Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

San Ildefonso Pueblo Gov. James Mountain Visits Los Alamos Daily Post Friday

Submitted by Kirsten Laskey (ladp admin) on December 9, 2017

San Ildefonso Pueblo Governor James Mountain met Friday with Los Alamos Daily Post Publisher Carol A. Clark in the newsroom at 1247 Central Ave. Governor Mountain is completing his term as leader of the Pueblo in January and during his meeting at the Post he discussed his youth growing up in Los Alamos and his commitment to continue his life of public service. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More

Voices Of Los Alamos Targets Chromium Plume Safety

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 9, 2017

By BARBARA CALEF

League of Women Voters of Los Alamos

Because the existence of a chromium plume in the regional aquifer below Sandia and Mortendad Canyons has been a source of concern for citizens of northern New Mexico, Voices of Los Alamos asked experts to discuss the problem at a Nov. 27 meeting.

Danny Katzman is the Technical Program Director for LANL’s chromium project and a hydrogeologist. Katzman began by saying that he was working on a way to explain the complicated technical project, putting together FAQs (frequently asked questions) for the DOE website. This is now posted here.

Katzman Read More

Heinrich, Heller Introduce Bipartisan Public Lands Bill

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 8, 2017

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) led a group of senators to introduce a bill to reauthorize the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA).

Before it expired in 2011, FLTFA allowed the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service in the western United States to use the proceeds from sales of certain federally designated areas to protect lands of exceptional conservation value.

“This program takes a balanced

Luján Introduces Bill To Spur Partnerships Between National Labs And Local Businesses

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 8, 2017

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján

CONGRESSIONAL News:

Bill Makes it More Affordable for NM Businesses to Partner with Labs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) has introduced legislation to help foster relationships between businesses and national laboratories that can help spur new economic growth and create new jobs.

Luján’s bill authorizes funding for Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADA) that foster partnership with businesses and startups to transfer commercially relevant technologies to the private sector.

“For over a half a century, our national laboratories Read More

New Mexico Delegation Writes Air Force In Support Of Restoring Air National Guard Tacos Flying Mission

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 8, 2017

NM CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Michelle Lujan Grisham, Steve Pearce and Ben Ray Luján have announced that they are urging the Air Force to transfer legacy HH-60G PAVE Hawk combat search-and-rescue helicopters to the N.M. Air National Guard when the Air Force fields the new HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter at Kirtland Air Force Base.

The leadership of the 58th Special Operations Wing (SOW) at Kirtland has told the delegation that they anticipate that

Rich: Leaked Document Indicates LANL May Lose Plutonium Pit Production To South Carolina

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 8, 2017

By MICK RICH

Republican Candidate for U.S. Senate

According to a leaked report by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) may lose a project to produce plutonium pits to South Carolina.

Not only would this represent a gigantic failure – for almost two decades, LANL has been America’s only nuclear weapons site capable of producing plutonium pits – it would reduce LANL’s mission to produce and secure America’s nuclear weapons capability.

Senators Heinrich and Udall crafted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization

Heinrich Statement On Aztec High School Shooting

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2017

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) released the following statement on the shooting today at Aztec High School in Aztec, NM:

“I am distraught to learn of this tragic shooting at Aztec High School. This is a parent’s biggest nightmare – every child deserves to be safe at school.

“I want to thank and commend our local law enforcement officers, emergency first responders, teachers and staff who took immediate action to protect and aid those who were hurt.

“But Aztec now joins a list of communities touched by school shootings and gun violence Read More

County Council Approves Four Recreation Projects

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2017

Bonnie Olsen and daughter Avery showing support for recreation projects during Tuesday’s Council meeting. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

Los Alamos Daily Post

kirsten@ladailypost.com

After hearing the Los Alamos County Council’s decision on the recreation Capital Improvement Project (CIP) for the pool, long-time advocate for the project Shelby Redondo said, “I want to sob with relief. It’s the right thing for kids.”

Council approved all four proposed recreation CIPs during its regular meeting Tuesday night in Council Chambers. The

DEA Operation Targets 26 Pharmacies In Three States In Attack Against Illicit Opioid Abuse And Trafficking

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2017

DEA News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Los Angeles Field Division today announced Operation Faux Pharmacy, a multi-pronged initiative aimed at attacking the opioid epidemic by targeting rogue pharmacies throughout southern California, Hawaii and Nevada.

DEA investigations over the last year identified as many as 26 pharmacies in these areas that may have operated outside the bounds of legitimate medicine.

The United States has been increasingly devastated by opioid abuse, created in large part by the over-prescribing

Los Alamos Federated Republican Women Christmas Luncheon At Oppenheimer Place Friday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2017

LAFRW News:

The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women will its annual Christmas Luncheon noon to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at 1001 Oppenheimer Place in the Patio Room downstairs.

Any women interested in joining are invited to attend. A potluck lunch will be provided.

Members also will be gathering gifts to participate in the local Adopt-a-Family program.

Heinrich Testifies Before U.S. Trade Representative On Tariffs That Would Harm Solar Industry

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2017

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, testified before the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to oppose raising tariffs on imported solar panels and modules.

The USTR held a public hearing to help inform the decision of President Trump, who received a range of formal remedy recommendations from the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on November 13 and must make a final determination in the case in January 2018.

Townsend Appointed To Lead House GOP Policy Development Working Group

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 7, 2017

Rep. Jim Townsend

LEGISLATIVE News:

SANTA FE — Dec. 1 House Republican leadership tapped Rep. Jim Townsend (R-Artesia) as chair of the newly-formed Policy Development Working Group for the House Republican Caucus.

The group will provide a forum to develop legislative proposals, offer policy recommendations, and set long-term strategic goals.

“New Mexicans want fresh ideas to solve the problems facing our state, and Jim Townsend is the right person for this job,” House Republican Floor Leader Nate Gentry (R-Albuquerque) said. “New

Letter To The Editor: Thankful For The Council

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2017

By SHELBY REDONDO

Los Alamos

I would like to thank each member of the County Council for their dedication and commitment in deciding how to best use the current CIP funds during last

night’s council meeting.

Through your hard work and creative thinking you were able to stretch limited dollars into much needed recreational facilities. Now our community can look forward to improvements to the golf

course and ice rink. Young children can enjoy a splash pad in White Rock geared for them. And last but not least our community can provide an exciting safe place for children to learn to swim.

Educators Pension Fund Investments Posts Positive Return For The Eighth Consecutive Quarter

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2017

NMERB News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Educational Retirement Board Fund, which provides defined pension benefits to the state’s public educational employees, posted an investment return of 3.0 percent, net of management fees for the three months ending Sept. 30, 2017.

This marks the eighth consecutive quarter of positive returns. The fund has experienced only one negative quarter in the last 17 calendar quarters.

The fund also reached a new high in assets at $12.6 billion, an increase of $365.6 million for the quarter.

As for longer term results, net of investment

Trump Affirms Jerusalem Is Capital Of Israel

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2017

LIBERTY COUNSEL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump has affirmed that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, and promised to begin the process of relocating the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel-Aviv to Jerusalem.

“Trump’s affirmation that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel represents a significant and long overdue shift in U.S. policy,” said Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, president of Christians in Defense of Israel, and founder and chairman of Covenant Journey.

In every country worldwide, the U.S. respects the choice of the nation state and locates Read More

Fajardo Demands Report On Legislative Agency Directors Response To Sexual Harassment Complaints

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 6, 2017

LEGISLATIVE News:

LOS LUNAS — Rep. Kelly Fajardo (R-Los Lunas) sent a letter Monday to the directors of the Legislative Counsel Service (LCS) and Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) calling on them to disclose how their agencies handled three sexual harassment complaints brought to their attention since 2013, including one involving a sitting legislator.

Fajardo sent the letter after she was made aware of the existence of the complaints following her letter to New Mexico

Heinrich Releases Video Promoting Computer Science Education Week, STEM Education

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2017

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, released the following video promoting “Hour of Code” events taking place this week across New Mexico during Computer Science Education Week.

VIDEO: Senator Heinrich Celebrates Computer Science Education Week [DOWNLOAD HD VIDEO]

The Hour of Code is a national initiative to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming, designed

Letter To The Editor: Do You Realize What Our Country Is Doing To The Yemeni?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2017

By Dr. T. Douglas Reilly

Los Alamos

Yemen is one of the Arab world’s poorest countries. If you’ve followed the humanitarian disaster in Yemen, you’re aware of the worsening famine and cholera epidemic; especially as they affect children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that it’s possible over 2/3 of the children may die of malnutrition in the next few months.

The United Nations now considers Yemen the worst humanitarian crisis, even surpassing South Sudan. Since Saudi Arabia joined the offensive against the Houthi rebels in 2015, the UN considers 17 million Yemeni “food insecure”. Read More

Udall Announces Senate Passage Of Bill To Expand AMBER Alert System In Indian Country

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2017

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, has announced that the full Senate passed the AMBER Alert in Indian Country Act of 2017 by unanimous consent late Wednesday.

The bill comes in response to the tragic abduction and murder of 11-year-old Ashlynne Mike on the Navajo Nation in 2016 – when authorities did not issue an AMBER Alert until a day after Ashlynne’s abduction was reported.

The bipartisan legislation led by Senator John McCain

Update: County Responds To Chrobocinski Letter To Fellow Councilors On Code Woes

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 5, 2017

Council Chair David Izraelevitz

UPDATE: At the time the news story at the bottom of this page was published this morning, the Los Alamos Daily Post had not contacted the County for a response. Immediately below are statements from Council Chair David Izraelevitz and County Manager Harry Burgess.

Statement from Council Chair David Izraelevitz:

Speaking as an individual Councilor, I feel it is appropriate to respond to the recent letter that James Chrobocinski sent to the Council about his private business interactions with Community Development Department staff and the County’s Fire Marshal. Read More

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