Higher Education Department Celebrates Banner Year
Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez
NMHED News:
SANTA FE — As 2022 comes to a close, the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is highlighting the many achievements made throughout the year under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in higher education, from the historic passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act to record-breaking participation in loan forgiveness programs.
“This has been a monumental year for higher education in New Mexico. We led the nation in providing universal tuition-free college through the Opportunity and Lottery Scholarships, making it possible for our state
Governor Appoints Sam Bregman As Second Judicial DA
Sam Bregman
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Tuesday announced the appointment of Albuquerque litigator and former prosecutor Sam Bregman as Second Judicial District Attorney.
Bregman will begin in the position immediately. He will fill a vacancy created by former Second Judicial District Attorney Raúl Torrez’s election as Attorney General.
Bregman is an experienced litigator with nearly three decades of trial experience. He previously served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Second Judicial District, as well as Deputy State Auditor for New Mexico. He has most Read More
New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Julie Vargas Administers Oath Of Office To Land Commissioner SGR Jan. 1, 2023
New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard (SGR) was re-elected to her second term and sworn into office at midnight Jan. 1 by Supreme Court Justice Julie Vargas at the State Land Office in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
Supreme Court Justice Julie Vargas administers the Oath of Office to Commissioner SGR during a ceremony at midnight Jan. 1 at the State Land Office in Santa Fe. Courtesy photoGovernor To Travel To Washington, D.C. For Knee Surgery
From the Office of the Governor:U.S. Senate Confirms Juan Sanchez Co-Chair Of Southwest Border Regional Commission
Juan Eduardo Sanchez
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Juan Eduardo Sanchez to be the Federal Co-Chairman of the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC):
“For years, I have fought hard to see the Southwest Border Regional Commission finally funded – to deliver resources and boost economic development with the people and communities of the Southwest border. Juan Sanchez is exactly the person to now lead this Commission,” Heinrich said. “Juan has devoted his career to serving our vibrant Read More
New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division Director Axie Navas Leaves Legacy Of Equity And Stewardship
Axie Navas
New Mexico Economic Development Department News:
SANTA FE — Axie Navas, whose efforts as the first-ever Outdoor Recreation Division Director propelled New Mexico as a national leader in the field, is leaving state government.
Growing New Mexico’s outdoor recreation assets is a priority for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who signed a law creating the state’s first Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD), a division of the Economic Development Department, just a few months after taking office in 2019. Navas, a former editor at Outside magazine, was named New Mexico’s first ORD Director. Read More
New Mexico Dept. Of Finance & Administration Recognizes 2022 Local Government Budget Conference Winners
DFA Secretary Debbie Romero
DFA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration’s (DFA) Local Government Division (LGD) held its annual Budget Conference this November.
The conference provided budget and finance-related training to local governments, finance staff, and officials, from 33 counties, 106 municipalities, and over 300 special districts throughout the state. It is a yearly testament to the LGD Budget and Finance Bureau’s mission in assisting officials and employees of the local public bodies in New Mexico in maintaining or ensuring budget and fiscal Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 2023 Inaugural Address And Celebration Scenes
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham receives the oath of office at a public celebration administered by retired New Mexico District Court Judge Wendy York this afternoon at the historic Lensic Theater in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
From the Office of the Governor:
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- Gov. Lujan Grisham Sworn in For Second Term
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Today, Jan. 1, 2023, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was sworn-in as Governor of New Mexico for the second time. Following the traditional swearing-in ceremony at midnight on New Year’s Day, Governor Lujan Grisham and Lt. Governor Howie Morales were inaugurated in a public celebration this afternoon Read More
Legislative Preview Brings Senators, Representatives And Think New Mexico’s Kristina Fisher To Fuller Lodge Thursday
Political News:
The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos and the American Association of University Women invite the community to Fuller Lodge for the 2023 Legislative Preview 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5.
Legislators scheduled to participate in the preview include Rep. Christine Chandler and Senators Roberto Gonzales and Leo Jaramillo/ The have agreed to share their views on the upcoming session.
In addition, Associate Director Kristina Fisher of Think New Mexico (TNM), will explain TNM’s legislative recommendations for education reform in the state. All speakers will answer questions Read More
Governor Appoints Quentin Ray Ninth Judicial DA
Ninth Judicial District Attorney Quentin Ray
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced the appointment of Quentin Ray as Ninth Judicial District Attorney.
The district includes Curry and Roosevelt counties.
Ray will begin in the position Dec. 31, 2022. He will fill a vacancy created when the current district attorney did not register for re-election to the position.
Ray currently serves as Deputy District Attorney for the Ninth Judicial District, supervising and managing the Portales branch of the office and prosecuting criminal cases. Ray grew up in Grady, N.M., Read More
Governor Appoints Three To Public Regulation Commission, Signs Executive Order Creating Tribal Advisory Council
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Friday announced the appointment of Gabriel Aguilera, Brian Moore and Patrick O’Connell to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC).
They will begin in their roles at the PRC Jan. 1, 2023.
“These appointees are experienced professionals who have the skills needed to oversee an energy transition that is affordable, effective and equitable for every New Mexico community,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “I’m grateful to each of these individuals for providing their expertise in service of our state.”
In addition, the governor on Friday Read More
District Attorney Raúl Torrez Recaps Activities In 2022
District Attornery Raúl Torrez
From the Office of District Attorney Raúl Torrez:
Below is a recap of activities during 2022 from District Attorney Raúl Torrez and his team.
December 2022 Content:
Sentencings & Convictions
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- Convicted: Stephen Paschall
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In the Community
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- International Volunteer Day;
- Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Public Safety Luncheon;
- New Mexico Chamber of Commerce Fireside Chat;
- Guns to Gardens Gun Buyback;
- Ciudad de Gracia Christmas Store.
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SENTENCINGS & CONVICTIONS:
Convicted: Stephen Paschall. Dec. 16, a jury found Paschall guilty of first degree Read More
Office Of State Engineer And Interstate Stream Commission Presents Budget Request To Legislative Finance Committee
NMOSE/ISC News:
SANTA FE — The Office of the State Engineer and Interstate Stream Commission (NMOSE/ISC) has presented its FY24 budget request to the Legislative Finance Committee.
Priorities for the NMOSE/ISC FY24 budget include bolstering staff to process water rights applications for cannabis production, investing in robust water planning, and creating a new Lower Rio Grande Bureau to prepare New Mexicans for a secure water future amid ongoing drought and aridification.
The NMOSE/ISC’s budget request includes:
- Recurring $750,000 to build on the success of the Lower Rio Grande Pilot
Los Alamos County Council To Hold Regular Session Jan. 3
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council will hold a regular meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3 in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave. and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting will be televised.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda to this meeting here: Jan. 3, 2023 County Council Agenda.
Find the link to this meeting here.
Webinar ID: 826 8317 6848 Read More
Governor Appoints Patrick M. Allen As New Mexico Department Of Health Cabinet Secretary
Patrick M. Allen
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today the appointment of Patrick M. Allen as cabinet secretary of the Department of Health.
Allen will assume leadership of the department Jan. 3, 2023.
“Patrick is a regulator and public health professional with a proven record in improving health care systems, and I have full confidence he will do the same here in New Mexico,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “He shares my vision of a New Mexico that fosters better health outcomes for every resident of our beautiful state.”
Allen has spent more than Read More
EDD Initiatives Support 13,000 Jobs In Four Years
Taos Pueblo. Courtesy/EDD
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The Economic Development Department (EDD) announced that its key job-creation initiatives, JTIP and LEDA, helped create approximately 13,000 jobs since Jan. 1, 2019, the beginning of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration.
In the past four years, the New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) has utilized the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) to make investments in 60 businesses, supporting more than 8,500 new jobs at an average wage of $64,756 – up 20 percent from 2019.
The LEDA assistance will result in $7 billion in new capital
Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub Concept Paper Receives Positive Recommendation
Cabinet Secretary James Kenney
NMED News:
SANTA FE — A regional hydrogen hub in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming is one step closer to reality after the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program issued an “Encouraged” recommendation for the concept paper submitted by Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub (WISHH).
According to the DOE, reviewers only issued “Encouraged” recommendations to 33 of the 79 concept papers that were submitted earlier this fall.
WISHH members were notified of the recommendation Dec. 27. This follows a process in which reviewers independently Read More
Governor, Attorney General, Environment Secretary, Trustee Announce Settlement With Final Contractors In Gold King Mine Litigation
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, Environment Secretary James Kenney, and Natural Resources Trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins Thursday announced a $5 million final settlement with Environmental Restoration, LLC and Weston Solutions, Inc. in the Gold King Mine litigation.
This marks the end of all litigation involving the State of New Mexico related to the 2015 Gold King Mine spill. In total, the state successfully fought for and won $48 million in settlements on behalf of New Mexicans, much of which will be reinvested into communities Read More
What A Ride! A Look Back At County Government In 2022
View of demolition on the Hilltop House Hotel Lobby Oct. 27 at 400 Trinity Dr. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
View of the small pile of rubble that remained Nov. 20 captured from a drone above the demolition site of the former Hilltop House Hotel at 400 Trinity Dr. Drone photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
It was a whirl wind year for Los Alamos County! Just like a roller coaster, there were highs and lows, twists and turns. As 2022 closes and the County turns its attention to 2023 to see where this wild and crazy ride will take Read More
Op/Ed: This Isn’t Politics … This Is About Our Health
Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics
By Sen. Elizabeth Stefanics & Rep. Elizabeth Thomson
New Mexico
The start of a new year is always special. This is when we remember laughter and celebrations and reflect on our struggles and times of sadness. What we love most about this time of year is thinking about what is possible next year.
As legislators with years of experience working to keep New Mexicans as healthy as possible, when we look ahead, we think of the opportunities this coming session to make New Mexico more resilient to climate changes and extreme weather and protect the health of the people of Read More
