Governor Names Monette Indian Affairs Cabinet Secretary
Josett D. Monette
From the Office of the Governor:
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- James R. Mountain to serve as senior policy advisor to the governor
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SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today named Josett D. Monette as Cabinet Secretary of the Indian Affairs Department, succeeding current Secretary-designate James R. Mountain, who will transition to the governor’s office as senior policy advisor for tribal affairs.
Monette has served at the Indian Affairs Department since March 2023 when she was appointed as general counsel. She was appointed to deputy secretary in July 2023.
“Both former Secretary-designate Mountain Read More
Op-Ed: Regarding New Mexico Public Education Department’s Proposed Amendments To 6.10.5 NMAC
By VALERIE FOX
Los Alamos
I am a parent of an elementary-age student. I am objecting to the proposed amendments to 6.10.5 NMAC. As I understand it, our district is opposed to it as well. Our students, teachers and school board members are already reeling from a swath of changes last year that included extended calendars and have made no difference in testing in the state of New Mexico. In fact, there has been a decline in math test scores and barely any movement in reading. Math proficiency scores in this state dropped to 24% and we are last in the nation in education.
Our PED needs to be honest with citizens Read More
Joint Economic Committee Analysis: Wages And Salaries Have Grown Faster Than Prices Since January 2021
JEC News:
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Joint Economic Committee (JEC) Chairman Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and the JEC Democrats released a new analysis Dec. 1, finding that the national average wages and salaries grew by nearly $15,000 between January 2021 and October 2023, which outpaces price growth during that period by over $3,500.
Recent news stories focused on price increases since the start of 2021 do not tell the whole story. While costs have risen over that period due to pandemic disruptions and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, incomes have grown more during that period as the result of the massive Read More
New Mexico ‘Presidential Primary Nomination By Committee’ Meets Friday Dec. 22 At Supreme Court In Santa Fe
New Mexico Supreme Court News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Presidential Primary Nomination by Committee meeting will be held in person 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 22, at the New Mexico Supreme Court Courtroom 237, Don Gaspar Ave. in Santa Fe.
The purpose of the meeting is to nominate presidential primary candidates, and certify to the secretary of state the names of all those generally advocated and nationally recognized or supported by any major political party in the state as candidates of the major political parties participating in the 2024 Presidential Primary for the Office of President of the Read More
Luján, Blumenthal, Schumer, Tonko Introduce ‘Stopping Grinch Bots Act’ To Stop Cyber Theives From Ruining Kids’ Holidays
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — With holiday shopping underway, U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced the Stopping Grinch Bots Act.
The bicameral bill would prevent use of “bot” technology to quickly buy up entire inventories of popular toys and re-sell them at marked up prices. Third-party sellers use bots to manipulate online sales to buy toys, making inventory shortages worse and price gouging families shopping for the holidays.
“As the holiday season hits Read More
Heinrich: United States Service Academies Nominees
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his nominees to the United States Service Academies. A nomination is required to attend the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy; the U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination.
Being nominated is a significant honor. The application process is rigorous, and only the most qualified and meritorious candidates receive a nomination.
“Our service academies provide exceptional education Read More
Council Appoints Anne Laurent County Manager
Anne Laurent
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council unanimously appointed Anne Laurent as the new County Manager during a special meeting this morning.
Laurent serves as deputy manager, along with Linda Matteson and will take the reigns from County Manager Steven Lynne who is retiring in March.
“I just want to thank the council,” Laurent said after the vote. She also put a plug in for the Leadership Los Alamos program, which she graduated from in 2010.
Council Randall Ryti made the motion to approve Laurent as the new County Manager.
“I just Read More
Parr-Sanchez: PED Tramples On Legislation, Ignores Issues
Mary Parr-Sanchez is a 32-year veteran educator teaching history and civics at Picacho Middle School. She is the mother of 4, grandmother of 2 and the elected leader of the National Education Association in New Mexico
By MARY PARR-SANCHEZ
New Mexicans across all races, diverse and unique backgrounds, and geographically wide zip codes from Aztec to Alamogordo, want our students engaged in learning and attending school every single day.
We want students to graduate from our public education system ready to thrive in college, their chosen profession and, ultimately, life in general. Student Read More
Seats Still Open For Annual LAMS Washington, D.C. Trip
Lincoln Memorial. Courtesy/Worldstrides
LAMS News:
It is not too late to sign up for this year’s 8th grade annual spring break Washington, DC trip to be held March 23-26.
There are just seven seats left. Only a $99 deposit is needed to secure a spot. Flexible payment plans are available, as are discounts for first responder, educator and military family members.
This is a private trip and not a school sponsored trip. Sign up here using trip ID # 209244 or call 1.800.468.5899.
Questions? Call Roberta Cocking at 505.670.0679. See Facebook at “LAMS Washington, D.C. Trip” for pictures and additional Read More
Robinson: Who Benefits From Immigration Myths?
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
About those holiday discussions…
Recently, I wrote about studies suggesting that instead of avoiding politics as we share meals with the extended family, we should go ahead and dive in – to the food and the subject matter. If we can manage civil conversations, the researchers suggest, it might reduce the national temperature.
I had an opportunity to try this out. It wasn’t over Thanksgiving dinner but over a speaker phone in a car as my cousin and his wife drove to his brother’s house for dinner. After the usual joking and catching up, Read More
Stansbury Introduces Bill To Revitalize Nursing Workforce
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.-01) introduced Wednesday the Public Health Nursing Act in the House.
This legislation, akin to its Senate counterpart introduced by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), aims to address the public health crisis through revitalizing and sustaining a robust public health nursing workforce in the United States.
The legislation would be a monumental step in addressing the healthcare staffing shortage, authorizing $5 billion annually over the course of 10 years to create a grant program through the Read More
County Accepting Applications For Board Of Public Utilities
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County is accepting applications to fill one position on the Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
Comprising five voting members, the BPU governs the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), a county-owned utility that provides Los Alamos with electric, water, natural gas and wastewater services.
Applications must be submitted online by 11:59 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.
The appointed individual will fill a position to be vacated Jan. 31 due to a resignation. The new member will assume the remainder of the previous member’s term and will serve from Feb. 1, 2024, through Read More
U.S. Senators Luján, Barrasso Introduce Legislation To Help Improve Efficiency Of 988 Suicide And Crisis Lifeline
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) have introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the routing of calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to local call centers.
Currently, calls to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed to a call center based on a phone’s area code. This process can result in a call center mismatch, as over 80 percent of the calls are from cell phones that may not be in the same geographic location as their area code.
The 988 Lifeline Location Improvement Act of 2023 is a critical Read More
Los Alamos MainStreet Proposes Downtown East Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Designation
MainStreet & Creative District News:
New Mexico MainStreet, on behalf of Los Alamos MainStreet, recently presented Los Alamos County Council with a proposed Downtown Los Alamos East Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA) Designation.
This first introduction of the proposed designation included information on the benefits a site-specific MRA would bring to the East portion of Downtown. Exact boundaries of the new proposed district are still being determined.
The proposed Downtown East MRA Plan would be fully covered in-house through a service request with New Mexico MainStreet Read More
Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board Gets Update On Climate Action Plan
Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Is Los Alamos a greenhouse gas guzzler? How can it best reduce its greenhouse gas consumption?
Los Alamos County is tackling these questions by developing a climate action plan. County Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule is heading the project along with Cascadia Consulting Group.
During the Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) meeting Tuesday night, Cascadia representatives updated the board on the results of its greenhouse gas study as well as the responses made in a recent community survey on climate Read More
County Council Strikes Down Two Animal Ordinances
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council struck down two ordinances that addressed animals – wild and domesticated – during its meeting Tuesday.
The first ordinance proposed updates to Chapter 6 of the Los Alamos County Code, which addresses animals in the County.
The suggested changes included, among other things, revising language for when animals can be taken into County custody as well as revising language for when it is unlawful to keep an animal, excluding livestock, that habitually howls, yelps, whines, barks or makes other noises Read More
Update On Friday Dec. 15 County Council Meeting
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council meeting scheduled for Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, will be held in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. as planned.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. as published, but it is anticipated the meeting will then be recessed until 10 a.m. to align with the opening of County operations.
Los Alamos County Municipal Building will be open at 9 a.m., and those interested in attending the meeting will be able to come in and sit down. Read More
Los Alamos Public School Board Opposes PED Rule Change
By the Los Alamos Public School Board:
Below is a statement to the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) from the Los Alamos School Board opposing the recent regulation changes proposed by PED for the 2024-2025 school year.
New Mexico Public Education Department,
We, the Los Alamos Public School Board, are writing this letter to express our opposition to the recently proposed rules changes. The proposed changes to Regulation 6.10.5 NMAC [School Instructional Time Requirements] would have detrimental effects for most districts throughout New Mexico. There are some foundational Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Secures Major Wins For New Mexico Military Installations, Service Members, National Labs
From the Office Of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) welcomed Senate passage Wednesday of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24).
The legislation includes major wins that Heinrich secured, including investments in New Mexico’s service members, military installations, national labs and job-creating initiatives throughout the state.
The legislation now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives for final passage, then to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“This bipartisan bill invests Read More
Art In Public Places & Parks And Rec Advisory Board Meetings Canceled Tonight Due To Winter Storm
COUNTY News:
Due to weather, the Art in Public Places and Parks & Recreation Board meetings are both canceled for tonight, Dec. 14.
The underutilized amenities presentation on the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board’s agenda will be moved to the Jan. 11, 2024 meeting. Read More
