N3B-Los Alamos And EM-LA To Hold Hybrid Environmental Management Cleanup Forum Thursday June 16
N3B News:
The Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management Los Alamos (EM-LA) Field Office and its legacy waste contractor, N3B-Los Alamos, are hosting an in-person and virtual community meeting 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos, and virtually using the WebEx platform.
This hybrid event will feature discussions on the Environmental Management mission at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), recent progress, and future cleanup priorities.
The community discussion/Q&A that will follow a short presentation will provide an opportunity Read More
Congressional Delegation On Over $30 Million In HHS Grants To Improve New Mexico School Readiness, Health Care
New Mexico Congressional Delegation News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are welcoming more than $30 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
This funding will support improvements to early education and family support, primary care services, and medical research across New Mexico.
“With these grants, the federal government is making an investment of tens of millions of dollars in our children, and Read More
U.S. Rep. Stansbury Passes Critical Bill To Lower Costs For New Mexicans & Small Businesses
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) has passed bipartisan legislation to cut costs for New Mexico’s families and small businesses.
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act will crack down on the exorbitant fees that international shipping companies are charging to transport the basic goods that New Mexico businesses and consumers need. Previously passed by the Senate, this legislation now heads to the President’s desk.
“Exorbitant fees being charged by international shipping companies have raised
Rep. Leger Fernández Reiterates Request For Additional Federal Funds For Watershed And Flood Protection
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack Tuesday urging USDA to pay the full cost for the Emergency Watershed Protection Program.
She also urged USDA to expedite these funds to affected communities given current flood risks. This program is essential to protecting property and homeowners in the area.
Leger Fernández previously made this request directly to President Biden when he visited New Mexico Jan. 11, 2022.
The full text of the Letter is below:
The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack
Secretary Read More
Governor Requests Delay Of Homeland Security Plan To Transport Migrants; Emphasizes New Mexico Cannot Shoulder Federal Duties During Record Wildfire Season
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham sent a letter today to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejando Mayorkas requesting the federal government delay planned or expanded efforts to transport migrants to New Mexico as they would dramatically affect the state’s capacity to provide ongoing humanitarian assistance to wildfire relief efforts.
The letter follows the governor’s meeting with DHS Sec. Mayorkas last month, where she requested additional wildfire disaster assistance from the federal government through the Federal Emergency Read More
New Mexico State Land Office Triples Renewable Energy
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announcing today’s largest renewable lease sale in New Mexico history. Courtesy/SLO
From the New Mexico State Land Office:
- Largest renewable lease sale in state history; lifetime project revenue to bring in millions for public education
SANTA FE – Following a public auction to lease state trust lands for wind energy production, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced today that the State Land Office has tripled renewable energy leased on state trust land in New Mexico since 2019, bringing renewable energy production Read More
Republican Party Of Los Alamos Central Committee Meeting
RPLA News:
The Republican Party of Los Alamos (RPLA) is opening up the first part of its Central Committee meeting for the public to listen to some of the local Libertarian candidates running for local offices.
As always, its business meeting will follow, which is open to all registered Republicans.
The meeting is at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 16 located at 2101 Trinity Dr. A-2. Read More
Luján Calls For Federal Accountability And Partnership Ahead Of POTUS Visit To New Mexico
By U.S. SEN. BEN RAY LUJAN (D-N.M.)
“In early May, my brother Jerome and I discussed the seasonal chores we needed to do on our family farm in Nambé. He wanted to do a controlled burn of our acequia – a standard practice in early summer to clear acequias of debris.
“Better safe than sorry, Jerome made a quick call to the Pojoaque Valley Fire Department to confirm the conditions were right for a safe burn. The answer he got was simple: No. It’s a red flag day.
“That same week, the Hermits Peak fire – which has devastated more than 318,000 acres – broke out just north of Las Vegas. This fire Read More
Gov. Lujan Grisham To Testify On Methane Reduction To Congressional Committee
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will join the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis 11 a.m. MT, Tuesday, June 14, to provide testimony for a hybrid hearing on state efforts to cut methane pollution. The governor’s testimony will center on New Mexico’s nationally leading regulations for methane reduction.
The governor will appear before the committee remotely. The hearing will be live-streamed and can be viewed here. Read More
Governor Lujan Grisham Acts To Lower Health Care Costs For New Mexicans
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of the Governor:
ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham acted to decrease prescription drug and health care costs for New Mexicans Thursday, June 9, by creating a Prescription Drug Task Force.
Members of the task force will work to reduce the costs of prescriptions for New Mexicans, building on Gov. Lujan Grisham’s record of delivering affordable health care to every corner of the state.
In just three and a half years, Gov. Lujan Grisham took decisive action to increase access to high-quality health care to every New Mexican. Under Gov. Lujan Read More
Governor Orders Flags Lowered For New Mexico Marine Killed In Helicopter Crash At Camp Pendleton
Governor orders flags to half-staff through sundown Thursday in mourning for Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland. Courtesy image
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered state flags lowered to half-staff today in mourning for Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland of Valencia County, who was killed in a helicopter crash June 8 while conducting a training exercise at Camp Pendleton.
“I am heartbroken by the tragic death of five brave Marines, including Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland, a son of New Mexico and a graduate of Valencia High School,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “Lance Cpl. Read More
New Mexico State Auditor Addresses $13.7 Million Settlement Announcement By Attorney General
From the Office of the State Auditor:
ALBUQUERQUE – State Auditor Brian Colón today issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a $13.7 million settlement with Centene Corporation by Attorney General Hector Balderas:
“For more than a decade, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) operated in a relatively unregulated environment enabling opportunities to develop abusive billing practices. In 2020 my Office took an innovative approach and launched an investigation into the billing practices by PBMs, together with the assistance of both the Human Services Department and Read More
New Mexico Higher Education Department Opens Application Process For 2022 Teacher Loan Repayment Program
HED News:
…Increased funding will support more teachers this year
SANTA FE— The New Mexico Higher Education Department (HED) encourages teachers with outstanding student loans to apply for debt forgiveness through the state’s Teacher Loan Repayment Program, which is now accepting applications until Aug. 1.
New Mexico licensed teachers working in high-need fields and schools statewide may be eligible for up to $6,000 per year for two years toward principal debt and interest on federal student loans related to teacher education.
The program received a record number of applications
AG Balderas Announces $13.7 Million Settlement With Centene Corporation Over Investigation Of PBM Claims
Attorney General Hector Balderas
From the Office of the Attorney General:
…Ongoing Investigation of remaining PBMs in New Mexico in Partnership with Superintendent of Insurance
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas announced a $13.7 million settlement with Centene Corporation regarding the Attorney General’s investigation of the company’s subsidiaries’ pricing and reporting of pharmacy benefits and services provided to the New Mexico Medicaid program which is overseen by the New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD).
“Vulnerable New Mexicans Read More
Española Mayor To Introduce Top Finalists For City Manager At Public Meetings At Misión y Convento June 15-16
CITY OF ESPANOLA News:
City of Española Mayor John Ramon Vigil has announced that he will be holding public meetings to introduce the top two finalists in the selection of a new City Manager.
Vigil began his administration April 1, 2022 and appointed former Española Superintendent of Schools Janette Archuleta in an interim capacity. Archuleta did not apply for the permanent position.
“Mrs. Archuleta let me know early on that she would not be interested in applying for the permanent position,” Vigil said. “But she hit the ground running with a multitude of projects and organizational management Read More
White House Announces Phase Out Of Single-Use Plastics In U.S. National Parks By 2032
White House News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House has announced that the Department of the Interior will reduce and eventually phase out the sale of single-use plastic products in U.S. national parks, wildlife refuges, and other public lands.
The news comes after more than 300 organizations and nearly 70,000 individuals called on the Department of the Interior to take action.
To mark World Oceans Day 2022, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland issued Secretary’s Order 3407, which initiates a plan “to reduce the procurement, sale, and distribution of single-use products and packaging.” Read More
Rep. Stansbury Passes ‘Protecting Our Kids Act’ Following Uvalde, Laguna Woods, Buffalo Mass Shootings
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the country continues to experience an epidemic of gun violence and communities in Uvalde, Buffalo, and Laguna Woods mourn the children and individuals killed during tragic mass shootings, U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01) voted to pass the Protecting Our Kids Act (H.R. 7910) in the House of Representatives last night.
The legislative package includes commonsense measures to crack down on gun trafficking, establish voluntary safe firearm storage assistance programs, ban dangerous Read More
League Of Women Voters: Lunch With A Leader June 16
LWV News:
The League of Women Voters’ event for the entire community, Lunch With a Leader with speaker is Claudia Borchert, noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 16, via zoom.
Borchert joined the New Mexico’s Environment Department in November 2020 as the Environmental Protection Division’s Climate Change Policy Coordinator. As a member of the leadership team of New Mexico’s interagency Climate Change Task Force, Borchert is developing a suite of climate action strategies for the state’s 5-year climate action plan to achieve the statewide greenhouse gas emission reduction goal of at least 45 percent Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Negotiates Bipartisan Gun Safety Agreement, Announces Senate Proposal
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the bipartisan group of senators that has been negotiating a legislative package to reduce gun violence, released the following statement after the group announced an initial framework proposal:
“I am a gun owner. I also have two kids who grew up doing active shooter drills that would have been unimaginable when I was their age,” Sen. Heinrich said. “The level of gun violence in our country is appalling and unacceptable. In addition, I refuse to accept the idea that we are so divided Read More
New Mexico Congressional Delegation Welcomes Biden Administration, FEMA Waiving Certain Non-Federal Cost-Shares For Wildfire Disaster Assistance
President Joe Biden, center, chats with members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation on the tarmac this afternoon in Albuquerque following his arrival to visit the land of Enchantment. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal
President Joe Biden arrives on Air Force One today in Albuquerque. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal
Congressional Delegation News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in response to calls from 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.), Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Read More
