Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Delegation Urges ITC To Reverse Newsprint Tariffs Hurting New Mexico Newspapers

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2018

NM CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján, Steve Pearce and Michelle Lujan Grisham have urged the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to reverse the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on Canadian newsprint, which threaten to devastate local newspapers across New Mexico.

In a letter sent to USITC Chairman David S. Johanson as the ITC hears testimony on these tariffs, the New Mexico delegation wrote that the newsprint tariffs are already having an adverse impact on local newspapers

DEA-Led Probe Leads To Second Honduran Congressman Charged With Drug Trafficking And Weapons Crimes

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2018

DEA News:

NEW YORK ― DEA and the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday that charges have been filed in New York federal court against Honduran congressman Midence Oqueli Martinez Turcios, and in a separate indictment, Arnaldo Urbina Soto, Carlos Fernando Urbina Soto and Miguel Angel Urbina Soto.

The charges in each indictment include conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and related weapons offenses involving the use and possession of machine guns and destructive devices. The United States is seeking the defendants’ extraditions from Honduras.

Michelle Lujan Grisham Introduces Antiquities Act

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2018

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01) led a group of 61 Democratic Members of Congress in introducing legislation Tuesday to enhance protections for national monuments against the Trump administration’s attacks on public lands.

The America’s Natural Treasures of Immeasurable Quality Unite, Inspire, and Together Improve the Economies of States (ANTIQUITIES) Act of 2018 is the House companion to Senator Tom Udall’s (D-NM) ANTIQUITIES Act (S. 2354) and would preserve opportunities for hunting,

NNMCAB Holds Board Election, Talk On Material Disposal Area C; Updates From Hintze, NMED July 25

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2018

NNMCAB News

Members of the Northern New Mexico Citizens’ Advisory Board are scheduled to elect a new chair and vice chair for FY-2019 during a meeting 1- 5:15 p.m., July 25 in the Jemez Complex at Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Ave., in Santa Fe.

Also on the agenda is a presentation on Material Disposal Area C at Los Alamos National Laboratory and an overview of the aggregate areas. In addition, there will be agency updates from Doug Hintze, manager of the Environmental Management-Los Alamos Field Office and John Kieling of the New Mexico Environment Read More

Regional Coalition Of LANL Communities Meets Friday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 18, 2018

CVNM Action Fund Endorses Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard For Commissioner Of Public Lands

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 17, 2018

Stephanie Garcia Richard

CVNM News:

SANTA FE ― Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM), the state’s leading political advocacy voice for sound environmental policies that support healthy communities, announced Monday its endorsement of Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard for New Mexico Land Commissioner via its coordinated political action committee CVNM Action Fund.

“Rep. Garcia Richard has been vocal and ambitious in her plans for environmental protection,” said Ben Shelton, CVNM’s Political and Legislative sirector. “Rep. Garcia Richard has the potential to become

Mick Rich Townhall In Los Alamos July 24

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 17, 2018

GOP News:

The Community is invited to meet Mick Rich, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 24.

Rich will discuss his platform and vision. Some local Republican candidates also may be present.

The town hall event is at Ruby K’s Bagel Shop at 1789 Central Ave., in downtown Los Alamos.

Learn more about Rich at https://mickrichforsenate.com/

WWII Vet Finally Receives Bronze Star Medal Friday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 17, 2018

VETERANS News:

SANTA FE – World War II veteran Dennis Ferk will be presented with a Bronze Star Medal at a special presentation ceremony at 1:30 p.m., Friday at the Santa Fe Vet Center at 2209 Brothers Road in Santa Fe.

Ferk had earned this prestigious award for meritorious achievement during ground combat from April 1942 to May 1944 in New Guinea in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

At the ceremony, he also will be presented with an American Defense Service Medal, an American Campaign Medal, and a World War II Victory Medal.

Following the war, Ferk never sought to claim his awards. This was brought Read More

MPNHP-Los Alamos Friends Group And National Park Service Sign Philanthropic Partnership Agreement

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 15, 2018

Members of the Board of the Friends of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park – Los Alamos gathered Friday afternoon for a special signing ceremony with the National Park Service at the powerhouse (stone house) on Bathtub Row. Back row from left, Ranger Josh Nelson and Board members Carol A. Clark, Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher; LACDC Executive Director Patrick Sullivan; Vice President/County Councilor Rick Reiss; Treasurer Ron Wilkins; Metzger’s General Manager David Jolly; Shannon Corporation owner Shannon C’de Baca and Karen Henderson. Read More

Stampede Meat: Up To 1,295 Jobs In Sunland Park

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 14, 2018

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SUNLAND PARK ― Gov. Martinez was joined by state and local leaders to announce that Stampede Meat will expand to Sunland Park creating up to 1,295 new food processing and manufacturing jobs over the next five years.

The company will invest more than $36 million in infrastructure and the renovation of the former Tyson plant in Sunland Park. New Mexico beat out Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa for the competitive expansion.

“It’s an honor to welcome Stampede and their large-scale job creation to New Mexico,” Martinez said. “Since

Lunch With A Leader Features Jorge Rodriguez Of Las Cruces ACLU Speaking On Border Issues Tuesday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

Jorge Rodriguez, field organizer in the Las Cruces office of the ACLU is the speaker at Tuesday’s League of Women Voters Lunch with Leader. Courtesy/ACLU

LWV News:

The next community League of Women Voters Lunch with Leader is 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, July 17 at Mesa Public Library.

The speaker is Jorge Rodriguez, field organizer in the Las Cruces office of the ACLU. His topic is “We Live as Second-Class Citizens”. This conversation will focus on current events happening in the southern border region and how they stem and sustain the institutions that criminalize border Read More

Council Hears From Los Alamos County Management On Potential Impact Of Triad Taxability Status

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

Los Alamos County Manager Harry Burgess, right, and County Attorney Alvin Leaphart listen Wednesday evening as County Council discusses the ramifications to the County budget if new LANL M&O contractor Triad National Security, LLC operates under non-profit status. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Assistant County Manager Steve Lynne responds to questions from Los Alamos County Councilors during his presentation Wednesday evening at a special session of the Council. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

By MAIRE O’NEILL

Naval Nuclear Laboratory Contracts Awarded To FMP

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

Courtesy/NNL

NNSA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Naval Reactors, a joint program of the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of the Navy (DON), announced the selection of Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC (FMP) as the new DOE and DON contractor for the Naval Nuclear Laboratory (NNL).

FMP, a limited liability company, is a wholly owned, special-purpose subsidiary of Fluor Corporation.

Naval Reactors conducted a full and open competition for the new NNL contracts.

The estimated combined award value of these contracts is approximately $30 billion over ten years if all options are exercised. Read More

Trinity Test ‘Gadget’ Anniversary July 16

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

Courtesy photo

AHF News:

July 16 is the 73rd anniversary of the Trinity Test, the world’s first nuclear weapons test. At 5:29 a.m., the “Gadget” exploded with a yield of about 15-20 kilotons of TNT.

Manhattan Project veterans recall their reactions to the explosion. For example, chemist Lilli Hornig describes the mushroom cloud: “I remember these boiling clouds and vivid colors like violet, purple, orange, yellow, red, just everything. It was fantastic. We were all shaken up.”

For more on the Trinity Test, visit Veterans Remember the Trinity Test, Trinity Test Eyewitnesses

NM Student Scores Rise Across Board On PARCC … Though Most Lag On Reading, Math Benchmarks

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

NewMexicoKidsCAN News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Scores released Thursday show that students across New Mexico posted major gains in math and English language arts (ELA) on PARCC, New Mexico’s standardized exam to measure college- and career-readiness—but almost 80 percent of students remain behind grade level in math.

Of all student subgroups, Native American students saw the greatest growth in reading—up 8.2 points from 2015.

“This year’s assessment results make it clear that common-sense policy initiatives work for kids when adults anchor their decisions in the belief Read More

Governor Announces Sixth Consecutive Year Of Record-Breaking Tourism Growth

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

Gov. Susana Martinez announces New Mexico’s 2017 visitation numbers Wednesday in Albuquerque at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE ― Gov. Susana Martinez announced Wednesday that 35.4 million trips were taken in New Mexico in 2017 – breaking the record set in 2016 of 34.4 million by one million visits. This growth marks a rise of 5.6 million trips over 2010, a 19 percent increase since Martinez took office in 2011, and the sixth straight year New Mexico has shattered its record.

“When more people come to New Mexico it means they’re

Udall Leads Roundtable On School Infrastructure Needs In Indian Country

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 13, 2018

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, led a roundtable discussion with tribal leaders, tribal organizations, and administration officials Thursday to document the infrastructure needs of schools that serve Native communities.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that more must be done to deal with school infrastructure needs,” Udall said. “There exists a huge gap between the resources and the needs in schools throughout Indian country.”

Udall pressed Bureau of Indian

Pongratz Appointed To Representative Council On RCLC

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 12, 2018

Los Alamos County Councilor Morrie Pongratz is the newly appointed Council representative to the RCLC Board. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

By MAIRE O’NEILL

Los Alamos Daily Post

maire@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Chris Chandler said Tuesday she is sorry to be leaving her position as County representative to the Regional Coalition of LANL Communities Board.

Councilor Morrie Pongratz was recently appointed by Council Chair David Izraelevitz and will represent the Council for the remainder of 2018. Izraelevitz said Chandler has been instrumental Read More

AFT-NM Responds To New Mexico PARCC Results

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 12, 2018

AFT-NM President Stephanie Ly

AFT-NM News:

ALBUQUERQUE – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:

“We appreciate the small gains in PARCC exam scores for New Mexico students, imagine if we empowered our educators and students to actually teach and learn instead of doubling-down by NM PED on our overreliance on standardized testing, and additional district-level testing necessitated by NM PED data demands. While these scores are indeed ‘unprecedented’, so is the sheer volume of days educators and students Read More

State Auditor Releases 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Commission Audit Report

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on July 12, 2018

State Auditor Wayne Johnson

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― State Auditor Wayne Johnson has released the Fiscal Year 2014 Audit Report for the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission.

Johnson asked Attorney General Hector Balderas to allow auditors access to documents in his office’s possession so overdue audits for fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017 can be completed, without compromising the AG’s on-going criminal prosecution of former commission officials and contractors.

The FY2014 Audit notes that “the Commission did not possess adequate supporting documentation in

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