Chart 657: Los Alamos, Northwestern New Mexico, Red On CDC Map
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released today its weekly update to the COVID-19 community level map. The CDC framework designates community level based on diagnoses and regional hospitalization levels (link). Masks are recommended for all in countries at the highest, red, risk level. Masks are recommended for at-risk individuals in counties at the intermediate, yellow, risk level. Source: CDC. Map: mapchart.net. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
Canceled: County Transportation Board Meeting Of July 7
COUNTY News:
The Regular Monthly Meeting of the Los Alamos County Transportation Board scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7 is canceled.
The next Regular Monthly Meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. Read More
Report Tracks New Mexico Environment Department’s FY22 Q3 Performance In Protecting Public Health, Environment
NMED New:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) released the third quarter update of its performance assessment report that offers the public, stakeholders, and legislators the opportunity to track the Department’s progress in protecting public health and the environment.
The new report, developed by NMED’s Office of Strategic Initiatives, is the third installment in reporting on 47 performance measures over five broad categories.
Five Broad Categories:
- 7 public health measures:
- 9 environmental protection measures;
- 24 compliance measures, ;
- 4 economic investment
Luján, Colleagues Urge HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra To Expand Voting Registration Access On HealthCare.gov
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i) sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, requesting an update on the commitments the Department made in response to President Biden’s March 2021 executive order on expanding and promoting access to voting, including the Department’s commitment to expand voting access through HealthCare.gov.
“The Biden Administration’s Read More
Scenes From Pro Choice March Tuesday At Ashley Pond
Scene from the Pro Choice March Tuesday at Ashley Pond Park. Some 80 attendees marched up Central Avenue, over to Trinity Drive and back to the pond. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Participants in Tuesday’s Pro Choice March gathered for a group photo at Ashley Pond Park. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Participants, including Rep. Christine Chandler, shared their thoughts following the Pro Choice March Tuesday at Ashley Pond Park. March organizer Gwyneth Lyon stands beside Chandler. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Scene of participants speaking at the Pro Choice March Read More
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury Votes To Expand Opioid, Behavioral Health, Substance Use Programs
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As New Mexico communities face intersecting opioid, mental health, and substance use crises, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass critical legislation expanding over 30 programs that collectively support opioid response, mental health care, and substance use disorder prevention across the nation.
Statewide, just 12% of New Mexicans have access to behavioral health services.
Rep. Stansbury also is working on a legislative framework to bring a more holistic approach to addressing public safety, behavioral health, Read More
Luján Statement On U.S. Supreme Court Decision To Strike Down New York’s Concealed-Carry License Law
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement after the decision of the Supreme Court to strike down New York’s concealed-carry license law (NYSRPA v. Bruen):
“25 states require a permit to carry concealed weapons in public – a precautionary measure widely accepted by the American people. At a time when the federal government is finally responding to the gun violence epidemic with real action, today’s decision from the extremist justices on the Supreme Court strikes a blow to sensible gun safety laws throughout the country.
“There’s agreement Read More
Retired Educators In New Mexico Now Eligible To Return To Work Without Losing Pension Benefits
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — New Mexico’s 48,000 retired K-12 and higher education educators now have the opportunity to return to the classroom without losing their retirement benefits thanks to a new law enacted by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham this year.
Retired teachers and college faculty receiving pension benefits from the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board can now return to teaching for an additional three years within a New Mexico public school district, college, or university without forfeiting their retirement benefits.
“This is a win-win for New Mexico teachers Read More
Attorney General Balderas Demands Swift Federal Action To Protect Children From Toxic Metals In Baby Foods
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas
AG News:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas joined a multistate coalition of 22 attorneys general in calling on the heads of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take swift action to eliminate toxic metals from baby food.
In a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannis, and USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, the coalition outlines key strategies for the federal agencies that would allow them to take immediate and widespread action that would drive Read More
Tonight’s Pro-Choice March Location Moves Across Pond
The meeting location for the Los Alamos Pro-Choice March starting at 5 p.m. today at Ashley Pond has been moved from the stage area to near the elephant statue across the pond. Read More
Stansbury Votes For Children’s Access To School Meals
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As one in four kids in New Mexico face food insecurity, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the bipartisan Keep Kids Fed Act (H.R. 8150) to ensure that schools can continue providing meals for students despite ongoing supply chain issues.
The bill allows the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide additional assistance to child nutrition programs by extending meal waivers and reimbursing providers at a higher rate to keep children across New Mexico from going hungry this summer.
Chart 656: Los Alamos Test Positivity Rate At All Time High
This chart shows the test positivity rate versus date in Los Alamos. The test positivity rate is above 20 percent for the first time. Since the start of the pandemic, 5.8 percent of about 62,000 COVID-19 tests in the county were positive. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimPro-Choice March Tuesday By Stage At Ashley Pond
Los Alamos COVID Impact: 97 New Cases For Week Ending June 27, 2022
COVID-19 statistics for the week ending June 27, 2022 impacting Los Alamos County:
-
463 tests
- 97 diagnoses (71 in Los Alamos, 25 in White Rock)
- 0 deaths
Source: New Mexico Department of Health. By Eli Ben-Naim.
Balderas: New Mexico Has Joined $1.25 Million Multistate Settlement Over 2019 Carnival Cruise Line Data Breach
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas
AG News:
ALBUQUERQUE— New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas today announced that New Mexico along with 45 other attorneys general, has obtained a $1.25 million multistate settlement with Florida-based Carnival Cruise Line stemming from a 2019 data breach that involved the personal information of approximately 180,000 Carnival employees and customers nationwide.
New Mexico will receive $11,573.98 from the settlement.
In March 2020, Carnival publicly reported a data breach in which an unauthorized actor gained access to certain Carnival Read More
Governor Takes Action To Safeguard Abortion Access, Protect New Mexico Health Care Providers
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed an executive order today protecting access to reproductive health care services in New Mexico, protecting medical providers from attempts at legal retribution and establishing that New Mexico will not entertain extradition attempts from other states relating to receiving or performing reproductive services.
“Today we have once again declared that we will take every available action to protect the rights and access to health care of anyone in New Mexico,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. Read More
Rep. Leger Fernández Applauds Plan To Keep Veterans Health Clinics Open In Northern New Mexico
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández issued the following statement after U.S. Senators announced that they will not move forward with the AIR Commission process.
This will effectively prevent the closure of the Española, Gallup, Las Vegas and Raton veterans health clinics:
“Over the last few months, I listened to veterans in Raton, Las Vegas, Española, and Gallup describe how the VA community health clinics provided them access to essential care. I carried their stories and worries about losing these clinics to my colleagues Read More
Governor Appoints Peter Mantos IT Secretary
Newly appointed IT Secretary Peter Mantos
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today the appointment of Peter Mantos as secretary of the New Mexico Department of Information and Technology.
“Peter Mantos is eminently qualified to lead the state agency tasked with deploying broadband resources and arming our state against cyber-attacks,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “He will also be critical in our efforts to continue to modernize our technology for both state workers and the public we serve.”
Mantos has more than 30 years of experience in information Read More
Gessing: Think Twice About Universal Pre-K
By PAUL J. GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
As we move beyond a contentious series of primaries in both parties and look to the fall election, one of the big issues on the fall ballot is the plan to “tap” New Mexico’s permanent fund to provide universal preschool.
For years this has been an agenda item for the State’s left-leaning interest groups. But it only received legislative support with the retirement of Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith.
This November voters will decide whether to: “allocate 1.25 percent of the five-year average of year-end market values of the Read More
Interior Department Announces $43.6 Million In Payments To Support Vital Services In New Mexico Communities
DOI Secretary Deb Haaland
DOI News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced that 32 local governments in New Mexico will receive a total of $43.6 million in Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funding for 2022.
Because local governments cannot tax federal lands, annual PILT payments help to defray the costs associated with maintaining important community services.
PILT payments are made for tax-exempt federal lands administered by the Department’s agencies – including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Read More
