County’s Draft Short-term Rental Program Available For Public Review And Comment Through June 18, 2023
COUNTY News:
On May 17, Los Alamos County Community Development Department (CDD) hosted a public meeting at White Rock Fire Station 3 to present the latest information about its proposed Short-term Rental (STR) Program.
The purpose of the meeting was for CDD staff and contractor Wilson & Company (Wilson) to meet in person with the community, present the draft STR Program and explain how the public input process has thus far been incorporated. Those in attendance had an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
Short-term rentals, also known as vacation rentals, are now a mainstay Read More
Governor Appoints Weisler New Mexico State Police Chief
W. Troy Weisler
From the Office pf the Governor:
SANTA FE – Govr Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today the appointment of W. Troy Weisler as the 23rd New Mexico State Police Chief effective Saturday, June 24, 2023.
He will succeed New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Q. Johnson, who was appointed in 2019. Chief Johnson is retiring after 23 years of service to the state.
Deputy Chief Weisler serves as the Deputy Chief for Strategic Development, Special Projects, Communications and Recruiting and is a 21-year State Police veteran. He has worked in every division of the Department of Public Safety’s Read More
Robinson: Reorganization 20 Years Ago Produced Dysfunctional Department Of Cultural Affairs
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Long-time State Archeologist Eric Blinman recently sued the state, his former boss and the governor over his firing in February. The abrupt termination of the well known and respected Blinman produced a public outcry and petitions of support, along with complaints about Department of Cultural Affairs Secretary Debra Garcia y Griego, who’s fired a string of directors.
When we talk about what makes New Mexico unique, we talk about culture, heritage and history. Archaeologists are the people who discover and explain it all. This Read More
LAPS Notice Of Possible Quorum At NMSBA Law Conference
Public Notice:
Members of the Los Alamos School Board may attend the New Mexico School Boards Association (NMSBA) Law Conference June 1-3, 2023, at the Embassy Suites in Albuquerque.
A Quorum may be present; however no action will be taken. Read More
Governor Honors 3,635 New Mexicans Who Died Defending Freedom
From the Office of the Governor:
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement today, Memorial Day:
“Today we honor the 3,635 New Mexicans who died defending our freedom, as well as the families they left behind. We owe it to each of them to reflect daily upon their sacrifice: as we attend a religious service, as we cast a vote, as we peacefully protest in our streets without fear of violence or retribution.
“Each of these men and women died so that we may be free, and for that we are eternally grateful.
“To every fallen hero: We can never repay the debt that you are owed for your service, but Read More
Dannemann: Welcome Relief On Gross Receipts Tax
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
New Mexico doctors got a bit of relief in an amendment to the tax law enacted this past session.
Doctors have had to pay New Mexico gross receipts tax on co-pays and deductibles – the portion of the bill paid by the patient. That was eliminated by this law.
It used to be worse. Until the late 1990s, we required gross receipts also on the portion paid by the insurance company. A 2022 report by the New Mexico Medical Society said New Mexico is one of only 4 states that tax medical services in any way (the others are Ohio, Michigan and Read More
Memorial Day: America’s Most Solemn Holiday…
By BARBARA MARANZANI
www.history.com
Today is Memorial Day, an American holiday observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.
9 Things You May Not Know About Memorial Day:
Memorial Day and its traditions may have ancient roots
While the first commemorative Memorial Day events weren’t held in the United States until the late 19th century, the practice of honoring those who have fallen in battle dates Read More
Heinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation Seeking Healing ‘For Stolen Native Children And Their Communities’
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and more than two dozen colleagues in introducing the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies in the United States Act, legislation that seeks healing for stolen Native children and their communities.
Originally introduced in 2020 with then-U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), the bill would establish a formal commission to investigate, document, and acknowledge past injustices of the federal government’s Indian Read More
Tales Of Our Times: Groves Saw In Oppenheimer A Rare Mix Vital To The Mission
By JOHN BARTLIT
Los Alamos
Our town eagerly awaits the release of the movie “Oppenheimer” in the U.K. and U.S. July 21. Townsfolk know that Oppenheimer’s genius fit well with the different genius of General Leslie Groves, played by Matt Damon in the film. Many of us wonder which parts of the story the film will tell. Full disclosure: My wife Nancy chaired the committee whose work resulted in the life-size bronze statues of Oppenheimer and Groves engaging in Los Alamos life since 2011. See the two at work and “Oppie” at his April birthday below.
Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer was the director of the wartime Read More
Heinrich, Luján, Stansbury: $2.2M In Federal Funds For Cancer, Drug Abuse, Addiction Research, Health Centers In New Mexico
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are welcoming more than $2 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The $2,229,543 will support cancer treatment, drug abuse and addiction research and improvements to health centers in New Mexico.
“This much-needed federal funding will help us in the fight to end cancer and the opioid epidemic in New Mexico,” Heinrich said. “We must continue to improve access to addiction treatment services and Read More
Dannemann: Cannabis Is Not Without Risk
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
New Mexico has passed the one-year anniversary of legalizing recreational adult-use marijuana. The news releases were bursting with excitement. Government and business leaders were celebrating, saying the industry is off to a great start.
These announcements focused only on the business side – lots of money, lots of tax revenue – not mentioning the effects on New Mexico consumers.
In one year, New Mexico had $300 million in adult-use cannabis sales. The state issued around 2,000 cannabis licenses, including 633 retailers, Read More
New Mexico Environment Cabinet Secretary Kenney On U.S. Supreme Court’s ‘Appalling Decision’ On Clean Water Act
Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney issued a statement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s “appalling decision” in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which dramatically limits the EPA’s authority to protect water systems.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision amounts to cultural appropriation for New Mexico’s residents and tribal members, stripping us of our connections to our most precious natural resource. This comes at a time when climate change demands even greater protections of ephemeral streams, wetlands Read More
Luján & Collegues Announce Senate National Labs Caucus
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), James Risch (R-Idaho.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) announced the creation of a new Senate National Labs Caucus.
The National Lab Network conducts cutting-edge research to advance and deploy technologies that are critical to maintaining sustainable economic growth in the U.S. and safeguarding our national security. The Senate National Labs Caucus will coordinate with its counterpart in the U.S. House of Representatives to identify bicameral legislative opportunities that elevate the Read More
BLM New Mexico Oil And Gas Lease Sale Nets $78.8 Million
BLM News:
SANTA FE — The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico State Office conducted a lease sale Thursday offering 45 parcels totaling 10,123 acres within Cheyenne County, Kansas and Eddy, Lea, and Chaves counties in New Mexico, on public lands managed by the Roswell Field Office, Carlsbad Field Office and Oklahoma Field Office.
In total, 37 parcels totaling 8,596.25 acres sold for $78,844,369.
Links to the environmental assessment, maps, parcel lists, Notice of Competitive Lease Sale, and proposed lease stipulations are available online at the BLM ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2021616/510 Read More
Heinrich Slams Supreme Court’s Ruling Undermining EPA’s Authority To Enforce Clean Water Act
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, which undercuts the EPA’s authority to address pollution in New Mexico’s waterways:
“The Supreme Court’s radical conservative majority has once again rolled back precedent, disregarded science, and put the health and well-being of New Mexicans at risk. This time, they’ve done it by taking aim Read More
New Mexico Congressional Delegation Welcomes $61M In Federal Funds To Lower Utility Costs, Improve Public Safety
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) are welcoming over $61 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to lower utility costs and improve public safety for rural and underserved communities in New Mexico.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Partners Network program. The Rural Partners Network program RPN is an all-of-government program of more than 800 federal, state and local partners that collaborate Read More
Robinson: FEMA Not Helping Disaster Victims For 20 Years
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Wildfires in northern New Mexico last year quickly destroyed homes, property and trees in a race to the horizon. But the agency that’s supposed to help victims with housing and reimbursement operates in slow motion, if it operates at all.
As a recent story by Source New Mexico and Pro Publica made clear, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has done almost nothing, hogtied by its own regulations and bureaucratic inertia. On May 10, U. S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, along with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, wrote FEMA Read More
Governor Signs Executive Order Creating New Mexico Affordable Housing Investment Council
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order Tuesday, which created a Housing Investment Council with a mission to bring New Mexico’s affordable housing development up to pace to meet demand in the state.
The council’s work begins at a crucial moment as average rent in the state has increased by 70% since 2017 but wages have only grown by 15%.
“It is time to go big on affordable housing. We need thousands of homes to meet demand and give New Mexicans a stable foundation,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “We secured more than $82 million in the last legislative session to address Read More
New Mexico Higher Education Department Appoints Luis Carlos Campos Chair Of HED Capital Outlay Committee
Luis Carlos Campos
HED News:
SANTA FE — Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez has appointed Luis Carlos Campos to chair the Higher Education Department (HED) Capital Outlay Committee, which provides funding and approval recommendations to the department for all construction and infrastructure projects at New Mexico’s 29 public and tribal colleges, universities and specials schools in addition to the University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Center.
“Mr. Luis Carlos Campos is a seasoned and competent professional with more than 30 years of experience in facilities management
Council Proclaims May 21-27 National Public Works Week
Los Alamos County Councilor David Reagor, center, presents a proclamation declaring this week, May 21-27, as ‘National Public Works Week’ during the regular council meeting Tuesday. Accepting the proclamation included, from left, Environmental Services Office Specialist Joshua Levings, Environmental Services Division Manager Armando Gabaldon, Public Works Office Manager Louise Romero, Public Works Department Director Juan Rael, Deputy Department Director Eric Martinez and Fleet Services Manager Pete Mondragon. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council presented Read More
