Governor Marks 90th Anniversary Of Social Security
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today celebrated 90 years of one of the most iconic, successful programs in American history, recognizing Social Security as a system that has lifted millions out of poverty, treated people with dignity, and provided security in their retirement years.
The governor emphasized that Social Security represents earned income for retirees and disabled workers—while calling out Congress for failing to address the real financial pressures facing the program.
“While Congress refuses to deal with inflation and the real-life Read More
Rule Of Law Advances A Civil And Engaged Democracy
New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice David K. Thomson, Courtesy/NMSC
By Chief Justice David K. Thomson
New Mexico Supreme Court
I am pleased to announce the New Mexico Supreme Court’s fifth annual “Rule of Law” program. The goal of the program is to educate middle school, high school, and college students on the judiciary’s role in our democracy and how the rule of law secures a just and civil society. This year we will hold oral argument at the Henderson Fine Arts Center at San Juan College in Farmington on Aug. 28, at 1 p.m.
Normally, I write an op-ed in advance of the program to discuss the importance Read More
County Considering New Plan For 20th Street Property
A rendering of what RBMM developers are proposing to do on County’s land on 20th Street. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
So many plans have been proposed for the 3 acres of Los Alamos County-owned land on 20th Street. It was going to feature an extended-stay hotel; then sub-dividing and selling parcels to bring in businesses was considered; now a new plan is being proposed.
Los Alamos County Council first heard about this newest proposal during its July 29 meeting. An ordinance to sell the property to RBMM developers to bring a mix of housing and retail Read More
New Mexico Delegation To Host Virtual Military Service Academy Nominations Event Sept. 4
NM DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At 6 p.m. MT on Thursday, Sept. 4, the offices of U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and U.S. Reps. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.), Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), and Gabe Vasquez (D-N.M.) will bring together representatives from the U.S. Military Service Academies for a virtual Q&A session.
The conversation is an opportunity for high school students and recent graduates to ask questions about the nomination process and attending U.S. Military Service Academies. The New Mexico Congressional Delegation will be accepting Read More
Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor To Speak At League Of Women Voters’ Lunch With A Leader Aug. 21
LWV News:
The League of Women Voters’ next Lunch with a Leader will be from 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m., Aug. 21, at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall on Sage. The speaker will be Magistrate Judge Catherine (Katy)Taylor.
Judge Taylor was born and raised along with four brothers on California’s Central Coast, the 5th generation of a farming family. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Santa Clara University, Catherine interned with the California Governor’s Office and subsequently went to work on behalf of the banking industry.
Intending to broaden her career in banking Read More
Luján Announces Guidance From DOJ For Claimants Following Recent Extension And Expansion Of RECA
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) has secured guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for claimants seeking compensation through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) program. This follows a bipartisan push led by Sen. Luján to ensure that claimants can access the program. With the recent extension and expansion of RECA, the DOJ has now opened applications for new claims and for expanded eligible populations.
Application instructions from DOJ are available here.
Claim forms for claimants are available here and below:
Read MoreNew Mexico Senate Republicans Praise Lesser Prairie Chicken District Court Ruling
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Wednesday, the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas vacated the listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.
The Court granted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s voluntary motion to vacate the listing decision and remand the case, while denying untimely motions from environmental litigation groups seeking to intervene.
This decision, finalized on Aug. 11, 2025, marks a significant win for New Mexico’s agricultural and oil and gas industries, reinforcing a return to commonsense policy. Read More
Governor Declares A State Of Emergency In Rio Arriba County, Española, And Area Pueblos Due To Crime
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Today, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Rio Arriba County, the city of Española, and area Pueblos at the request of those governments in response to a significant surge in violent crime, drug trafficking, and public safety threats that have overwhelmed local resources.
The emergency declaration comes as police calls in Española and surrounding areas have more than doubled in the past two years. Police dispatches to businesses in the area have quadrupled in the same period. Rio Arriba County currently has the Read More
Heinrich Tours AV Manufacturing Facility, Receives BADGER Satellite Communications System Demonstration
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaking at the AV space operations manufacturing facility, Aug. 8, 2025. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, toured AV’s space operations manufacturing facility and received a demonstration of their next generation BADGER satellite communications system, which will expand and modernize the nation’s satellite operations capability, strengthen national security, and further solidify New Mexico’s role as a global hub for defense and space innovation. Read More
U.S. Representatives Leger Fernández, Bonamici, Hayes Lead Letter To Protect Immigrant Access To Head Start
U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández
Congressional News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) led 34 Members of Congress in calling for the Department of Health and Human Services to protect immigrant access to Head Start.
The Representatives sent the letter after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice in the Federal Register on July 15 that changes how the department interprets “federal public benefit” under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Read More
Los Alamos County Intergovernmental Affairs Manager Danielle Duran Elected Vice President Of NACIRO
Danielle Duran
COUNTY News:
Philadelphia, PA – Los Alamos County Intergovernmental Affairs Manager Danielle Duran was elected vice president of the National Association of County Intergovernmental Relations Officials (NACIRO) at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference on July 13, 2025, in Philadelphia, PA.
NACIRO is a professional organization of intergovernmental relations officials and county advocates, with members from across the United States representing counties to ensure federal policy benefits local governments. NACIRO is governed by a Board Read More
County Parks And Recreation Board To Meet Aug. 14
COUNTY News:Heinrich, Campos Meet With Community Leaders To Discuss Economic Development Opportunities
Sen. Martin Heinrich joins New Mexico State Sen. Pete Campos and other community leaders Aug. 7 to discuss the local economy in Las Vegas, N.M. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
LAS VEGAS, N.M. — Thursday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, hosted a roundtable alongside New Mexico State Sen. Pete Campos and other community leaders to discuss economic development opportunities in Las Vegas.
The public officials and community leaders discussed the road to recovery from the Hermit’s Peak/ Calf Canyon Fire, support for small businesses and rural hospitals, Read More
Ryti: Thanking Sen. Heinrich For Leadership In Finding Practical Solutions To Promote Health Of Forests & Communities
By RANDALL RYTI
Los Alamos
I thank Senator Heinrich for his leadership in finding practical solutions to promote the health of our forests and our communities with practical legislation to boost forest service land management (see ‘Heinrich, Warnock, Daines, Justice Introduce Legislation To Protect Communities From Increasingly Catastrophic Wildfires, Boost Forest Management At Forest Service’, (https://ladptest2.ortizaudio.net/heinrich-warnock-daines-justice-introduce-legislation-to-protect-communities-from-increasingly-catastrophic-wildfires-boost-forest-management-at-forest-service/ Read More
NMED Monitoring Potential Discoloration In Animas River
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is monitoring potential discoloration in the Upper Animas River caused by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency team entering the Natalie Occidental Mine near Cement Creek in southwestern Colorado for a routine inspection.
The discoloration or “orange colored water” stems from sediment disturbed while entering the mine for an inspection. While no health or environmental effects are expected, NMED is alerting those local municipalities, businesses, tribal communities, and members of the public near the river, including Read More
Video: Councilor Beverly Neal-Clinton On Aug. 5 Meeting
Los Alamos County Councilor Beverly Neal-Clinton provides a summary of Council’s Tuesday, Aug. 5 meeting. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
New Mexico Economic Development Department Names Leaders For State Technology And Innovation Office
Nora Meyers Sackett
EDD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Economic Development Department (EDD) has named Nora Meyers Sackett as director and Lindsay Humphries as associate director of its new Technology and Innovation Office (TIO), which launches with more than $90 million in state funding to support startups and emerging tech sectors.
“We are grateful to have a strong and experienced team leading this important work for New Mexico’s future,” EDD Cabinet Secretary Rob Black said. “Nora Meyers Sackett and Lindsay Humphries have the skills and dedication to help grow innovation and build a tech Read More
Truth, Justice And Freedom Of Expression Exhibit Opening Reception Saturday Aug. 16 At Step Up Gallery
Step Up Gallery News:
For the next exhibit at Step Up Gallery, the gallery managers have invited New Mexico artists who create comics, graphic novels, political cartoons, drawings and paintings that speak to the times we live in.
Truth, Justice and Freedom of Expression opens Aug. 16 and runs through Sept. 11 in Step Up Gallery at Mesa Public Library. The opening reception is 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, in the upstairs rotunda at Mesa Public Library, 2400 Central Ave.
These pieces remind us that art is not just about reacting to the present; it’s also about imagining the future and seeing the Read More
Hybrid Public Meeting To Discuss Depressurization Of Flanged Tritium Waste Containers Aug. 20 At SALA
LANL News:
The U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration’s (DOE/NNSA) Los Alamos Field Office and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) will hold a hybrid public meeting to discuss the controlled depressurization of headspace gas from four flanged tritium waste containers (FTWCs) at Technical Area 54, Area G, at LANL.
The meeting is 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 20, at SALA Los Alamos Event Center, 2551 Central Ave.
A virtual dial-in option is available for those who cannot participate in person. Virtual access information is as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting Read More
Senators Heinrich And Luján Host Roundtable On Public Broadcasting’s Vital Role In New Mexico
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Media, hosted a roundtable this week with New Mexico’s public broadcasting stations
The officials discussed how President Donald Trump and Republicans’ cuts to public radio and TV stations will harm communities across New Mexico, particularly rural and Tribal communities, many of which rely on public broadcasting as their primary source of information during life-or-death Read More
