Chandler Tacos At The Tub Rescheduled To July 10
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 21, 2019
Commissioner Garcia Richard: Holtec International Misrepresentations Raise Serious Safety Concerns For Proposed Nuclear Storage Facility In New Mexico
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 21, 2019
STATE News:SANTA FE ― Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard sent the attached letter Wednesday to Holtec International President and CEO Krishna Singh.
The letter outlines a number of concerns regarding Holtec’s proposal for a nuclear storage facility in Lea County – specifically safety concerns that have not been addressed and misrepresentations made by the company in its filings with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). The surface and mineral estate are split in ownership at the proposed location, with the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance, LLC owning
Read More GSD To Post Settlements Of Claims On Web
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 21, 2019
STATE News:SANTA FE ― New Mexico General Services Cabinet Secretary Ken Ortiz announced today that the department will begin the first-ever web posting of settlements of claims against state agencies.
“The money used to pay claims is taxpayer money, and taxpayers have a right to know how that money is being spent without going through a formal records request,” Ortiz said.
The secretary said the web postings also will streamline the process of releasing settlements, saving taxpayer money.
GSD’s Risk Management Division provides legal representation and insures
Read More Udall, Heinrich Call For Senate Hearing On Hardrock Mining And Reclamation Act
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 20, 2019
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich wrote to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee leadership Wednesday requesting a hearing on the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act to provide a forum for states, environmental groups, and industry to discuss mining reform.
The bill requires companies to pay royalties for the first time for the ability to extract mineral resources like gold, silver, and copper from public lands, helps ensure that taxpayers aren’t on the hook for cleaning up abandoned mines, and seeks to prevent another toxic
Read More Lujan Grisham Announces Final Cabinet Selection
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 20, 2019
NMCD Cabinet Secretary Alisha Tafoya LuceroSTATE News:
SANTA FE ― Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Wednesday announced the final member of her Cabinet in a news conference at the Capitol.
Alisha Tafoya Lucero is the cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Corrections Department.
“Secretary Tafoya Lucero has the experience, skills, vision and leadership this agency needs,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “I’m thrilled to have a New Mexican and a career public servant who has diligently worked her way up the ladder take this top leadership position. In her time as interim and deputy
Read More Luján Announces Major Investments For Families
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 20, 2019
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray LujánCONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. House Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced Wednesday that major victories for New Mexican families were included in the Labor, Health and Human Services fiscal year 2020 appropriations package that passed the House.
“After years of Republicans working to chip away at our health care and economic security, House Democrats put forward bold ideas to uplift middle-class families and put America back on track. I am proud to have championed efforts to stand up for women’s
Read More U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Files Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act As Amendment To Defense Bill
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 19, 2019
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, co-founder of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, filed the Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act (AI-IA) as an amendment to the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act.
Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) are cosponsors of the amendment.
The amendment is the text of S. 1558, the AI-IA, which would organize a coordinated national strategy for developing AI and provide a $2.2 billion federal investment over five years to build an AI-ready
Read More ‘Liberty On The Rocks’ Meets 6 P.M. Thursday
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 17, 2019
LOTR News:
“Liberty on the Rocks” meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 20 at Cottonwood on the Greens, 4244 Diamond Dr.
The community is invited to join the fun, have a drink, (a dinner entree can be purchased) and discuss the ideas of liberty and freedom, not for electoral politics.
About Liberty on the Rocks
Liberty on the Rocks is a non-profit libertarian organization designed to educate, connect, and activate liberty enthusiasts around the world. Through local chapters and events, citizens and activists throughout the country can increase the size of their networks, enhance their understanding
Udall Applauds Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Resolution Condemning All Forms Of Anti-Semitism
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 17, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M) released the following statement Thursday on Senate passage of a Udall-cosponsored, bipartisan resolution condemning all forms of anti-Semitism.
The resolution recognizes and condemns the long history of anti-Semitism, and the fact that Jews are the targets of the majority of hate crimes committed against any religious group in the United States.
The resolution also commits the U.S. Senate to take action to combat all forms of anti-Semitism in our nation.
“In recent years,
Read More Opting-In To Local Election Act Will Save Money
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 16, 2019
By MANDY VIGILNew Mexico Elections Director
Office of the Secretary of State
There are some big changes coming to the way New Mexicans vote, and because of these changes, some real costs savings are available for municipalities throughout our state.
The upcoming changes are the result of 2018’s Local Election Act, a legislative overhaul of the way non-partisan local elections are run throughout the state (such as for municipal officers, school boards, and other governmental bodies with taxing authority).
Previously in New Mexico there were multiple non-partisan local
Read More Udall Leads Indian Affairs Committee Introducing Law On Policing, Public Safety In Native Communities
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 16, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New MexicoU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), all members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Thursday introduced the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act.
This bipartisan bill addresses critical public safety needs in Indian Country by addressing federal inefficiencies
Read More NBCUniversal: Major Albuquerque Production Venture Projected To Generate $1.1B In Direct Economic Impact
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 15, 2019
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mayor Tim Keller and company executives announced Friday that NBCUniversal is entering into a 10-year venture with Garcia Realty and Development to redevelop an empty free-span warehouse in Albuquerque into a state-of-the-art television and film studio with two sound stages, offices and a mill.
Over the next 10 years, NBCUniversal will produce television and film projects at the Albuquerque facility, with the aim of reaching $500 million in direct production spending. In addition, NBCUniversal and Garcia Realty and Development Read More
Udall, Martin Resubmit Military Justice Improvement Act Targeting Growing Crisis Of Sexual Assault
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 15, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich reintroduced the Military Justice Improvement Act, which would professionalize how the military prosecutes serious crimes by moving the decision over whether to prosecute them to independent, trained, professional military prosecutors.
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichSen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is the leading sponsor of the legislation.
According to the Department of Defense’s (DoD) own data in this year’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Read More Udall, Heinrich, Haaland Urge USPS To Swiftly Improve Albuquerque Post Office Facilities
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 15, 2019
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland wrote to Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan urging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to implement recommendations made by a recent audit report issued by the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG) regarding serious deficiencies at post office facilities in Albuquerque.
In their letter, the lawmakers called on USPS to address these troubling conditions and swiftly enact critical improvements, such as filling staff vacancies; maintaining safe and secure facilities; and
Read More AG Balderas Announces $2.7 Million In Debt Relief For 252 Former New Mexican ITT Tech Students
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 15, 2019
Attorney General BalderasAG News:
Mexico as part of a 43 state multistate settlement. Nationally, the settlement will result in debt relief of more than $168 million for more than 22,000 former ITT students.
“As Attorney General, I am committed to protecting New Mexican families from out-of-state monetary predators,” Attorney General Hector Balderas said. “This settlement holds CUSO accountable for its participation with ITT in subjecting ITT students to abusive lending practices, and it provides relief to hundreds of New Mexican students who attended ITT Tech
Read MoreTacos At The Tub With Dist. 43 Rep. Chandler June 26
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 15, 2019
The community is invited to chat with Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26 at Bathtub Row Brewing Co-op at 163 Central Park Square – get tickets here. Also, the Community is invited to attend an event 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at the Center for Progress and Justice, 1420 Cerrillos Road in Santa Fe. Rep. Chandler is participating on a panel discussing the future of nuclear and nuclear waste. This forum explores the issues with two New Mexico nuclear storage facilities—WIPP, opened in 1999 to store low-to-mid level military waste and a proposed facility to be built Read More
Udall, Romney Introduce Smoke-Free Schools Act
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 14, 2019
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) Thursday introduced The Smoke-Free Schools Act of 2019 to help school districts and local education agencies address the surge of e-cigarettes in schools.
The legislation would ban e-cigarette use in educational and childcare facilities and lays outs findings to support the conclusion that e-cigarette use in schools and among youth has reached the level of a public health epidemic.
“Across America, high schoolers are receiving their hard-earned diplomas – but we cannot
Read More Los Alamos County Council Green Lights Pebble Labs Plan To Advance Business
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 13, 2019
Council Chambers is filled with Pebble Labs employees Tuesday night. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.comBy KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Tuesday night, employees from Pebble Labs filled Los Alamos County Council Chambers to state their case on why council should support the budding biotech research company.
Pebble Labs employees’ efforts were successful. Los Alamos County Council unanimously approved an ordinance adopting an economic development project for public support of Pebble Labs. Additionally, council approved 7-0 to Read More
Tribal Infrastructure Fund Board Awards $14 Million To Critical Projects In New Mexico Tribal Communities
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 13, 2019
IAD News:SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) Wednesday announced that more than $14 million in funding was awarded across 11 tribal communities by the Tribal Infrastructure Fund Board.
The Tribal Infrastructure Act, which created the Tribal Infrastructure Fund Board in 2005, recognizes that many of New Mexico’s tribal communities lack basic infrastructure, resulting in poor health, social and economic conditions. The nine-member board thoroughly evaluates and scores project proposals from tribal communities to ensure that critical need is established.
Read More Udall, Lowenthal Call On President To Mobilize Federal Government To Deal With Plastic Pollution Crisis
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on June 12, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and U.S. Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D- Calif.) have called on President Trump to immediately mobilize the federal government to address the significant threat that mismanaged plastic waste poses to human health, public budgets, and to the sustainability of our waterways, oceans, and entire planet.
Pointing out the urgency of dealing with the crisis, the lawmakers write, “Approximately eight million tons of plastic makes its way into the oceans annually, and this number is expected to double by 2030.”
Read More 
