Council Action Taken March 28, 2023
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
It was not a pleasant ordinance to approve but the majority of Los Alamos County Council agreed it was necessary to approve a hike in gas service rates during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
Council approved 6-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed, to pass the ordinance, which will adjust the Department of Public Utilities’ variable rate cap for natural gas, include an additional recovery rate component and add a compensatory minimum value for the variable portion.
As a result, the following will occur:
- The variable cap
Sen. Heinrich And Rep. Pingree Reintroduce Bill To Put Nation On Path To Net-Zero Agriculture Emissions
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) Tuesday reintroduced the Agriculture Resilience Act (ARA), comprehensive legislation that sets a bold vision of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. agriculture by the year 2040.
“New Mexico’s farmers and ranchers’ livelihoods depend on the health of our land and water. They are also on the frontlines Read More
State Auditor Joseph Maestas Releases Updated ‘At-Risk’ Lists Adding Third Component For Non-Compliant Local Public Bodies
State Auditor Joseph M. Maestas
From the Office of the State Auditor:
SANTA FE— The Office of the State Auditor of New Mexico announces today the release of the updated “At-Risk” List that alerts the public agencies that have not filed annual audit reports required by law or that are otherwise at risk of being noncompliant with state financial reporting requirements (At-Risk Lists | NM Office of the State Auditor (saonm.org).
This year’s “At-Risk” List now includes a new, third component list. The first component list highlights specific categories of entities that have not filed timely financial Read More
Town Hall Meeting With NNSA Administrator Jill Hruby And DOE’s ‘Ike’ White At Santa Fe Convention Center April 4
Rep. Leger Fernández Leads House Bill To Rename Gallup Veterans Clinic For Staff Sgt. Hiroshi Miyamura
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thursday, U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández introduced a bill to rename the Gallup Veterans Affairs clinic for the late Staff Sergeant Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura, who died Nov. 29, 2022. Senator Martin Heinrich is leading the companion bill in the Senate with Sen. Ben Ray Luján.
“The call of service is one that a select few among us choose to answer,” Rep. Leger Fernández said. “Staff Sergeant Miyamura chose to answer it twice. He volunteered to serve not only in World War II, but also in the Korean War, where he was imprisoned for 27 Read More
Governor Signs Education Savings Plan Uses HB 342 Passed With Unanimous Support By New Mexico Legislature
EDUCATION PLAN News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The New Mexico Legislature unanimously passed House Bill 342—Education Savings Plan Uses—the legislation was signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham March 16, 2023 and will go into effect June 16, 2023.
With the bill signed into law, New Mexicans utilizing a 529 education savings account authorized by the New Mexico Education Trust Board—such as The Education Plan®—can now elect to receive a tax deduction for contributions used to pay for additional federal qualified education expenses, including:
- Up to $10,000 per year to cover expenses for tuition in
Gov. Michelle Lijan Grisham Signs Senate Bill 4 Making Universal Free & Healthy School Meals The Law Of The Land
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signs Senate Bill 4 with co-sponsors Sen. Leo Jaramillo and Sen. Michael Padilla today at Pinon Elementary School in Santa Fe. Photo by David Lienemann
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today signed Senate Bill 4, ensuring all students have access to free and healthy school meals, alongside students at Pinon Elementary School in Santa Fe.
The bill is sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla and Sen. Leo Jaramillo and passed unanimously through the Legislature.
“Today, New Mexico is leading the nation by not only providing free healthy school Read More
County Council To Host Regular Session March 28
County News:
The complete agenda packet for the March 28 Los Alamos County Council Regular Session has been published and is available online here.
New Mexico Indian Affairs Department Announces New Appointees Jonathon Tafoya And Josett Monette
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Indian Affairs Secretary designate James R. Mountain announced today the latest appointments to the Indian Affairs Department team. Jonathon Tafoya has been appointed Director of Policy and Governmental Affairs and Josett Monette has been named General Counsel.
“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Tafoya and Ms. Monette and I look forward to working with them to further enhance the Indian Affairs Department’s relationships with New Mexico’s 23 sovereign Nations, Tribes, and Pueblos,” Mountain said. “I have full confidence in their skills and their ability to serve the Lujan Read More
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández And Democratic Women’s Caucus Announce New Leadership And Historic Membership
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3) has announced her election as a vice chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) as part of its new leadership and historic membership for the 118th Congress, joining Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), and Vice Chair Nikema Williams (GA-5).
This Congress, a record-breaking 94 Democratic women are serving in the House of Representatives, all of whom are members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus—including 16 Democratic women newly elected in the 118th Congress. The Democratic Women’s Caucus Read More
Governor Signs Bill To Create Wildlife Crossing Fund
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed a bill Thursday to create a wildlife crossing fund.
The legislation, SB 72, introduced by Sen. Mimi Stewart, will create a wildlife corridor fund and invest $5 million in state funding that would help decrease wildlife-vehicle collisions. In New Mexico, there are roughly 1,200 crashes a year reported to law enforcement, costing drivers nearly $20 million in vehicle damage, emergency response, and hospital bills. This does not include costs associated with missed work and lost wildlife and is expected to be underreported.
The Read More
New Mexico February 2023 Unemployment Rate 3.6%
NMDWS News:
The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) has announced that New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in February, up from 3.5 percent in January and down from 5.0 percent in the previous year.
The national unemployment rate in February was 3.6 percent, up from 3.4 percent in January and down from 3.8 percent in February 2022.
Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 22,800 jobs, or 2.7 percent, between February 2022 and February 2023. The majority of gains came from the private sector, which was up 18,800 jobs, or 2.9 percent. The Read More
Luján, Leger Fernández, Hayes Reintroduce Legislation To Expand Federal Loan Forgiveness For Educators
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) have reintroduced the Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act, which will expand the federal loan forgiveness program for educators.
This legislation helps to address educator shortages and increase children’s access to a diverse and well-prepared educator workforce by strengthening the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program.
High college costs and student loan debt impact recruitment, retention, and diversity of the educator workforce. Read More
State To Developmental Disabilities Program Providers In New Mexico: ‘If You Abuse Or Neglect Those In Your Care, We Are Coming For You’
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Last weekend, more than 75 employees from the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH), Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD), and the Human Services Department (HSD) conducted in-person wellness checks on more than 1,000 clients being cared for under the state’s Developmental Disabilities Waiver (DD Waiver) programs to ensure clients are in good health and being well cared for by providers.
These checks will continue until every one of the more than 6,000 clients served by DD Waiver programs are assessed in person.
Earlier this month, the DOH terminated the Read More
Scenes From Chamber Business Breakfast At SALA
More than 40 Chamber members attended the Business Breakfast Thursday at SALA. Courtesy/ChamberLos Alamos School Board Passes New 2023-24 Calendar
Los Alamos School Board Members, from left, Sondra Wyman, Melanie Colgan, Secretary Christine Bernstein, Vice President Ellen Specter and President Antonio Jaurigue discuss options for the new school calendar during Thursday night’s school board meeting. Screenshot/LADP
SCHOOL BOARD News:
In response to the newly passed HB 130, which requires New Mexico public schools to provide 1,140 hours of instruction and at least 180 days of school, Los Alamos Public Schools passed 4-1 with Board Member Sondra Wyman opposed a new calendar for the 2023-2024 school year during Thursday night’s Read More
RPLA To Feature Paul Gessing At Legislative Update Fundraising Event April 1 At SALA Event Center
Paul Gessing
RPLA News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos (RPLA) invites the public to its fundraising event on April 1: “The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the 2023 New Mexico Legislature” by Rio Grande Foundation President Paul Gessing.
Gessing will discuss:
- Looking at New Mexico economic and education policies, what happened?
- Will anything passed address New Mexico’s core economic and educational challenges?
- Will bills passed this session further hinder New Mexico’s progress?
Gessing became the first full-time President of the Rio Grande Foundation in March of 2006. Since joining the Foundation,
To Prevent Future Derailments, Reps. Stansbury, García, Johnson Lead 13 Members Of Congress To Urge DOT To Mandate Stronger Rail Safety Standards
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01), a member of the House Labor Caucus, led a letter with Representatives Jesús “Chuy” García (Ill.-04) and Hank Johnson (Ga.-04) and 13 other Members of Congress to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging the Department to implement stronger rail safety standards, specifically mandating the use and maintenance of wayside detector systems.
Wayside defect detector systems are crucial rail safety tools that monitor performance and can predict future failures. Even though Read More
Commerce Department Outlines Proposed National Security Guardrails For ‘CHIPS For America’ Incentives Program
Dept. Of Commerce News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Commerce today released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the guardrails included in the CHIPS Incentives Program to advance America’s technological and national security.
The national security guardrails are intended to ensure technology and innovation funded by the CHIPS and Science Act is not used for malign purposes by adversarial countries against the United States or its allies and partners.
The CHIPS and Science Act is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for unleashing a manufacturing and innovation Read More
New Mexico Congressional Delegation Announces Over $11 Million In Infrastructure Law Funding To Bolster Wildfire Resilience In Advance Of 2023 Fire Season
Congressional Delegation 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.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) announced a total of $11,482,174 in Infrastructure Law funding to make New Mexico communities more resilient to wildfires and strengthen the federal, state and local response.
The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new Community Wildfire Defense Grant program – a $1 billion new initiative funded under the Infrastructure Law. These funds will Read More
