Governor Signs Emergency Declarations Providing $2.25 Million For Communities Battling/Recovering From Wildfires
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed executive orders Friday declaring states of emergency in the counties of Colfax, Lincoln, San Miguel, and Valencia, making available funding and state resources for communities battling ongoing wildfires and recovering from recent wildfires.
Together, these executive orders provide $2.25 million for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to assist the affected counties with emergency measures, help prevent additional damages, repair public infrastructure, and lessen the overall recovery time.
These Read More
State Of New Mexico Seeks Nominations For 2022 Governor’s Awards For Excellence In The Arts
NMA News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Arts Commission and New Mexico Arts, the state arts agency, are seeking nominations for the 2022 Governor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts.
The annual Governor’s Arts Awards are New Mexico’s highest and most prestigious artistic honor and are intended to celebrate extraordinary achievement in the arts. Nominations may be submitted by individual state residents, or representatives of businesses or organizations in New Mexico.
Nominations for the awards may include individual living New Mexican artists working in any discipline who have demonstrated Read More
New Mexico State Land Office Bans Campfires On All State Trust Lands … Open Burning, Fireworks Also Prohibited
New Mexico State Land Office News:
SANTA FE – Due to the rapid spread of wildfires across New Mexico, the State Land Office has announced a ban on campfires, open burning and fireworks on all state trust lands, effective immediately.
Much of New Mexico is experiencing high fire danger due to high temperatures, strong winds, low humidity and forest fuels.
Campfires, open burning and fireworks are prohibited on all state trust lands There is an exception if you are using cooking or heating devices fueled by kerosene, white gas or propane in an improved camping area that is cleared of flammable
Heinrich Calls For FERC Action To Lower Energy Costs And Improve Grid Reliability
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) joined Chair Kathy Castor of the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis in sending a bicameral letter urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to accelerate the transition to clean energy by improving transmission planning, optimizing the cost allocation process, and unclogging interconnection queues.
“Our country is facing several challenges that require ambitious Federal policies to lower energy costs and provide economic security for American families and businesses,” the letter Read More
New Mexico State Librarian Eli Guinnee Joins NMDCA
New NMDCA Chair of Engagement and Education Eli Guinnee
NMDCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs (NMDCA) announces that New Mexico State Librarian Eli Guinnee also will join agency leadership with the additional role of Chair of Engagement and Education, effective immediately.
Guinnee’s new role as chair both formalizes the work that he has tackled throughout his time at NMDCA and deepens the agency’s commitment to accessibility, engagement, and education.
Since joining the department, he has led efforts by NMDCA divisions to critically engage with their communities Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Issues Earth Day Statement
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) issued the following statement in recognition of Earth Day:
“Earth Day offers us the opportunity to renew our commitment to pass on a healthy and livable planet to future generations. As the father of two teenage sons, I know just how attuned our kids and young Americans are to how their future will be impacted by the actions—or inactions—we take today to invest in clean energy and climate resilience.
“The climate crisis that is already contributing to more destructive wildfire behavior in New Mexico’s Read More
Greater Chaco Coalition & Citizens Caring For The Future On Decision To Restart Oil And Gas Leasing In New Mexico
SIERRA CLUB News:
In response to the Department of the Interior’s decision to resume oil and gas leasing on public lands across the United States, including in New Mexico, the Greater Chaco Coalition and Citizens Caring for the Future jointly issued the following statement:
This week the Bureau of Land Management announced that it would resume leasing public and ancestral tribal lands for oil and gas extraction this June, breaking President Biden’s campaign promise to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and end new fossil fuel leasing.
This decision will devastate communities and the climate Read More
Local Libertarian Party Holding Officer Elections May 5
Libertarian Party News:
The Libertarian Party of Los Alamos County is holding officer elections and planning for supporting local Libertarian candidates for the June 7 Primary Election and Nov. 8 General Election.
The meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5 at Cottonwood on the Greens Restaurant at the golf course … look for folks wearing gold T-shirts.
Libertarian candidates include James Wernicke running for Los Alamos County Council, Laura Burrows for Los Alamos County Assessor and Chris Luchini for Los Alamos County Sheriff.
This meeting is open to the public and includes snacks and conversation. Read More
Henry P. Roybal Discusses Run For New Mexico House Seat
House Dist. 46 candidate Henry P. Roybal visited the Los Alamos Daily Post newspaper office recently to discuss his decision to run for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Henry P. Roybal visited the Los Alamos Daily Post newspaper office recently to meet the news team and talk about his candidacy for a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives.
Roybal has worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory since 2001 in the Engineering Services and Utilities and Infrastructure Read More
American Federation Of Teachers New Mexico Endorses Re-Election Of Gov. Lujan Grisham & Lt. Gov. Howie Morales
President Whitney Holland
AFT News:
ALBUQUERQUE — American Federation of Teachers (AFT) New Mexico President Whitney Holland, AFT New Mexico Executive Vice President Kathy Chavez, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales released the following statements:
Holland and Chavez said, “AFT New Mexico’s Executive Council has unanimously endorsed Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Lt. Gov. Howie Morales for re-election to a second term. Four years ago, Gov. Lujan Grisham promised a significant change in direction for public education in New Mexico after eight years of the Martinez Read More
New Mexico Opportunity Enterprise Fund Signed Into Law
Rep. Meredith Dixon
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 7, the Opportunity Enterprise Act, March 9, which will expand the availability of commercial building spaces for meaningful economic development in communities across New Mexico.
The Opportunity Enterprise Act creates a partnership program within the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) to enhance the ability of local communities to fund and construct commercial buildings that will directly support their economic development initiatives.
This will help communities acquire the necessary commercial Read More
Guessing: Don’t Waste New Mexico’s ‘Unique’ Opportunity
By PAUL GESSING
President
Rio Grande Foundation
New Mexico is in a unique of economic situation. Despite having the highest unemployment rate in the nation for all of 2022, our incredibly strong oil and gas industry, buoyed by high prices and rapid production growth, have given politicians in Santa Fe “more money than they know what to do with.” So, in the recent 30-day session we saw spending grow by more than $1 billion and some significant tax cuts. Then, in a special session, rebates to be paid out to taxpayers and non-taxpayers alike.
The impetus to return money generated by the oil and gas industry Read More
Interior Department Outlines Roadmap For Continued Renewable Energy Progress On Public Lands
DOI News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As part of its commitment to support and inspire a clean energy transition, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced a series of steps taken to advance the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to permit 25 gigawatts of renewable power on public lands by 2025.
These efforts support the Department’s strategy to responsibly unlock and deliver the full potential of renewable energy on our public lands and waters, while creating good-paying union jobs and reducing emissions.
“The Department of the Interior continues to make significant progress in our efforts Read More
Heinrich Tours John T. Harrington Reforestation Center After Securing $1 Million To Support Current, Future Reforestation Needs
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich touring the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center today in Mora. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
MORA — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich toured the John T. Harrington Reforestation Center today in Mora. Sen. Heinrich recently secured $1 million in congressionally directed spending for the center’s seed bank and seed collection efforts.
The center is a partnership between New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, and the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department’s Forestry Division to meet New Mexico’s Read More
Los Alamos County Council Tentatively Approves Proposed FY23 Non-Departmental Budget
Los Alamos County Council voted unanimously tonight to tentatively approve a proposed $4,552,409 non-departmental in the County’s proposed FY23 budget. Screenshot/LADP Read More
County Tentatively Approves DPU Proposed Budget
Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities Manager Philo Shelton presents tonight his department’s FY23 proposed budget to council. Council voted unanimously to tentatively approve the department’s $86,581,568 budget. They also approved several budget options, which include $75,000 for electric distribution, $115,376 for gas distribution, $330,816 for water production and $269,000 for wastewater. Screenshot/LADP Read More
Council Tentatively Oks Public Works Proposed Budget
Los Alamos County Public Works Manager Juan Rael presents his department’s proposed FY 23 budget to council tonight. Screenshot/LAPD
COUNTY News;
Council voted 6-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed, to tentatively approve the $55,914,480 budget along with several budget options. These options include:
- $150,000 for asset management software to help facilitate better maintenance of County infrastructure along with $60,000 for the software’s annual cost.
- $170,000 for one FTE for a capital projects manager.
- $500,000 for the design of a new transit center, which would include a study,
Council Tentatively Approves LAPD Proposed Budget
Los Alamos County Police Department Chief Dino Sgambellone presents his department’s proposed FY23 budget tonight to council. The proposed budget, which totals $11,069,851, was tentatively approved. There are several budget options that were tentatively approved, too, including $220,000 for two sworn FTEs, $270,000 for a rescue vehicle, $160,000 for vehicle storage for a bomb truck and rescue vehicle. Two items were placed on the ‘parking lot’ to be discussed later in the budget hearings. These items are $58,500 for an electric police cruiser and Councilor David Reagor suggested discussing Read More
Council Tentatively Okays LAFD FY23 Proposed Budget
Los Alamos Fire Department Chief Troy Hughes presents his department’s proposed budget for FY23 tonight to council. Council unanimously approved the department’s proposed $37,414,878 budget. Screenshot/LADP Read More
Los Alamos County Council Proclaims April 19, 2022 ‘Norma Jean Valdez Day’
LAFD Senior Management Analyst Norma Jean Valdez accepts a proclamation today in Council Chambers declaring Tuesday, April 19, 2022, ‘Norma Jean Valdez Day’. From left, Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dawald, Councilor Keith Lepsch, Valdez and Fire Chief Troy Hughes who nominated Valdez for the prestigious CPSE Ray Picard Award. Screenshot/LADP
LAFD Senior Management Analyst Norma Jean Valdez receives a standing ovation from Council and County staff for bringing international recognition to Los Alamos and New Mexico. Screenshot/LADP
Staff Report
Los Alamos County Council today proclaimed Read More
