New Mexico Has No-Excuse-Needed Absentee Ballots
LWVNM News:
In light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the League of Women Voters of New Mexico (LWVNM) is urging eligible voters to vote absentee in the upcoming June 2 Primary Election.
The New Mexico Secretary of State is already accepting online applications for absentee ballots at sos.state.nm.us. The ballots will be mailed starting May 5.
Remember, you must be registered with a major political party in order to vote in a primary election in New Mexico. You can register to vote online at the Secretary of State’s website at sos.state.nm.us or with your local county clerk by
Udall, Heinrich Vote for Coronavirus Emergency Bill To Provide Immediate Public Health And Economic Relief To New Mexicans
CONGRESSIONAL News:
- Bill provides direct financial support to struggling New Mexicans and small businesses, hospitals and health care workers
- Also includes reimbursement for state and Tribal expenses due to pandemic
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich voted to pass a major, bipartisan emergency COVID-19 response bill to provide immediate and badly-needed relief to New Mexicans grappling with the coronavirus pandemic.
The $2 trillion package includes key provisions to support New Mexico, including: direct payments to individual New Mexicans and a Read More
Skolnik: In An Outbreak, Delays Kill
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos
As our governor has correctly and repeatedly said, the US federal government is still failing to address COVID-19 with sufficient urgency. In an outbreak, every day of delay leads to cases and deaths that should never occur. In due course, history will correctly attribute many of these deaths to government indifference, delays, and incompetence.
In states like New Mexico, more people filed for unemployment last week than at any time in history, including the great depression. Jobless claims for the US as a whole rose from 70,000 to over 280,000, as COVID-19 began Read More
LANL Limits Onsite Operations Consistent With CDC; State
While Los Alamos National Laboratory is not closed, the Lab is limiting onsite operations consistent with guidance from the CDC and the State of New Mexico. The vast majority of LANL employees are working from home. Onsite, the Lab is maintaining a minimum staff to support limited, key national security activities that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has deemed mission-essential. This is a view of a LANL parking lot showing a reduction in the normally high number of vehicles. Courtesy/LANL Read More
New Mexico COVID-19 Cases Now At 112
STATE News:
- A male in his 20s
- A female in her 40s
- A male in his 40s
- A female in her 70s
- A female in her 80s
- A male in his 70s – deceased. As previously reported Wednesday by the Department of Health, this individual died Sunday, March 22. The state laboratory confirmed a positive COVID-19 test late Tuesday, March 24, after receiving it the same day.
State Of New Mexico Using Emergency Alert System For Important Communications During Public Health Crisis
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Given the current public health crisis and the need to communicate critical information directly to as many New Mexicans as possible, the state of New Mexico will use an emergency alert system, disseminated from the state’s Emergency Operations Center, when conditions warrant.
This system is similar to Amber Alerts, which are used to notify the public about missing children.
Alerts will be sent through text messages, television and radio.
The system is intended to disseminate important information widely and as quickly as possible and is not a cause for alarm.
The first
New Mexico Governor Announces Two New Health Orders With Goal To Preserve Personal Protection Equipment
From the Office of the Governor:
Preserving personal protection equipment is goal of two new health orders
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced today two public health orders that will protect New Mexico’s supply of the personal protective equipment health care workers need to stay safe during the COVID-19 crisis.
One order prohibits non-essential health services, defined as services that can be delayed for three months without undue risk to the patient’s health. Eliminating non-essential medical procedures will slow the use of personal protective gear. Read it here.
The second Read More
New Mexico Attorney General Warns Amazon, Facebook, Ebay, Craigslist, Walmart: Online Marketplaces Aren’t Exempt From Price Gouging Laws
Attorney General Hector Balderas. Courtesy photo
From the Office of the Attorney General:
SANTA FE ― Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas led a coalition of 32 attorneys general, urging Amazon, Facebook, Ebay, Walmart, and Craigslist to more rigorously monitor price gouging practices by online sellers using their services.
“Increasing prices on necessities like medical supplies, hand sanitizer, masks, and other items because people are in fear of the coronavirus is simply unconscionable,” Balderas said. “Businesses must exercise more thorough oversight to stop anyone using their Read More
Access To Soap Concerning SF Inmates During Pandemic
Santa Fe County Adult Detention Center. Courtesy/SNM
By IKE SWETLITZ
Searchlight New Mexico
Jonathan Ayala has one bath towel left. An inmate in the Santa Fe County jail, Ayala has cut his only other towel into rags so he can clean the tables and showers in his dorm-like living area.
He’s worried about the potential for COVID-19 to spread in the jail — a cramped environment that, according to him and other inmates, lacks proper cleaning supplies.
“We’re just spreading all this filth around the pod,” said Ayala, who has been incarcerated at the jail since Feb. 18.
While those of us in the outside world Read More
GOP: More Federal Candidates Certified For Primary Ballot
RPNM News:LANL: Notice Of Public Reading Room Closure In Pojoaque
LANL Hardcopy Public Reading Room at 94 Cities of Gold Road in Pojoaque is closed until further notice. Courtesy/DOE
LANL News:
The Los Alamos National Laboratory Hardcopy Public Reading Room at the Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board Office at 94 Cities of Gold Road in Pojoaque will be closed until further notice.
The Electronic Public Reading Room is available at: https://www.lanl.gov/library/about/environmental.php
Thank you for your understanding during this time. Read More
Letter To The Editor: Blaming Wrong Person
By GREG WHITE
Candidate for County Council
A recent letter blamed the governor for a lack of helping small businesses to survive forced closing.
The writer tries to simplify what is actually a complex and fast developing situation. And if anyone is to blame for any small businesses failing it’s the president!
China first reported the virus to the world Dec. 31. By Jan. 6, U.S. federal health agencies, including HHS, CDC, FDA and even Trump’s close advisors were warning him of the potential for an epidemic or worse and urging him to take action.
Trump chose to ignore and make up his own Read More
JMEC Limits Hours Due To COVID-19 Pandemic
JMEC News:
Española – Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative, Inc. (JMEC) has issued the following in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency:
In keeping with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s measures recently introduced to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus (COVID-19), we have made the decision to limit the business hours of our cashier lobbies at all offices effective immediately.
We know there is growing concern as the outbreak and impact of COVID-19 continues to evolve. The health and safety of our customers and employees is a top priority. We understand your connection Read More
New Mexico Film Office Highlights Financial Assistance For Film Workers Netflix Pitches In $100 million For Assistance
NMFO News:
STATE News – The New Mexico Film Office (NMFO) is encouraging furloughed workers in the film and television industry to apply directly to non-profit relief funds for assistance, Film Office Director Amber Dodson said today.
A portion of the money going into the funds is from Netflix, which is contributing $100 million worldwide to assist industry workers during the COVID-19 health emergency. Netflix is not only paying its own laid off cast and crew members but has pledged $15 million to non-profit foundations with applications open to all film and television workers nationwide. Read More
Chart 9: COVID-19 Daily Cases By County In New Mexico
Chart shows between March 11 and March 24 the daily cases of COVID-19 by county in New Mexico. Courtesy/Eli Ben-Naim
Chart shows the cumulative cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico. Courtesy/Eli Ben-Naim Read More
New Mexico COVID-19 Cases Now At 100
STATE News:- A female in her 40s
- A male in his 40s
- A female in her 50s
- A male in his 70s
- A male in his 80s
- A male in his 20s
- A male in his 30s
- A male in his 60s
- A female in her 50s
- A female in her 50s
- A female in her teens
- Two males in their 30s
County Council Chair Sara Scott Issues Update On Local COVID-19 Response Following State’s Stay At Home Order
By Chair Sara Scott
Los Alamos County Council
By now most of you are aware of the new Stay at Home Instruction issued March 23 by the Secretary of Health Kathy Kunkel, which states that New Mexicans “must stay at home and undertake only those outings absolutely necessary for their health, safety or welfare” and further prohibits most gatherings of five or more individuals indoors or outdoors.
It is essential that as a community we have and continue to take the responsibility and important steps needed to limit the transmission of COVID-19 and give our health care system the best chance possible Read More
CB FOX Deemed Nonessential Business … Closing 4:15 P.M. Today … Reopening To Sell Remaining Merchandise Soon
CB FOX Department Store on Central Avenue falls into the category of a nonessential business and will temporarily close at 4:15 p.m. today. Courtesy photo
CB FOX News:
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Stay at Home Order issued Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic lists retail stores as nonessential businesses in New Mexico.
CB FOX Department Store falls into that category and has announced that it will temporarily close at 4:15 p.m. today.
“We will re-open to sell off the remaining items as soon as we can. Watch for updates!”
“Stay safe Los Alamos!” Read More
Metzger’s Stores Deemed Essential And Remaining Open
Metzger’s Do It Best Hardware at 1607 Central Ave., in downtown Los Alamos and the store on N.M. 4 in White Rock are essential businesses and will remain open. Courtesy photo
Metzger’s Hardware Store News:
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Stay at Home Order issued Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic specifically lists hardware stores as an essential business in New Mexico.
“Metzger’s Hardware takes our responsibility to our community seriously, and will remain open during this crisis,” General Manager David Jolley posted on Metzger’s Facebook page. “We will continue to do our best to keep in
Public Attendance Prohibited At Utilities Board Meeting
COUNTY News:
Public in-person attendance at the Wednesday, March 25 Board of Public Utilities (BPU) meeting will be prohibited in accordance with the Public Health Emergency Order Closing All Businesses and Non-Profit Entities Except for those Deemed Essential and Providing Additional Restrictions on Mass Gatherings Due to COVID-19 issued March 23 from the New Mexico Department of Health.
Officials with the Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities encourage citizens to live-stream the meeting and submit public comment via email.
The BPU meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., Wednesday Read More
