U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján To Host Teletownhall On COVID-19
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), the U.S. House Assistant Speaker, will hold a Teletownhall on COVID-19.
He will discuss the steps Congress is taking to address the coronavirus emergency and keep communities healthy.
Luján will be joined by New Mexico Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel to provide crucial updates on the state and federal response to this public health threat.
Teletownhall Access:
- WHEN: 7 p.m. MT Tuesday, March 17
- CALL-IN NUMBER: 877-229-8493
- CODE: 112437
Governor Issues Five Executive Orders To Free Up $3.25M To Address COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Courtesy photo
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued five executive orders authorizing up to $3,250,000 of additional funding for emergency response and disaster relief efforts to address the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The funding will be used to assist in humanitarian relief, public health measures and to benefit families and children impacted by school closures.
This disaster-relief funding has been made available to the New Mexico National Guard, the Department of Homeland Security Read More
State Website Contains Information For Families On School Meals … Lists Feeding Plans By District During Closing
STATE News:
The newwmexico.gov website is state government’s one-stop shop for information about the COVID-19 pandemic that led Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to close schools for three weeks beginning today, March 16.
(Updates to the number of confirmed cases in the state will continue to be posted to cv.nmhealth.org.)
The newmexico.gov website is being updated and finalized in real Read More
New Mexico Expands Child Care Eligibility, Guarantees Payments For Child Care Providers During Health Emergency
STATE News:
SANTA FE – In response to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s March 11 declaration of a public health emergency, the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) have made a series of temporary changes to New Mexico’s early childhood policies.
“We recognize that New Mexicans face a range of circumstances and challenges. If you have the flexibility to stay home with your child, we encourage you to do so. If you need child care, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that you have access to healthy and safe care,” said Read More
NMDVS Postpones Upcoming Events Due To COVID-19 Pandemic Reaching New Mexico
NMDVS News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) has postponed all agency-related public events in the immediate future—following the New Mexico Department of Health’s (DOH) public health order temporarily prohibiting mass gatherings in New Mexico in response to the COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus pandemic reaching the state.
The public health order defines “mass gatherings” as events that bring together 100 or more people in a single room or connected space such as auditoriums, stadiums, arenas, conference centers, and theaters.
Exempt from the order are airports, Read More
Heinrich Issues Update On Operations Of New Mexico Offices
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced Sunday that for the health and safety of both staff and visitors and to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, his New Mexico-based offices will be operating with minimized on-site staff, with the remainder of staff working remotely.
This will go into effect immediately.
Sen. Heinrich’s D.C. office initiated the same modified operations last week.
Sen. Heinrich will continue to keep New Mexicans informed of any changes to the operations of his Read More
AFT-NM Responds to Statewide School Closures
AFT President Stephanie Ly
AFT News:
Albuquerque – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT) President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:
“The announcement of temporary statewide school closures from March 16 through April 6 is a prudent decision for the health and welfare of our students, families, and education professionals across New Mexico. Worldwide data shows that proactive decisions such as mass closures help to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Gov. Lujan Grisham and the leadership of the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) will be issuing additional Read More
Secretary Of State’s Office Will Limit In-Person Services In Response To COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Following Gov. Lujan Grisham’s declaration of a public health emergency last week due to reported COVID-19 cases in New Mexico, the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office will until further notice suspend all in-person services with the exception of in-person activities related to public financing, candidate filing, and apostilles, which will require immediate processing.
All other services the Office provides will be available online or by telephone. This suspension of in-person services applies to both the Secretary Read More
Public Regulation Commission Initiates Teleworking
PRC News:
SANTA FE — Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the following procedures for filings with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) Records Management Bureau shall take place beginning today, March 16:
All filings are requested to be sent in .pdf format, with electronic signatures, to the NMPRC Records Management Bureau’s email address at: prc.records@state.nm.us within regular business hours of the due date, in order to be considered timely filed.
Documents received after regular business hours, will be considered as being filed the next business day. Regular business Read More
NMDWS: Information For Workers Affected By COVID-19
Secretary Bill McCamley
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE – Secretary Bill McCamley of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) announced Friday he will be filing an emergency provision to the Unemployment Insurance (UI) rules waiving the work search requirement for affected workers who have lost their job or have had a reduction in hours due to COVID-19.
The closure of businesses, cancellation of events, and the prohibition of large gatherings may result in individuals being dismissed or suspended from work through no fault of their own; certain workers may be eligible for unemployment
New Mexico Congressional Delegation: CDC To Distribute $6 Million In Emergency Funds To State
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) have announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to distribute more than $6 million to New Mexico.
This is part of the funding allocated by the bipartisan, bicameral, coronavirus emergency supplemental Appropriations bill to states, localities, territories and Tribes.
New Mexico will receive $5,974,364 for the CDC Public Health Crisis Cooperative Read More
New Mexico Health Secretary Amends Public Health Order, Adding New Restrictions To Public Gatherings … Limiting Restaurants, Bars To No Greater Than 50 Percent Occupancy
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel announced today she will strengthen the public health emergency order she issued Thursday, March 12, amending the restrictions on social gatherings to limit the incidence of COVID-19 in New Mexico.
Beginning 9 a.m., Monday, March 16, the amended public health order directs that all restaurants, bars, breweries, eateries and other food establishments shall operate at no greater than 50 percent of maximum occupancy and no greater than 50 percent of seating capacity.
In addition, tables and booths may not seat more than six people, Read More
New Mexico Public Defenders Call On State Supreme Court To Postpone All Trials, Allow Telephonic Hearings Amid Coronaviurs Outbreak
Chief Public Defender Bennett Baur
LOPD News:
Confined populations, their attorneys need extra precautions
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Law Offices of the Public Defender (LOPD) this afternoon asked the state’s Supreme Court to immediately postpone all trials across the state and allow all but the most essential hearings to be held telephonically in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
“This is a very difficult decision because all public defenders care deeply about safeguarding our clients’ rights to speedy determination of their cases, but in a health emergency like this one, Read More
Governor Directs State Government Agencies To Minimize Face-To-Face Contact While Continuing Service Delivery
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham
From the Office of the Governor:
Public health and safety services unaffected
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a directive today to all state agencies to accelerate remote-work initiatives in the wake of the COVID-19 public health emergency and to temporarily adjust, and in some cases suspend, certain functions in order to minimize public health risks.
“We’re asking every state employee to continue serving the public. Some can do that best by coming to the office and delivering indispensable services – and some can do that best by working from home and
New Mexico Alcoholic Beverage Control Advising Liquor Licensees Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Alcoholic Beverage Control Division News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Division is advising liquor licensees that the New Mexico Department of Health has issued a Public Health Emergency Order, which limits mass gatherings as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic.
“We want to ensure that New Mexico liquor establishments are aware of the Order and understand the expectations,” Superintendent Marguerite Salazar said. “The health and safety of everyone is the number one priority.”
Specifically, the public health order prohibits Read More
Senior Center Buildings Close BUT Services Are Available
The Betty Ehart Senior Center and White Rock Senior Center buildings are closing effective Monday for the short term as a precaution to COVID-19.
However, the senior center food and transportation services remain operational. A daily drive thru, pick up lunch is available noon to 1 p.m. and can be reserved by leaving a message by 10 a.m. at each center:
Make lunch reservations by 10 a.m. at:
- White Rock – 505.672.2034; and
- Los Alamos – 505.662.8920.
COVID-19: Los Alamos County Provides Updates, Announces Additional Closures Taking Effect Monday, March 16
Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave. File photo
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Council Chair Sara Scott provided updates this morning regarding the County’s policies for limiting the impact of COVID-19.
“The community has done an amazing job of taking required actions, recommendations, and caring behaviors to heart; we are making a difference,” Scott said. “However, public health concerns continue to evolve as does the context for how our community is and will be affected, including school closures and the return of community members from college and travel.”
Scott Read More
Thompson: The Dual Crisis Of Coronavirus
By NICHOLAS THOMPSON, Ph.D.
Los Alamos
The Covid-19 coronavirus is an international pandemic. At the current rate, millions of people will get sick and tens of thousands will die, if not more.
As more people get sick, hospitals will become overwhelmed (as we’ve seen in Italy) and the death rate for this and all other diseases will increase due to lack of adequate care.
It’s beyond clear that drastic measures need to be taken. I commend Governor Lujan Grisham for closing schools, but this is not enough. Nationwide, schools, bars, churches, and all non-essential gatherings need to be closed/canceled. Read More
Local GOP Teleconference Replaces Meeting March 19
GOP News:New Mexico Presumptive Positive COVID-19 Cases At 13
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) officials announced today three additional presumptive positive tests for COVID-19.
Per the NMDOH, the most recent cases are:
- A Sandoval County woman in her 60s;
- A Sandoval County man in her 60s; and
- A Bernalillo County woman in her 50s.
Including the above additional cases, New Mexico has now had the following number of presumptive positive tests for COVID-19:
- Bernalillo County: 6;
- Sandoval County: 2;
- Santa Fe County: 3; and
- Socorro County: 2.
The NMDOH has active investigations into each of the presumptive Read More
