NACo Responds To State Of The Union Address, Elevates Role Of Federal-County Partnership
NACo News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Association of Counties (NACo) responded to President Biden’s State of the Union address with the following statement from CEO/Executive Director Matthew Chase:
“Tonight’s State of the Union address highlighted the need for a strong intergovernmental partnership as the country addresses our future competitiveness, security and well-being. County officials stand ready to work with the administration and bipartisan congressional partners as we navigate an increasingly complex, interconnected world.
“As our county leaders focus on local Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham To Travel To Washington D.C. Tuesday For National Governors Association Meeting
STATE News:
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is traveling to Washington, D.C., Tuesday to attend the National Governors Association 2023 Winter Meeting.
The governor will attend multiple meetings with fellow governors, including a business session at the White House with the President, Vice President, and other members of administration leadership, along with a Western Governors Association meeting with several federal cabinet secretaries.
At noon (EST) Thursday, she will participate in a press conference alongside other governors from the Democratic Governors Association. At 10 a.m. Read More
AG Advocates For Bill To Fix Loophole In Murder Cases
Attorney General Raúl Torrez
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Liz Frank felt little relief when the man accused of killing her son in a botched armed robbery was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 23½ years in prison.
Although it ended the ordeal of a jury trial, she said Matthew Chavez’s conviction didn’t change the fact she would never see her son, U.S. Army veteran Tyler Lackey, alive again.
“All I felt was relief that it was over and that [Chavez] was going to be behind bars where he couldn’t torture anybody else’s family,” Frank recalled.
Her relief was short-lived. Read More
Legislature Looks At Paying For New Mexico Educators’ Health Care Premiums In Full
HB 102 Co-sponsor Rep. Raymundo Lara
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexico
Kevin Darrow, a music teacher at Wood Gormley Elementary School, estimated he spends nearly 14 percent of his earnings — some $600 per month — on health insurance.
“For a teacher, that’s a lot of money,” he said.
And Darrow said he’s one of the lucky ones because he shares that cost with his spouse. As the cost of living in Santa Fe continues to increase, he noted many of his fellow teachers — often master’s degree-level professionals — have to find roommates or get creative to stretch their earnings.
Figuring out how to pay Read More
Advocates Say Free School Meals Would Have Wide-Ranging Benefits In New Mexico
Kindergartner Kimberly Jennings takes a closer look at the drumsticks on offer Jan. 25 during lunch at Nina Otero Community School. Jim Weber/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
When Sherry Hooper, executive director of The Food Depot, talks to the thousands of families across Northern New Mexico who use the regional food bank’s services, she hears a consistent story about household budgets.
“First, she said, families pay for fixed expenses: They make rent or mortgage payments; they pay for gas and electricity to keep the lights and heat on; they fuel Read More
Los Alamos Middle School Announces New Asst. Principal
New LAMS Assistant Principal Alicia Edgin
LAMS News:
Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) Assistant Principal Andy Ainsworth has announced that he is leaving his position at LAMS to pursue a new career opportunity. His last day on the job is Friday, Feb. 10.
LAMS Dean of Students Alicia Edgin will move into the role of Assistant Principal.
“I am excited and blessed to continue to be a part of the LAMS family. Go Hawks!” Edgin said.
Edgin joined the LAMS staff at the beginning of the school year. Prior to joining LAMS, she was an assistant principal in the Espanola school district, working at both the high Read More
DPU To Host Public Hearings On Natural Gas Adjustments
COUNTY News:
Two public hearings are scheduled for proposed changes to the natural gas rate ordinance by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The proposed changes don’t increase the fixed rates adopted last fall. Instead, they include an increase to the variable rate cap, an additional recovery rate component and a compensatory minimum value for the variable portion of the gas rate.
The first public hearing will be held at the regular monthly Board of Public Utilities (BPU) meeting 5:30 p.m. Feb. 15 p.m. If approved by BPU, a second public hearing will take place at 6 p.m. at the March 28 County Read More
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury Appointed To Key Oversight Subcommittees For New Mexico
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) has announced that she will be serving on two subcommittees of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability that are key to serving New Mexico communities.
In addition to being unanimously elected by her House Committee on Natural Resources colleagues as Ranking Member for the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Rep. Stansbury will serve on the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs and the Subcommittee on Government Operations and the Federal Read More
AFT New Mexico Legislative Re-Cap #7: A Short Update
AFT New Mexico News:
A quick look on the legislation that was supported Monday in the Roundhouse and a look at what is coming up today, Feb. 7:
Monday, Feb. 6:
House Education Committee
HB 151, carried by Rep. Christine Trujillo, received its first hearing Monday morning in House Education. HB 151 seeks to grant access to unemployment benefits for adjunct and contingent faculty when their class schedules are abruptly cancelled. Currently, this group of educators do not have access to unemployment benefits in these scenarios.
AFT New Mexico supports this legislation and testified in support Read More
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission Signs MOU With DOE’s National Community Solar Partnership
PRC News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP), a nationwide coalition of stakeholders working to make affordable renewable energy available to a wide spectrum of utility customers through community solar projects.
As a collaborative working group partner with the NCSP, the PRC will have access to a nationwide support network of community solar stakeholders, technical and analytical assistance, and other resources as it Read More
Northern New Mexico College President Hector Balderas Brings Student Leaders To State Legislature
House Speaker Javier Martínez promised to work with NNMC President Hector Balderas to bring investments to Northern New Mexico College. From Left: NNMC High School Equivalency Program (HEP) Director Jacob Pacheco, ASNNMC Reporter Deandra Romero, Regent Erica Velarde, President Hector Balderas, ASNNMC Treasurer Ram Khalsa, House Speaker Javier Martínez, Student Life Coordinator️ Bruno Guedes, ASNNMC Vice President Khiana Seaboy, ASNNMC President Dolores Gurulé, Distance Education Coordinator Alejandro Hernandez Ruiz, Cristian Olivas, HEP and College Assistance Migrant Program Read More
Cellicion Traditional Zuni Dancers Perform At Roundhouse
Delton Nastacio with the Cellicion Traditional Zuni Dancers performs Monday in the Rotunda of the Roundhouse. This was one of several cultural performances organized by the New Mexico Tourism Department, which is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its New Mexico True campaign this year. Matt Dahlseid/The Santa Fe New Mexican Read More
Legislative Analysis: Pretrial Detention Bill Could Cost Millions
Senate Bill 123 Co-sponser Rep. Meredith Dixon
By PHAEDRA HAYWOOD
Los Alamos
A bill backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham that calls for people accused of certain violent crimes to remain jailed without bond until their trial could cost the state up to $15.3 million a year, a legislative analysis said.
The fiscal impact report by the Legislative Finance Committee also cites concerns about whether Senate Bill 123 might violate the New Mexico Constitution.
“If SB123 is enacted as proposed, litigation regarding its constitutionality should be expected,” legislative analysts wrote in the report. Read More
Meals On Wheels Serves Healthy Meals At Roundhouse
Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque served healthy lunches to legislators last week at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy/Meals on Wheels
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Meals on Wheels of Albuquerque, with the support of Sweep Construction, Bohannan Huston and Rick Thompson, served healthy lunches to legislators last week at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe.
Meals on Wheels is raising money to expand its healthy food delivery program to communities throughout New Mexico.
“The meals that we served the legislators are the exact meals we are serving to New Mexicans this week,” said Meals on Wheels Chief Executive Read More
State Land Office, BLM New Mexico Announce Partnership To Improve Continental Divide Trail Access
NMSLO News:
SANTA FE — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico Office has acquired a right-of-way from the New Mexico State Land Office (NMSLO) to improve recreational access along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST), the agencies announced Monday.
The right-of-way will authorize and facilitate hiking through segments of state land located along the CDNST and will enable federal funds to be used for the administration, operation, and maintenance of the CDNST where it crosses state land. Today’s announcement follows years of collaboration between BLM New Mexico, Read More
Rep. Leger Fernández Invites Community Leader And Child Advocate As Guest To State Of The Union
Carrie-Leigh Cloutier. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández announced Monday that Carrie-Leigh Cloutier will be her in-person guest to President Biden’s State of the Union Address to Congress this evening, Feb. 7.
Cloutier is the CEO of Chaves County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), an organization of advocates who speak up for abused and neglected children at risk of falling through the cracks of the overburdened court system.
The State of the Union Address will highlight the historic investment, positive economic outcomes, achievements, Read More
Bills To Transform New Mexico Legislature Move On
Rep. Angelica Rubio
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Members of a House committee approved two measures Monday that would transform the state’s legislative process — creating a pathway for both a paid Legislature and 60-day sessions every year.
The House Government, Election & Indian Affairs Committee approved two joint resolutions — HJR 2 and HJR 8 — that would allow voters in 2024 the opportunity to vote for constitutional amendments enabling the changes.
House Joint Resolution 8, which would open the door for lawmaker to receive a set salary “would diversify our Legislature Read More
Senate Bill 171 To Prohibit Automatic Firearm Sales Passes First Committee On Party-Line Vote
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
As an avid motorcyclist, snowboarder and gun enthusiast, retired Illinois state trooper Wilfredo Rivera said he couldn’t find a better place to call home than New Mexico.
A year and a half after moving to Rio Rancho, however, Rivera is questioning whether he made the right choice.
“All of a sudden, I now find myself deciding if having moved here, coming across the country, is going to turn out to be one of the most costly and biggest mistakes of my life because of some of these bills that are starting to come down the pike,” Rivera told the Senate Health and Public Read More
NMDOT & EDD Announce Joseph De La Rosa Tapped As Senior Advisor For Global Trade & Infrastructure Investments
Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) has announced that Joseph De La Rosa, the special projects chief with the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), will work for both agencies.
De La Rosa will remain with NMDOT, working closely with Transportation Secretary Ricky Serna, and will now take on a new title and job description with Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Alicia J. Keyes. De La Rosa will work to strengthen the connection between transportation and infrastructure projects in support of global Read More
Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Veterans For Mustangs Act
AWA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives introduced Thursday the Veterans for Mustangs Act (VMA) that would amend the 1971 Wild-Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act to help better protect American wild horses and burros on federal lands, reduce or eliminate the need for inhumane helicopter roundups, and provide jobs and avenues for healing American veterans with Post Traumatic Stress and other disorders resulting from combat.
Introducing the VMA were U.S. Reps. Lisa McClain (R-MI), Troy Carter (D-LA), Barry Moore (R-AL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL), Brian Fitzpatrick Read More
