fe, where many from New Mexico’s legal community gathered alongside the Justices of the New Mexico Supreme Court to celebrate incoming President Atkins. Also in attendance Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján And Colleagues Renew Effort To Improve Reporting Of Attacks On Law Enforcement
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and bipartisan colleagues in reintroducing legislation to enhance information-gathering on attacks targeting law enforcement.
The Improving Law Enforcement Officer Safety and Wellness Through Data Act (S.3522) would help fill identified gaps in reporting requirements for ambush-attacks against officers by increasing our understanding of these crimes and how they arise.
The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Maggie Hassan Read More
County’s Cory Styron Elected To GP RED Board
Community Services Director Cory Styron
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Community Services Director Cory Styron has been nominated and elected to the GP RED board, a not-for-profit consultant organization specializing in community support and improvement.
For the last three years, Styron has led the many diverse divisions within Community Services ranging from Parks and Recreation to Social Services. With this experience, as well as many years prior in parks and recreation, he will provide valuable guidance on quality-of-life improvements within communities and further support GP Read More
FEMA: Navigating Claims Office Concerns
From FEMA:
We’ve received valuable feedback from the community, lawyers, and others regarding issues and concerns related to the Claims Office and the review/payment process.
Our top priority is to swiftly provide payments to the fire victims. To ensure we address everyone’s needs effectively, we’re here to directly respond to your questions and concerns.
Question: Will I receive more money if I work through a lawyer? How many claimants using lawyers have been paid out?
Answer: Compensation amounts, whether the claim is handled through a lawyer or worked independently, are assessed Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Leads Legislation To Reauthorize And Fully Fund Southwest Border Regional Commission
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, introduced the Southwest Border Regional Commission Reauthorization Act, legislation to reauthorize and fully fund the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC).
The SBRC is one of eight authorized federal regional commissions and authorities, which are congressionally-chartered, federal-state partnerships created to promote economic development in their respective regions.
The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Read More
New Mexico Land Commissioner Garcia Richard Extends Ban On Oil And Gas Drilling On State Lands Near Chaco
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced at a press conference Thursday that she is extending her ban on new oil, gas and mineral leasing on 72,776 acres of state lands near Chaco Culture National Historical Park through Dec. 31, 2043.
In one of her first acts as Land Commissioner in 2019, Commissioner Garcia Richard placed a mortarium on oil, gas and mineral leasing on state lands near Chaco, which was originally set to expire at the end of this year.
That order also established the Chaco Canyon Read More
Skolnik: Alcohol-Related Deaths – Are New Mexican Lives Really Worth Only $115?
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
New Mexico’s government urgently needs to take the steps required to reduce alcohol-related deaths. In 2021, more than 2,200 New Mexicans died of alcohol-related causes. Such deaths occurred at the highest rate of any state in the US, at 34.3 per 100,000 people. These deaths come with enormous social and economic impacts on families and communities throughout New Mexico. About 1,500 of those deaths could have been avoided if New Mexico would have lowered its rate of alcohol-related deaths to the national average.
The most effective way to achieve this is well-known Read More
County: Joint Meeting With LTAB & TITF Set For Dec. 19
COUNTY News:
A combined meeting of the Los Alamos County Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board (LTAB) and the Tourism Implementation Task Force (TITF) will be held noon Tuesday, Dec. 19.
The meeting will take place in the BCC Room #110, in the County Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave.
This meeting is open to the public.
Denish: Climate Change Rocks Property Insurance Premiums
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
New Mexico is a great place to live when it comes to weather. Some studies show that New Mexico is also one of the safest places to live when it comes to natural disasters. We have no hurricanes, intermittent minor floods, limited tornadoes. Wildfires are one of the few risks.
All this sometimes leads us to believe we aren’t impacted by climate change. Think again. All you need to do is look at your property insurance premiums.
My attention was drawn to this in 2022 when property insurance premium on my house in Hillsboro jumped by 42 percent. Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Cuts Ribbon On State-Of-The-Art Residences At New Mexico Veterans’ Home
From the Office of the Governor:
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined New Mexico veterans Thursday to cut the ribbon on new residences at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences, fulfilling her pledge to build new state-of-the-art facilities for those who served.
Gov. Lujan Grisham secured a $60 million investment from the Legislature during the 2022 session that enabled the construction of six residences that will provide safer, more private, and more comfortable accommodations for residents.
“New Mexico takes great pride in being home to numerous Read More
State Launches Wastewater Drug Testing Dashboard For New Mexico Public High Schools
Courtesy/NMED
NMED News:
Wednesday, the state released the first set of results of wastewater testing at public high schools on the Wastewater Drug Monitoring Dashboard.
The Department of Health directed wastewater testing for drugs be conducted at public high schools as part of a public health order to address substance misuse in the state. The Department of Health issued the public health order after Gov. Lujan Grisham declared substance misuse a public health emergency in September.
“Knowledge is power, and having more data about the presence of illicit substances in schools informs Read More
