Los Alamos School Board To Meet Tuesday Feb. 14
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board is scheduled to meet 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14 at the Administration Offices, School Board Room at 2101 Trinity Drive, Suite V.
To join this Zoom meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/5056632222pwd=ODd1d3h0Z1dGd1ByT0lVNGU3T2dFQT09
Meeting ID: 505 663 2222
Passcode: j45K8H
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Eco Station & Overlook Convenience Center Closed Feb. 20
Los Alamos County Eco Station on East Jemez Road. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Eco Station and Overlook Convenience Center will be closed Monday, Feb. 20, in observance of the President’s Day holiday.
Additionally, there will be no residential trash collection provided Monday, Feb. 20. If the observed date falls on your normal trash day, please place your materials out Wednesday, Feb. 22. Read More
Legislative Roundup: 35 Days Remaining In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Senate confirmations: The state Senate on Friday confirmed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s appointees to lead the Department of Health and the Department of Workforce Solutions and a board member for the New Mexico Border Authority.
The Senate unanimously approved Christie Ann Harvey as a Border Authority board member and Sarita Nair as secretary of the labor department.
Harvey previously worked as executive director of MainStreet Deming and also oversaw economic development programs for Luna County.
The governor appointed Nair to oversee Read More
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Delivers Keynote Address At International Stroke Conference
Luján Delivers Keynote Address at International Stroke Conference. Courtesy/BRL
From the Office of Ben Ray Luján:
DALLAS, Texas – Today, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) delivered the keynote address at the International Stroke Conference in Dallas, Texas – an annual conference dedicated to the science and treatment of cerebrovascular disease and brain health.
Since recovering from a stroke, Luján has used his platform to raise awareness about the warning signs of strokes and the importance of seeking medical care.
ICYMI – Luján Highlights Stroke Awareness:
Parr-Sanchez: Governor’s Health Care Proposal For Educators A Win For New Mexico
By MARY PARR-SANCHEZ
NEA-New Mexico President
SANTA FE — As frontline workers during the pandemic, educators have continued to put their health on the line in service to New Mexico students and families, despite rising health insurance premiums that have diminished their ability to afford health care for themselves and their families.
HB 102, a bill now before the Legislature, would bring us a great deal closer to rectifying this wrong, by largely eliminating health care premium costs for educators in our state. The bill would require that school districts cover 100% of the cost of health Read More
New Mexico Game Commissioner Deanna Archuleta Resigns
New Mexico Game Commission Chairwoman Deanna Archuleta
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
When the state Game Commission elected longtime energy lobbyist Deanna Archuleta to serve as its chairwoman late last month, there was some hope the panel, wrought with turnover, might stabilize.
It didn’t happen. Archuleta submitted a three-sentence resignation letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
“Unfortunately, with my personal and professional obligations I am no longer able to serve you or your administration in the manner to which I would like to be able,” she wrote.
In a brief phone interview Read More
Gov. Lujan Grisham To Be Appointed To Council Of Governors By President Biden
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of the Governor:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of President Joe Biden announced Thursday his intent to appoint Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to his Council of Governors, a bipartisan group of 10 governors focused on improving national and state responses to security threats.
Gov. Lujan Grisham issued the following statement:
“I am honored to join this bipartisan group of state leaders to strengthen the relationship between the federal government and states to improve our joint responses and capabilities during national emergencies. Preparation Read More
Legislative Roundup: 36 Days Remaining In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Grieving families: Attorney General Raúl Torrez delivered a rousing speech Thursday at a memorial for the families of homicide victims in the Capitol rotunda.
Torrez asked the dozens of people attending the event to clap and cheer and make as much noise as possible “because the people in this building need to hear you and see you.”
He told the group he is “sick and damn tired” of coming to the Roundhouse to advocate for common-sense criminal reforms only to be told “nothing is wrong and nothing needs to be fixed.”
“What I have said over the last several years Read More
Common Cause New Mexico Denounces Election Violations Alleged In New Ethics Complaint
Executive Director Mario Jimenez
CCNM News:
TORRANCE — The New Mexico State Ethics Commission has filed a complaint against Torrance County Clerk, Yvonne Otero, for violating the state’s Governmental Conduct Act by abusing the powers and resources of her office for her own personal gain.
The Ethics Commission alleges that Yvonne Otero interfered with Torrence County elections by deleting ballots cast under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voters Act, failing to correctly process the ballots she did receive, and by attempting to pre-certify ballot tabulators so she could Read More
Video: Councilor Reagor On Nuisance Code Implementation Review Task Force And Strategic Leadership Plan
Los Alamos County Councilor David Reagor discusses the new nuisance code implementation review task force and the 2023 strategic leadership plan. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
Canceled: Feb. 14 County Council Work Session
Simonich: A Few Loud Vehicles Might Mean Inspections For Everyone
By MILAN SIMONICH
Santa Fe New Mexican
Santa Fe’s east-side liberals did the impossible. Through their support for citywide inspections to silence noisy vehicles, they created an alliance between two politicians who never agree on anything.
Sen. Craig Brandt, staunch conservative from Rio Rancho, and Sen. Linda Lopez, proud progressive from Albuquerque, don’t believe charging the masses more money through an inspection program is the best way to shut down noise pollution caused by a small number of drivers.
Brandt and Lopez are looking out for the law-abiding little guy, the hardworking Read More
Council Action Taken Feb. 7, 2023
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The public will again be able to weigh in on the newly amended nuisance code.
Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved a nuisance code implementation review task force charter. Council further directed the County Manager to recruit task force members and return to council with letters of interest for appointment at the March 28 meeting. The task force will consist of five members and sunset after one year.
The charter includes a work scope, which contains the following items:
- Independently reviewing the implementation
New Mexico Wildlife Federation Tracking Key Bills
New Mexico Wildlife Federation is tracking several key legislative issues. Courtesy/NMWF
NMWF News:
New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) has been tracking several key legislative issues including:
SB254 – a bill sponsored by Sens. Steven Neville and Pete Campos to increase hunting and fishing license fees. The NMWF supports the bill because the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish needs the funding. The last license fee adjustment was approved 18 years ago. The department gets its operating funding from license fees and associated federal grants. The NMWF has suggested some changes Read More
AFT NM Legislative Re-Cap #8: High School Redesign, EA Minimum Salary, Healthcare Bills Advance
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT NM) President Whitney Holland speaks with KOB 4 Wednesday about some of the bills being considered by the legislature, which cover issues like affirmative consent education, Holocaust and genocide studies in New Mexico schools and financial literacy as a class option. Courtesy/AFT NM
AFT NM News:
The last two days have seen major pieces of legislation advance, which the American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT NM) has supported this legislative session, including changes to high school graduation requirements, salary minimums, Read More
Video: Chair Derkacs Discusses Feb. 7 Council Meeting
Los Alamos County Council Chair Denise Derkacs shares highlights of Feb. 7 meeting. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
House Bill 4 To Expand Voter Access Off To Fast Start
HB 4 Lead Sponsor House Speaker Javier Martínez
By DANIEL J. CHACON
The Santa Fe New Mexican
An elections bill that stirred controversy and sparked a complaint last year against a high-profile state senator from Albuquerque is off to a fast start this time around.
House Bill 4, which would automatically register qualified electors to vote after they complete a transaction at the Motor Vehicle Division, among other provisions, cleared its first legislative hurdle, the House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee, on a party-line, 6-3 vote Wednesday.
In addition to expanding Read More
Legislative Roundup: 37 Days Remaining In 2023 Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Prop gun training: Following charges filed recently against Alec Baldwin and others in the 2021 fatal shooting on the set of the Rust film production, a House Republican has introduced a bill to require all people employed by a film company in New Mexico who use prop guns to undergo firearms training.
House Bill 338, sponsored by Rep. Bill Rehm of Albuquerque, requires film employees to have a “certificate of competency in the safe handling of firearms” under the state Regulation and Licensing Department’s Level 3 training for security guards. Read More
Heinrich, Luján Reintroduce Cattle Market Reform Bill
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) are original cosponsors of the bipartisan Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023.
The legislation would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market information, including permanently authorizing a cattle contract library.
“Consolidation in the beef supply chain has led to record profits for the big four meatpackers, while New Mexico families struggle to put food on the Read More
Two Sides Clash On New Mexico Gun Control Measures
Rio Arriba County rancher David Sanchez speaks Tuesday at the Roundhouse in opposition of a bill restricting assault weapons. The House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee considered two major gun control bills Tuesday. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, questions Rep. Andrea Romero, D-Santa Fe, on Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Romero is a co-sponsor of and presented two major gun control bills Tuesday. Romero said HB 101 ‘is a bill to prevent mass shootings. This is a bill that we hope to bring better safety to our state.’ Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Read More
