Luján, Heinrich Introduce Legislation To Boost Funding For Indian Water Rights Settlements
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Protecting Indian Water Rights Settlements Act of 2026, legislation to ensure the federal government fulfills its trust responsibilities by providing dedicated, mandatory funding for Indian water rights settlements through the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund, first authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
As of May 2026, there are 39 enacted Indian Read More
Forward Party Of New Mexico Chairman On 2026 Primary
NMFWD News:
SANTA FE — Reacting to the 2026 primary election results, Forward Party Of New Mexico (NMFWD) Chairman Bob Perls said: “First, let me say that I am very proud of the independent voters who turned out to vote for the very first time. I spent 10 years of volunteer time as Founder and President of New Mexico Open Elections working to pass the new semi-open primaries bill. The pundits who point to their low turnout forget that, since statehood, independents have never been allowed to vote in the New Mexico primary.
“Voting is like eating healthy food. You have to be exposed to it, taste it, get Read More
RPNM On Write-In Success Of Primary Election Night
RPNM News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) released the following statement on the success seen on Election Night by the 3 write-in candidates Larry Marker, James Ellison, and Joshua Lawrence:
“Not only did all three of our write-in candidates meet the required number of write-in votes, they did so in near-record time,” RPNM 1st Vice Chair Mike Nelson said. “Each candidate had more than 4,000 write-in votes reported out of Bernalillo county alone less than 2 hours after the polls closed.
Based on historical precedent, the expectation was that several days would be needed Read More
Rep. Vasquez Opposes $70 Billion Blank Check For ICE
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 9, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) remained firm in his calls for reform and accountability at ICE, rejecting “MAGA extremists” latest request for another $70 billion blank check for ICE through the budget reconciliation process.
“Last summer, ICE got a $75 billion blank check with no spending guardrails, and we all saw how those taxpayer funds were used—to terrorize folks without accountability, infringe on civil rights across the country, and murder American citizens in the streets,” Vasquez said. Read More
Heinrich Leads Letter Urging Secretary Wright To Reverse Course On Guidance For Home Energy Rebate Program
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led ten Senate Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Chris Wright opposing DOE’s new High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate (HEEHR) program guidance.
The home energy rebate program is based on Heinrich’s Zero-Emission Homes Act, which he authored in 2021 and fought for the inclusion of in the Inflation Reduction Act. The program, as Heinrich intended, would help families with the upfront costs of high-efficiency Read More
Rep. Catherine Cullen: Public Office Should Not Be A Taxpayer-Funded Side Hustle
STATE News:
RIO RANCHO – Rep. Catherine Cullen (R- Rio Rancho) is calling for transparency and accountability following reports that Sandoval County Assessor Linda Gallegos is collecting two taxpayer-funded government salaries while continuing to serve in elected office.
A recent investigative report raised serious concerns about whether Sandoval County taxpayers are receiving the full-time leadership and attention they elected their assessor to provide.
“Public office is a public trust,” Rep. Catherine Cullen said. “New Mexicans are working harder than ever to support their families, Read More
RPLA To Hold Silent Auction Fundraiser Dinner June 18
By LISA SHIN
Chair
Republican Party of Los Alamos
Congratulations to our local and state-wide Republican candidates who will now advance to the General Election. Our Council candidates, Jason Chappel and Eric Stromberg, are counting on your support and help!
Please join us for our Silent Auction Fundraiser Dinner at 5 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026, at SALA Event Center. I am thrilled to announce that we will have two honored guest speakers: Didi Okpareke, candidate for New Mexico Congressional District 1, and Gregg Hull, candidate for New Mexico Governor. Online registration at this link. Read More
Lynne: My Sincere Thanks To The Los Alamos Community
By STEVEN LYNNE
Candidate for County Council
Dear Los Alamos Community,
I wanted to extend my sincere thanks to the entire Los Alamos community. I recently returned from a week in Florida with my wife and daughters for our family reunion. As we watched the primary election results together, I found myself thinking about home and how much this community feels like a family to me. I deeply appreciate your support.
After 28 years of working for the county, including the last three as County Manager, and collaborating with many councils and councilors, this is my first time running for elected office. Read More
Rep. Gabe Vasquez Supports Tribal Communities, Strengthening Public Safety With BADGES Act
U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez
U.S. HOUSE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 8, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) cosponsored the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety for Native Communities (BADGES) Act to support Tribal Law enforcement and strengthen public safety in Indian Country. In the United States there are an estimated 4,200 missing and murdered Indigenous People cases that have gone unsolved. In response, the bill improves coordination in missing persons investigations and support for the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Law Enforcement Officers. Read More
Dannemann: Haaland Needs A Broader Message Now
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2026 by Merilee Dannemann
“The next governor must be laser focused on lifting New Mexico out of multigenerational poverty—the driver of all of our societal problems.” I am borrowing that line from a social media comment about the governor’s race.
There’s nothing wrong with being a single mother. But it’s not a sign of greatness either.
It’s a circumstance within the normal range of life’s possibilities. In itself, it is not a proof of qualification for anything else—certainly not the highest office in the state.
That’s why it’s worth noting that this Read More
Heinrich Raises Questions On Potential Ethics Violations By Senior Official At Department Of Interior
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Burgum requesting a briefing from the Department’s Designated Ethics Official (DAO) regarding actions of Karen Budd-Falen, the Department’s Associate Deputy Secretary, that raise serious concerns about her compliance with federal ethics laws and standards.
“I am writing to express deep concern regarding reports that a senior official at the Department Read More
Interior Secretary Designates Six New National Trails
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum
From the Department of the Interior:
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- New hiking, paddling and multi-use trails add 162.5 miles to the National Trails System
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In celebration of Great Outdoors Month and National Trails Day on June 6, designated five new National Recreation Trails and one National Water Trail, adding 162.5 miles of hiking, paddling and outdoor recreation opportunities across five states.
The newly designated trails join a nationwide network of more than 1,350 National Recreation Trails found in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico Read More
Governor Appoints Rebecca Roose Natural Resources Trustee
Rebecca Roose
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced the appointment of Rebecca Roose as New Mexico’s Natural Resources Trustee through the remainder of the governor’s term.
Roose has served as the governor’s senior infrastructure advisor since fall 2023 and as acting Natural Resources Trustee since March. Roose’s term as trustee will end when the governor’s does on Dec. 31, 2026.
The Office of the Natural Resources Trustee (ONRT) is the State of New Mexico’s natural resources watchdog. When contamination injures New Mexico’s land, water or wildlife, ONRT works Read More
County Council To Meet In Closed Session June 9
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council is scheduled to meet in a closed session at 4 p.m., Tuesday, June 9, in Council Chambers at 1000 Central Ave.
The purpose of the closed session is to discuss the performance evaluation of Los Alamos County’s contract employees.
The agenda has been published and can be found here. Read More
County Council To Meet In Regular Session June 9
Op-Ed: ‘County Shows It Doesn’t Give A Flock About Surveilling Citizens’
By JAMES RICKMAN
Los Alamos
Perhaps I should feel grateful that County leaders dispatched their official Spin Doctor to reply to my letter about the emergence of a network of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in our community (link). But outside of Mr. Krueger’s “Trust Us, We’re the Government” response, the County continues to sidestep the issue of why the cameras were installed in the first place.
Is Los Alamos facing some kind of underlying existential threat that necessitates its citizens giving up some of their liberties to gain a little more security?
The way the County tells it, Read More
Rep. Vasquez Secures Win In Fight For Accountability & Answers From DOD On El Paso Airport Closure
U.S. HOUSE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On June 4, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02)—in his role as a member of the House Armed Services Committee—secured a critical, bipartisan win in his ongoing fight to get the accountability and answers New Mexicans deserve from the Department of Defense regarding the chaotic closure of the El Paso Airport in February 2026.
During committee markup, Rep. Vasquez introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act requiring the Department of Defense to provide a report on its coordination process with DHS and FAA, an explanation Read More
Los Alamos Helps Fire Up interplanetary Space Missions
Artist’s rendering of NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft on the surface of Saturn’s moon Titan. The car-sized lander will explore Titan’s environment and study its complex chemistry. Courtesy/NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Steve Gribben
LANL News:
- Work is helping to power exploration into the cosmos
Within the recesses of a Los Alamos National Laboratory facility, a scientist studies a small ceramic pellet through layers of leaded glass. The pellet fits in the palm of a hand, but its purpose is anything but small. It is a plutonium-238 heat source, engineered to power scientific instruments in some Read More
DPLAC To Hold Monthly Meeting Monday June 8
DPLAC News:
The Democratic Party of Los Alamos (DPLAC) is scheduled to hold its monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 8.
How to attend:
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- In person: White Rock Branch Library
- Via Zoom, Meeting ID: 816 5412 7593
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Agenda items:
- Primary election results
- Executive team updates (Chair, Vice Chair, Ward Chairs)
- Upcoming events
- Table at Los Alamos Pride June 12
- June 13: Garage Sale. Donations welcome.
- Friday night concerts
- Next monthly meeting 6:30 p.m., July 13, at Mesa Public Library
- Aug. 2: Obama Chili Cookoff, Fuller Lodge.
- September 12: JFK Fundraiser Dinner, Beef & Leaf Cafe.
- Democratic
County Invites Community To Comment On Upcoming Safety Improvements To Ashley Pond Park
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County preliminary design concepts for preventing vehicles from leaving Trinity Drive and entering Ashley Pond Park are now available for residents to provide feedback on now through Aug. 2.
The community is invited to review the designs and provide feedback on the County’s consultation page for this project.
Three design concepts were drafted with contractor Groundworks Studio to provide different options of protecting park-goers from the potential of vehicles intentionally or unintentionally leaving Trinity Drive, while also improving or complementing Read More
