Governor Fills Pair Of Supreme Court Seats
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 26, 2019
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan GrishamSTATE News:
SANTA FE ― Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Friday made two appointments to the state Supreme Court, closing the vacancies left by former Justices Charles Daniels and Petra Maes, who retired.
The governor announced C. Shannon Bacon and David K. Thomson, formerly of the Second Judicial District and First Judicial District, respectively.
“Justices Bacon and Thomson are eminently qualified jurists who have earned the broad respect of their peers, accrued decades of extensive and varied experience, and demonstrated
Udall, Senate Democrats Introduce Bill To Protect Essential Federal And Tribal Programs From Future Budget Uncertainty
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 26, 2019
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Friday U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and ranking member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, along with U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act (IPAAA) to protect essential federal and tribal programs from the detrimental
Read More Heinrich To NM Legislature: Don’t Wait, Legislative Session Represents Once-In-A-Generation Opportunity
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 26, 2019
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichU.S. SENATE News:
SANTA FE ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) Friday addressed a joint session of the New Mexico Legislature.
Heinrich began his remarks by highlighting the devastating impact President Trump’s shutdown is having on families and communities in New Mexico.
“The longest shutdown in American history continues to have a devastating impact for families and in our communities all across New Mexico. I’m grateful for how much the State has done to have the back of those affected by this shutdown. I share New Mexicans’ frustration
Read More RSF Urges China To Release Australian Blogger
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 26, 2019
China is dataining writer and blogger Yang Hengjun under a system that allows torture and other forms of mistreatment. Courtesy photoRSF News:
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on China for the immediate release of Yang Hengjun, a China-born Australian blogger and writer, who was arrested last weekend and is now charged for “endangering national security.”
China-born Yang Hengjun, 53, a prominent writer, blogger and political commentator with an Australian citizenship, disappeared Jan. 18 during a trip with his family to the southeastern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
Read More County Council Works To Identify Key Priorities
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
Los Alamos County Council Chair Sara Scott participates in the strategic planning session Tuesday in Council Chambers. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com 
County officials from left, Karen Kendall, Denise Cassel, Julie Habiger, Philo Shelton and Council Vice Chair Pete Sheehey at the strategic planning session. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
What should Los Alamos County Council focus on? Councilors tackled this question during a strategic planning session Tuesday in Council Chambers. Read More
Heinrich Statement On Reopening Government
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement on the deal to reopen the government:
“I am pleased that President Trump has taken this important step to end his prolonged, costly, and unnecessary shutdown.
“For over a month, he thrust our country into the longest government shutdown in history, using federal workers and contractors as bargaining chips, and leaving long lasting damage to our communities.
“Now we must Read More
House Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler Co-sponsors Transparency, Healthcare And Education Bills
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler on the House floor at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
From the Office of Rep. Christine Chandler:
SANTA FE – House Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler has co-sponsored several important bills this legislative session.
Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto (SD-15) and Rep. Chandler’s bill (SB 11) closing the so-called lobbying “loophole” has successful passed out of committee and onto the Senate. The bill is similar to Sen. Ivey-Soto’s bill from the 2018 session that was vetoed by the former governor.
According to the Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Read More
County Manager Harry Burgess Delivers Annual ‘State Of The County’ Address At Chamber Business Breakfast
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
County Manager Harry Burgess delivers his annual ‘State of the County’ address Thursday at UNM-LA. Photo by Bonnie J.Gordon/ladailypost.comBy BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess presented the annual “State of the County” address at the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast Thursday at UNM-Los Alamos.
His talk comes in conjunction with the release of the County’s 2018 Annual Report.
Burgess called 2018 “an eventful year”. Nervousness over the fate of gross receipts taxes from Los Alamos National
Gun Control Debate Restarts In NM Legislature
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
Shane Ferrari, sheriff of San Juan County, speaks Thursday in opposition of House Bill 8, which seeks to regulate firearm sales, during a hearing on the House floor at the state Capitol in Santa Fe. Photo Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican 
A long line of people wait to voice their opposition Thursday to House Bill 8, which seeks to regulate sales of firearms, during a hearing on the House floor at the state Capitol in Santa Fe. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
Adan Mendoza, sheriff of Santa Fe County, speaks Thursday as an expert in behalf of bill that seeks to regulate sales of firearms duringHeinrich Votes To End Government Shutdown
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Thursday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) voted for a clean spending bill to reopen the government immediately.
The measure, which received bipartisan support, would reopen currently closed agencies and fund the federal government through Feb. 8. The proposal failed to reach the 60-vote threshold to advance in the Senate.
“New Mexicans are paying the price for the longest government shutdown in American history because President Trump refuses to stop holding our federal workers and basic government
Read More Governor Names Public Education Secretary
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
Karen Trujillo was chosen by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to lead the Public Education Department. Trujillo said she plans to coordinate with the heads of other state agencies serving children to find a way to provide community services for children at risk of failing in school. Photo by Olivia Harlow/The New MexicanBy ROBERT NOTT
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday finally hired her secretary of public education, and both said they aren’t afraid of the challenges ahead.
“I’m feeling not so much fear but excitement,”
Read More Legislative Roundup: Jan. 25, 2019
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
SFNM News:Days left in the session: 50
State holiday: A bill that would designate the first Friday of April as Dennis Chávez and César Chávez Day cleared its first hurdle Thursday.
The House Local Government, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee unanimously supported the measure, House Bill 34. By creating the 11th state holiday, it would give state workers another day off.
The late Dennis Chávez was a U.S. senator from New Mexico, and the late César Chávez was an organizer of farmworkers, notably in California.
Rep. Miguel García, D-Albuquerque, is
Read More Legislation Would Eliminate Statute Of limitations On Prosecuting Child Sex Abuse Cases
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
STATE News:SANTA FE ― Thursday, Senate Bill 55, a measure that would eliminate the statute of limitations for certain sexual crimes against children, passed unanimously in the Senate Public Affairs Committee.
It is often difficult for victims to come forward to report sex offenses, and can be made even worse when the perpetrator is an authority figure and the victim is a frightened, traumatized child. It is a well-known fact that some people do not report abuse as children because they were afraid of their abuser or ashamed of what happened to them at the time. With the current statute
Read More New Mexico Wildlife Federation Call On Members To Contact Lawmakers
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 25, 2019
NMWF News:The New Mexico Wildlife Federation is calling on its members to contact their state lawmakers and urge them to save the state Game Protection Fund.
A provision in the pending general government appropriations bill, House Bill 2, calls for transferring $500,000 from the Game Protection Fund to support operations at State Parks. The House Appropriations and Finance Committee is set to consider the proposal at 1:30 p.m. Fri., Jan. 25, in room 307 of the state Capitol in Santa Fe.
Federation President John Crenshaw and Federation Director Jesse Deubel testified
Read More Luján Joins Colleagues To Launch PFAS Task Force
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 24, 2019
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray LujánCONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Wednesday, Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) joined his colleagues to launch the bipartisan PFAS Task Force, with the goal of bringing PFAS clean-up to the forefront of the congressional agenda.
In November of 2018, Cannon Air Force Base informed the New Mexico State Government that water from several wells on and off the Cannon Air Force Base (AFB) had been contaminated with PFAS. These chemicals are found in foam used for firefighting and are associated with an increased risk of cancer.
Secretary Toulouse Oliver Provides Additional Sexual Harassment Training For New Mexico Lobbyists
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 24, 2019
Maggie Toulouse OliverSTATE News:
SANTA FE ― New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver will provide an additional training this week for New Mexico lobbyists, which will cover lobbyist registration, reporting requirements, and sexual harassment.
After two successful lobbyist trainings ahead of the 2019 legislative session, this additional training will be provided from 1-4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, in the New Mexico State Capitol Building, Room 315. (Please note the change of location from this year’s previous trainings.)
Beginning in 2018, Secretary
Read More Is There Anything Good About Polarization? You Betcha
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 24, 2019
By BONNIE J. GORDONLos Alamos Daily Post
The Texas populist Jim Hightower once famously said, “The only thing I see in the middle of the road is dead armadillos and a yellow stripe.”
Joking aside, American politics has tended to view centrist politics as the rational norm to which we should strive. I’d like to explore another view.
Remember way back to my first few columns? I introduced Uncle Steve, the zealot for ideas with which we don’t agree. Uncle Steve was an example of how not to talk to political opponents, but his fervor wasn’t really the problem. It was his lack Read More
National Popular Vote Measure Clears First Hurdle
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 24, 2019
By ROBERT NOTTState Rep. Georgene Louis, who grew up in Acoma Pueblo, said she and other Native Americans often were told, “Your vote doesn’t matter.”
She believes a lot of people in America feel that way, she said Wednesday to other members of the House State Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee, particularly during presidential elections when the Electoral College trumps the popular vote.
That’s why Louis, an Albuquerque Democrat, said she joined fellow Democrats on the committee to vote 6-3 in favor
Read More New Mexico Legislative Roundup: Jan. 22
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 23, 2019
Ruthy Watson, director of the Center for Advocacy Resources Education and Support at New Mexico Highlands University, delivers the keynote speech Monday during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at the State Capitol. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican 
Christine Johnson with the Santa Fe Branch of the NAACP leads the crowd in singing ‘We Shall Overcome’ Monday during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at the State Capitol. Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno/The New Mexican
SFNM News:
Days left in the session: 53
Lottery tuition bill: The
Read More Renewable Energy Could Replace Economic Loss From Closure Of San Juan Generating Station
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on January 23, 2019
NMVC News:ALBUQUERQUE — The impending closure of the San Juan coal-fired power plant and mine does not have to signal economic doom for the small town of Waterflow, NM, where the plant is located.
The site is an excellent candidate to be redeveloped for green energy production. That’s one of the conclusions from a new report by economist Kelly O’Donnell, Ph.D.
The closure will result in the loss of 450 jobs as well as millions of dollars in property tax revenue that’s relied upon by the county of San Juan and area schools.
The addition of a 450 megawatt solar photovoltaic
Read More 
