Heinrich Welcomes Announcement By Biden-Harris Administration To Increase Pay For Wildland Firefighters
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement welcoming an announcement by the Biden-Harris Administration to increase pay for wildland firefighters.
The announcement today includes unprecedented actions Sen. Heinrich has advocated for on behalf of the wildland firefighter workforce that is funded by $600 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“For months, I’ve been pushing to implement a pay raise and more support for our wildland firefighter workforce. These brave men and women are battling Read More
Governor Announces $10 Million In Transitional Housing Assistance For New Mexicans Experiencing Homelessness
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday the opening of the application period for the Casa Connection Grant Program (CCGP), which will award $10 million in funding for local and tribal governments to provide temporary housing for New Mexicans experiencing homelessness.
Administered in conjunction with the Department of Finance and Administration, CCGP will allocate funding to local governments for the purpose of purchasing and/or renovating hotels, motels, apartment complexes, duplexes, or similar properties for use as housing Read More
Luján Chairs Hearing On Oversight Of National Telecommunications And Information Administration
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján leading a subcommittee hearing June 9 on the oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Courtesy/BRL
Senate News:
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, led a subcommittee hearing June 9 on the oversight of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) with Administrator Alan Davidson.
During the hearing, Senator Luján focused on bridging the digital divide and connecting every New Mexican to high-speed, affordable internet, Read More
NM Congressional Democrats Announce Federal Government Will Fully Cover Emergency Watershed Program In Wake Of Historic Wildfires
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) and Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) are welcoming an announcement that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will cover 100 percent of the costs through the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program for debris removal and other measures to address watershed impairments in designated areas of New Mexico impacted by recent wildfires.
EWP is a recovery effort aimed at relieving imminent hazards to life and property caused Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Issues Statement On Juneteenth
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement today on Juneteenth, which recognizes the moment on June 19, 1865, when U.S. Army General Gordon Granger announced to formerly enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, that they were free under the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.
“When we celebrate Juneteenth, we celebrate freedom and we remember the horrors of slavery,” Heinrich said. “We also recognize and call out the persistent, structural racism that continues to fuel hatred and discrimination, and Read More
Luján, Advocates: Technical Working Group To Implement Advanced Impaired Driving Prevention Technology
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
From the Office Of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), and a specialized group of more than a dozen auto safety technical experts announced Tuesday the formation of a new Technical Working Group to assist with implementation of advanced impaired driving prevention technology as recently mandated by Congress.
The bipartisan provision in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, championed by Sen. Luján signed into law in November 2021, calls on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Read More
New Mexico Counties Elects New Board Leadership
Newly elected board leadership for New Mexico Counties, from left, President Valencia County Commissioner Jhonathan Aragon, President Elect Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage, Vice President Curry County Clerk Annie Hogland, and Past President Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover. Courtesy photo
NMC News:
SANTA FE — During the New Mexico Counties Board of Directors meeting Thursday, held during the New Mexico Counties 85th Annual Conference in Albuquerque, the Board elected new leadership. They assumed their responsibilities upon adjournment of the Board meeting and annual conference. Read More
New Mexico Receives Aa2 And AA- Ratings For Severance Tax Bond Series 2022A
NMDFA News:
SANTA FE — The State of New Mexico received Aa2 and AA- bond ratings from Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Rating on the upcoming New Mexico Severance Tax Bond Series 2022A, with an estimated issuance of $270 million.
Both rating agencies assigned a stable outlook, providing confidence in the state to bond investors.
“These ratings are a positive sign to investors that New Mexico bonds are strong,” DFA Secretary Debbie Romero said. “We are continuing to navigate the changing economic climate and the ratings show we are stable and moving in the right direction.”
Moody’s Read More
New Mexico Unemployment Rate: 5.1 Percent In May
STATE News:
New Mexico’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in May, down from 5.3 percent in April and down from 7.2 percent in the previous year.
The national unemployment rate in May was 3.6 percent, unchanged from the rate in April and down from 5.8 percent in May 2021. Total nonagricultural payroll employment grew by 38,600 jobs, or 4.8 percent, between May 2021 and May 2022.
The majority of gains came from the private sector, which was up 34,800 jobs, or 5.5 percent. The public sector was up 3,800 jobs, or 2.1 percent. Most private sector gains were in the private service-providing Read More
Heinrich, Luján Push To Fight Food Insecurity As Benefits Cliff Rapidly Approaches
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and more than 30 of their Democratic Senate colleagues are pushing to extend child nutrition waivers ahead of their expiration and enact a robust set of child nutrition priorities in any upcoming legislative vehicles.
As school summer break is already underway in many states, it is vital that Congress extends and expands these programs as low-income families are facing a steep benefits cliff when the waivers expire June 30.
In a letter to Senate and House Leadership, Senators Heinrich and Read More
County Admin. Offices Closed Monday For Juneteenth
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County administrative offices will be closed Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth.
Last February, the County Council adopted a change to the County’s personnel rules to add Juneteenth and Indigenous People’s Day as observed County holidays to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.
This Monday, Los Alamos County will join other federal, state and local governments and organizations to commemorate June 19, 1865 or Juneteenth, the day when enslaved people in Texas learned of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
While the County’s administrative Read More
Heinrich Applauds Senate Passage Of Historic Toxic Exposure Legislation For All Eras Of Exposed Veterans
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), participated Thursday in a bipartisan press conference following the Senate passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act.
The legislation passed the U.S. Senate Thursday by a bipartisan vote of 84 to 14. The bill will return now to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote. If passed, it will head to the President’s desk to be signed Read More
County To Hold Local COVID Status Briefing June 23
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County is undergoing a surge of infections of the highly transmissible COVID-19 Omicron variants. As of June 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has measured the impact of illness in Los Alamos County as “medium,” although just barely.
County officials announced they will hold a virtual briefing regarding the community’s COVID-19 status, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 23, to include representatives from Los Alamos Public Schools and retired epidemiologist William Athas, PhD.
The public may join the briefing using this Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86100315742 Read More
Luján Statement On 10th Anniversary Of DACA
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement marking the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program:
“Ten years ago, when President Barack Obama established DACA, he made it clear that our friends, neighbors, coworkers, and valued members of our communities, who came to this country as young people, are just as American as we are. While DACA made a difference in countless lives – empowering a new generation of hard-working men and women – the program has never been a guarantee.
“DACA Read More
Gov. Lujan Grisham, Attorney General Balderas, NMED Secretary Kenney And Trustee Hart Stebbins Announce $32M Settlement With U.S. In Gold King Mine Litigation
From the Office of the Attorney General:
FARMINGTON — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas, Environment Secretary James Kenney, and Natural Resources Trustee Maggie Hart Stebbins announced today a $32 million final settlement with the United States and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the Gold King Mine litigation.
Under the settlement, the U.S. will make cash payments to New Mexico of $18.1 million for response costs, $10 million for restoration of injured natural resources, and commit to providing an additional $3.5 million to state water Read More
Chart 653: 7-Day Average COVID Diagnoses In Los Alamos
This chart shows the seven-day average number of COVID-19 diagnoses in Los Alamos versus date. On a scale of 0 to 100, the diagnoses index quantifies the current level of diagnoses by using a comparison with daily levels since the start of the pandemic (the higher the index, the more severe the current state of the pandemic is). The current number of diagnoses is higher than 96 percent of preceding days. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimCouncil Action Taken Tuesday, June 14, 2022
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The Hilltop House Hotel is one step closer to being flattened. Tuesday night, Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved a task order for one of its on-call contractors, All-Rite Construction, to demolish the building and remove the material.
The cost to do the demo work is $883,434 but council also approved a budget revision for the entire project in the amount of $1,325,000, this is partly due to the increased costs for the asbestos abatement.
Public Works Director Juan Rael said the work is expected to begin mid-July and Read More
Unemployment Insurance Operations Center Closed Monday In observance Of Juneteenth National Independence Day
NMDWS News:
ALBUQUERQUE — All New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions’ (NMDWS) offices, including the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center, will be closed Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day.
The department urges claimants to plan accordingly.
The Unemployment Insurance Tax & Claims System (www.jobs.state.nm.us) is available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Customer Service Agents in the Unemployment Insurance Operations Center will be available when business hours resume at 7 a.m. Tuesday, June 21. The business hours of the Read More
Senate Passes Resolution: May Is Stroke Awareness Month
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday led by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to recognize May as Stroke Awareness Month.
The resolution encourages continued coordination and cooperation between the federal government, researchers, families, and the public to improve prognoses by increasing access to timely treatments for individuals who suffer strokes.
“As a stroke survivor, I know firsthand how critical it is to raise awareness of strokes and to know the Read More
Secretary Of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver On CNN Discusses Lawsuit She Filed Against Otero County Commission For Illegal Actions To Disenfranchise 2022 Primary Election Voters
Maggie Toulouse Oliver being interviewed this evening by Don Lemon on CNN regarding the lawsuit she filed against Otero County Commission for Illegal actions to disenfranchise 2022 Primary Election voters. Photo/LADP screenshot
From the Office of the Secretary of State:
Secretary of State Releases Statement on Supreme Court Ordering Otero County to Certify Election Results
SANTA FE – Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver was interviewed this evening by Don Lemon on CNN regarding the lawsuit she filed against Otero County Commission for Illegal actions to disenfranchise 2022 Primary
