County: Urban Trail Phase I & II Multi-Use Trail Project Construction Activities Begin Week Of Dec. 11
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Public Works Department is under contract with Hasse Contracting Company Inc. to construct the Urban Trail Phase I & II Multi-use Trail Project.
During the week of Dec. 11, Hasse Contracting will begin construction activities within the Fuller Lodge Grounds adjacent to Central Avenue.
Hours of Construction:
Hasse Contracting Company Inc. will generally be working 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Weekend work may be conducted occasionally if construction activities are impacted by weather.
Traffic Impact:
During these activities there will Read More
State Of New Mexico, FEMA And Claims Office Launching Outreach Effort, Starting With Text Message Campaign
FEMA News:
SANTA FE — Beginning Dec. 13, impacted individuals and families of Mora and San Miguel counties who applied for FEMA assistance after the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fires and floods and who have not yet filed a claim with the Claims Office, may receive a text message from the Claims Office asking if they are interested in receiving more information about the Claims Office or additional recovery resources.
The text message will come from the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office and will ask them to select from a series of options to tell us what best fits their current situation. By Read More
DPU’s Latest Quarterly Report Is Now Online
(VIDEO) Heinrich Joins MSNBC To Discuss Newly Introduced Gun Legislation
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.)joined Chris Jansing on MSNBC Wednesday to discuss his GOSAFE Act, legislation to protect communities from gun violence, while safeguarding Americans’ constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes.
Heinrich’s full conversation with MSNBC’s Chris Jansing is transcribed below:
Jansing:
At a time when Congress just seems to get more and more divided, a group of Democratic senators have proposed a new bill to curb gun violence.
The GOSAFE Act aims to regulate Read More
Op-Ed: Why New Mexico Students Need More Time In School
By SECRETARY ARSENIO ROMERO
New Mexico Public Education Department
There is a lot I’ve been seeing in the news lately about a new rule that is being proposed by the New Mexico Public Education Department that would establish the standard minimum school year is 180 days for all schools. I want to be clear about something, this is an update of an existing rule that established the 180-day minimum standard for schools with 5 days per week calendars in 2011-2012.
This rule was not strictly enforced in recent years due to the pandemic, so some schools have dropped their instructional days below 180. In Read More
Luján Leads Amicus Brief To Protect First Amendment Rights, Keep Online Platforms Safe For Minority Communities
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court regarding two Republican-led state laws that regulate how social media companies can moderate online content.
The amicus underscores that content moderation is primarily a federal matter, emphasizes the important role that social media sites have in the lives of their constituents and marginalized communities, and highlights the important role the legislative branch has in evaluating Read More
Environmental Sustainability Board To Meet Dec. 11
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Environmental Sustainability Board (ESB) is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11 in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda to this meeting here.
Find the Zoom link to this meeting here.
Passcode: 588102 Read More
JEC Report: Climate Risks Already Destabilizing Insurance Markets, Threatening Americans’ Financial Security
JEC News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chairman of the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) and the Joint Economic Committee Democrats released a new report today titled, “Climate Risks are Already Destabilizing Insurance Markets and Threatening Americans’ Financial Security.”
The report highlights the impact that climate change is already having on the financial well-being of individual American families, public and private insurance markets, local governments, and the broader financial sector.
“Climate change is not only a threat to our planet, it’s Read More
Los Alamos County Manager Candidates Meet Community
Community member Kevin Holsapple, left, and Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull take part in the Los Alamos County Manager candidate meet and greet event Thursday at the Los Alamos Nature Center. The process to recruit a new manager began when County Manager Steven Lynne announced in July that he would be retiring in March 2024. The two finalists are Los Alamos County Deputy Manager Anne Laurent and Senior Deputy City Manager for the City of El Paso, Texas, Tracey Jerome. Both attended the meet and greet and introduced themselves to the community. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
Indian Affairs Department Offers Two Funding Opportunities
IAD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) announces a unique opportunity for Nations, Pueblos and Tribes to access not one, but two funding sources for urgent infrastructure projects, courtesy of the State Legislature’s Fiscal Year 2024 grants.
- Emergency Infrastructure Funding – Act Fast! In response to pressing infrastructure needs, the Emergency Infrastructure Funding – Chapter 199, Section 25, has earmarked $1,188,040 for emergency infrastructure projects.
The application period opened Friday, Dec. 1 and closes 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
How Read More
Video: Council Vice Chair Cull Shares Meeting Highlights
Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull shares highlights of Tuesday’s council meeting. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
Our Town At A Crossroads: The Critical Role Of The New County Manager
By ALLAN SAENZ
Owner
Los Alamos Network (LAnet) and SALA Event Center
18 Year Resident
Dear County Councilors of Los Alamos,
I am writing to you today not just as a longtime resident and local business owner in Los Alamos but as a member of a community standing at the crossroads of change and potential.
Our town, known for its rich history and vibrant community, is on the brink of a transformational period, and the decision to appoint a new county manager is pivotal in steering the direction of this change.
Los Alamos is evolving, and with this comes the pressing need to adapt. Our town’s fabric is changing, Read More
Heinrich: A New, Pragmatic Approach To Address Gun Violence In America And Save Lives
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an op-ed published by Newsweek, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) highlights his newly introduced GOSAFE Act, legislation to protect communities from gun violence, while safeguarding Americans’ constitutional right to own a firearm for legitimate self-defense, hunting, and sporting purposes.
Newsweek: A New, Pragmatic Approach To Address Gun Violence in America and Save Lives
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Dec. 4, 2023
There have been more mass shootings in the U.S. than days in 2023. Our nation continues to reel from Read More
Luján Expresses Disappointment After NDAA Fails To Provide Justice For New Mexicans Who Sacrificed For National Security
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report failed to include the Senate-passed Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA):
“The NDAA fails to provide justice for New Mexicans who sacrificed for our national security. Generations of New Mexicans and their families have gotten sick and died from the radiation exposure and the lasting impacts of the Trinity Test. For New Mexico to have been ground zero for the first nuclear weapon – and left out of the original Read More
Luján, Cornyn, Kaine, Shaheen, Durbin Introduce Bill To Boost Substance Use Recovery Resources And Services
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the Strengthening Communities of Recovery Act today to reauthorize and expand resources for individuals experiencing substance use disorder.
As the United States faces a severe behavioral health crisis, exacerbated by an epidemic of substance use disorders (SUD), individuals in recovery are often struggling to reintegrate into society due to stigma, lack of support, and limited access to resources that address Read More
Gessing: Minimum Wage Hike Unnecessary
By PAUL J. GESSING
President
The Rio Grande Foundation
According to news reports Los Alamos Council will soon consider adopting a local minimum wage of $15.00 with a minimum wage for tipped workers of $3.75 an hour and a minimum wage for student workers of $13.50 an hour. If adopted the new wage rates would become effective on July 1, 2025, and would be adjusted upward based on the consumer price index into the future.
New Mexico’s minimum wage is currently set at $12 an hour under a law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Lujan Grisham in 2019. But, the real minimum wage is whatever a willing Read More
Senators Heinrich, Luján, Rep. Vasquez Announce 26 F-16s Will Be Permanently Based At Holloman Air Force Base
An F-16 fighter jet. Courtesy/Lockheed Martin
CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) applauded the U.S. Air Force’s final decision to permanently base a training squadron of 26 F-16 fighter jets at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo.
“Holloman Air Force Base is a national leader in training America’s fighter pilots, and this final decision to base a permanent F-16 training mission affirms it,” Heinrich said. “I have worked for years to move these F-16s to Holloman, extolling its unmatched Read More
Heinrich Discusses Newly Introduced Gun Legislation
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, in the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) led a press conference to discuss his newly introduced legislation, the Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act (GOSAFE) Act.
The GOSAFE Act is new, pragmatic legislation designed to protect communities from gun violence by regulating firearms based on the lethality of their internal mechanisms, as opposed to focusing on cosmetic features that manufacturers can easily modify.
Heinrich was joined by U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Michael Read More
County: Deadline Approaches For Public To Provide Online Comments For Proposed Animal Ordinance
A trio of geese at Ashley Pond. Photo by Leslie Bucklin
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County government officials encourage residents to participate in the ongoing public comment period for proposed ordinance 02-306 to amend the Chapter 6 animal code.
The public is invited to submit comments online at lacnm.com/Animal-Wildlife-Ordinances until 11:59 p.m. Dec. 7 under the “Discussion” accordion.
All written comments received online will be compiled, included with the agenda documentation, and shared with the County Council before the public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 12 in Council Read More
DPU Announces Electric Reliability Measure Exceeds Goal
Courtesy/DPU
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has announced that in November DPU exceeded a goal for electric reliability that felt unreachable in the not-too-distant past.
The DPU uses the SAIDI, short for System Average Interruption Duration Index, as a measure of reliability. Simply put, it is a calculation of the average amount of time that an electric customer can expect to be without power per year, and the lower the number, the better. A rolling average that is recalculated monthly, the DPU has a long-standing goal of 60 minutes.
At the end of November, Read More
