Deadline For School Board Vacancy Applications Dec. 16
LAPS District 5 boundary map. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board is accepting applications to fill a vacancy for the District 5 board seat through 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16.
Applicants must be a registered voter, over 18 years of age and reside in District 5. Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, including relevant experience and attributes to bring to the position, and a resume to the board secretary Debra Bell at d.bell@laschools.net.
The School Board would like to make a final decision at the Jan. 10, 2023 School Board meeting. The term will run through Dec. Read More
Lunch With A Leader Features Leger Fernandez Dec. 15
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez
LWV News:
This month’s League of Women Voters “Lunch with a Leader” will feature U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 15 via zoom.
Leger Fernandez is an attorney and has represented New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District since 2020. She was re-elected Nov. 8, 2022.
Leger Fernandez was born in Las Vegas, N.M. and educated in West Las Vegas until attending college at Yale, then Stanford Law school. She has accomplished much since she graduated from one of the first classes of Head Start in Las Vegas.
Leger Fernandez returned to New Mexico after law Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Announces Inauguration Ceremony & Reception
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today the details of the 2023 Gubernatorial Oath of Office ceremony, as well as the Inaugural Reception.
Both events will take place Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023 and are open to the public.
The Gubernatorial Oath of Office ceremony will be held at the Lensic Theater in Santa Fe, with doors opening at 10 a.m. New Year’s Day. Following the Inauguration Ceremony, there will be an Inaugural Reception hosted at the New Mexico State Capitol. The reception doors will open at 2 p.m. Members of the public who are interested in attending Read More
Council Action Taken Tuesday Dec. 6, 2022
Staff Report
The Community Development Advisory Board (CDAB) is no more. Los Alamos County Council voted 5-2 during its regular meeting Tuesday night to pass an ordinance to remove CDAB as a permanent board of the County.
County Council Chair Randall Ryti and Councilor David Reagor voted against the ordinance.
CDAB’s objective was to collect public feedback on Chapter 18 of the Los Alamos County Code, which addresses nuisances. The feedback was used in the work to update the chapter, which Council adopted during its Nov. 29 meeting. Councilors who supported terminating the board argued that Read More
Heinrich, Luján Call For Additional Emergency Food And Shelter Program Assistance For NGOs, States, Localities Serving Migrant Families
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) are calling for $500 million in Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) so that local nonprofits, governmental social service organizations, and states/localities can continue providing humanitarian services to migrants arriving at the U.S. border.
The Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA) program allows these assisting NGOs and localities to provide shelter, food, transportation, and supportive services.
In a letter to the Chairs and Read More
DHS Announces REAL ID Enforcement Extended Until 2025 Due To Lingering Impacts Of COVID-19
SUPU News:
SANTA FE — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday the enforcement of the REAL ID Act will be extended again for 24 months – pushing the implementation date to May 3, 2025.
DHS is citing the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for the extension, stating: “REAL ID progress over the past two years has been significantly hindered by state driver’s licensing agencies having to work through the backlogs created by the pandemic.”
This announcement comes 6 months before the previously set deadline of May 2023.
“It has been 14 years since the original Read More
Heinrich, Hickenlooper, Schatz, Whitehouse Request Disaster Funding To Address Severe Electrical Transformer Shortage, Increase Grid Security
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, along with U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) are requesting $2.1 billion in Disaster Supplemental Funding to address the severe and ongoing supply shortage of electrical transformers and complementary grid security technologies through the Defense Production Act (DPA).
The transformer shortage is the result of a number of overlapping dynamics, from the recent COVID-19 supply shocks Read More
State Auditor Colón Announces Results Of GREAT Academy Special Audit … Calls On New Mexico Legislature To Act
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — State Auditor Brian Colón Monday announced the conclusion and findings of a special audit conducted to investigative and examine concerns regarding certain payments from the GREAT Academy (“Academy”) to its component unit, The GREAT Academy Foundation (“Foundation”), as well as into the expenditure of public funds by the Foundation.
The special audit was designated, in part, after receipt of allegations from the Public Education Commission (PEC) regarding potential violations of the Government Conduct Act and possible financial mismanagement, misappropriation Read More
Wendy Berhman Selected As New Superintendent Of Manhattan Project National Historical Park
MPNHP Superintendent Wendy Berhman
NPS News:
DENVER, Colo. – National Park Service (NPS) Acting Regional Director Kate Hammond announced the selection of Wendy Berhman as the new superintendent for Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
The park includes three sites at Hanford, Wash.; Los Alamos and Oak Ridge, Tenn., and is administered through a collaborative partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE).
Berhman has worked for the National Park Service for more than 30 years, most recently as program planner for the NPS Washington Office. She began her new assignment today. Read More
New Mexico Higher Education Department Thanks Voters For Approving GO Bond 3
Higher Education Secretary Stephanie M. Rodriguez
NMHED News:
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- UNM-LA will receive $1.3 million for improvements to access control systems, lighting, HVAC, roofing, building facades and installation of solar panels.
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SANTA FE — The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) thanks New Mexico voters for approving General Obligation Bond 3 authorizing the sale and issuance of $215.9 million in bonds to fund improvements to facilities at college and university campuses and the state’s three special schools.
More than 60 percent of New Mexico voters supported the bond question during
Trust For Public Land And Interior Department To Partner On Tribal Community Schoolyards Pilot Program
TPL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Friday, at the White House Tribal Nations Summit, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a pilot program between the Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and Trust for Public Land (TPL) to engage the school and Tribal Community to create and steward nine Tribal Community Schoolyards.
The “Tribal Community Schoolyards Pilot Program” will support BIE’s mission to provide a culturally relevant, high-quality education by increasing opportunities for nature-based solutions that advance environmental justice and amenities to support Read More
PRC Nominating Committee Makes Commissioner Candidate Recommendations To Gov. Lujan Grisham
PRC News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) Nominating Committee has approved a list of candidates for the position of PRC Commissioner to recommend to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who will nominate three to fill upcoming vacancies on the Commission.
After conducting interviews with 15 applicants in November, the Nominating Committee recommended the following nine individuals:
- Gabriel Aguilera;
- James F. Ellison;
- Carolyn Glick;
- Joseph D. Little;
- Brian K. Moore;
- P. Cholla Khoury;
- Patrick O’Connell;
- Arthur J. O’Donnell; and
- Amy L. Stein.
A voter-approved amendment
Video: Councilor Melanee Hand On Nov. 29-30 Meetings
Los Alamos County Councilor Melanee Hand shares highlights of the Council meetings held Nov. 29 and Nov. 30 in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, during her visit Thursday to the Los Alamos Daily Post. Video by Clara Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Op-Ed: Answers, Background On Proposed Tennis Courts
By Board of Directors
Los Alamos Tennis Club
Los Alamos Pickleball Club
The proposed new complex of 8 tennis courts at Overlook Park, which the Parks and Rec Board recently voted to deliver to County Council for their consideration, may cause some citizens to have questions, like “why now?” or “why do we need more tennis courts?” or “what about pickleball?” or “why is Overlook Park the right place?’’
Hopefully this letter can answer those questions and provide some background to explain the proposal.
We are blessed to have a variety of sporting activities in town and engaged community members Read More
Council Recognizes County Clerk, Staff & Poll Workers
Los Alamos County Councilor David Reagor, 3rd from left, presents County Clerk Naomi Maestas, 4th from left, and poll workers with a proclamation honoring their work in the election, during Tuesday’s council meeting. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council recognized the Los Alamos County Clerk staff and poll workers during its regular meeting Tuesday night.
Councilor David Reagor read the proclamation:
WHEREAS, election officials, poll-workers and volunteers make up the front line of democracy and are essential to a free and fair election in the great county of Los Alamos, Read More
House Passes Bill To Protect Firefighters From Exposure To Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’
EWG News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Working Group applauds the House for passing a bill to help protect firefighters from exposure to the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS widely used in their tools and equipment.
The bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act, has already cleared the Senate and now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk. It directs the Department of Homeland Security to offer guidance to federal, state and local firefighters about training and the best ways to reduce exposure to PFAS.
Firefighters are exposed Read More
County Council Adopts Revisions To Nusiance Code
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Adopting a revised Chapter 18 of the Los Alamos County Code, which deals with nuisances, barely passed with the needed votes but ultimately it did 4-3 during Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Councilors David Reagor, Melanee Hand and Council Chair Randall Ryti opposed the adoption while Councilors David Izraelevitz, Sara Scott, Denise Derkacs and Keith Lepsch supported it.
The adoption may be passed but it might not be the last time it gets discussed on the dais. Ryti said he plans to bring Chapter 18 back up for discussion when Read More
Attorney General Balderas Announces $58.5 Million Opioid Settlement With Smith’s Food & Drug Parent, The Kroger Co.
Attorney General Hector Balderas
From the Office of the Attorney General:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today that his office has resolved the opioid litigation against grocery and retail pharmacy giant Kroger Co., in a deal that will deliver nearly $60 million to the State and to local communities to fund opioid abatement efforts within the next 90 days.
“We achieved a great result for New Mexico by taking Kroger to court, and this settlement sends a clear message that pharmacies operating in New Mexico must take an active role in protecting the communities Read More
Council Adopts Revisions To Chapter 18 Nuisance Code
Los Alamos County Councilor Sara Scott during Tuesday night’s regular council meeting makes the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 02-334, to repeal and replace the text in Chapter 18 of the County Code, which addresses nuisances. The motion passed 4-3, in which Councilors Melanee Hand, David Reagor and Council Chair Randall Ryti opposed and Councilors David Izraelevitz, Council Vice Chair Denise Derkacs, Keith Lepsch and Scott supported. While Izraelevitz, Scott and Derkacs called the changes a compromise and adding that the code is now clearer, lenient and easier to understand, Ryti, Reagor Read More
Heinrich: Juan Sanchez Is Right Person To Co-Chair Southwest Border Regional Commission
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) applauded the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) for supporting Juan Eduardo Sanchez to be the Federal Co-Chairman of the Southwest Border Regional Commission (SBRC).
The full EPW committee advanced Sanchez’s nomination during a business meeting Tuesday by a voice vote. The nomination now awaits consideration by the full senate.
The commission is one of seven authorized federal regional commissions and authorities, which are congressionally-chartered, Read More
