Secretary Zinke Directs Interior Bureaus To Take Aggressive Action To Prevent Wildfires
Submitted by Chris Clark
on September 13, 2017
Secretary of the Interior Ryan ZinkeU.S. SECRETARY News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Sept. 12, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke directed all Department of the Interior bureaus, superintendents, and land managers at all levels to adopt more aggressive practices, using the full authority of the Department, to prevent and combat the spread of catastrophic wildfires through robust fuels reduction and pre-suppression techniques.
This year-to-date, 47,700 wildfires have burned 8 million acres across the country, with the majority of the devastation
Read More Heinrich, Lujan Grisham, Luján Introduce Legislation To Establish Tech-Transfer Maturation Program
Submitted by Chris Clark
on September 13, 2017
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. — Sept. 12, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Luján introduced bicameral legislation to authorize an Energy Technology Maturation Program at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to facilitate successful commercialization of laboratory-developed technologies and boost regional, technology-driven economic impact.
Heinrich, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, announced the legislation during a Subcommittee on Energy hearing yesteray on
Read More U.S. Sen. Tom Udall To Cosponsor Bernie Sanders’ Medicare For All Legislation
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 13, 2017
U.S. Sen. Tom UdallU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall has announced that he will sign on as an original cosponsor to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All legislation, which would ensure every American would have access to comprehensive health insurance regardless of income or employment status.
Udall supported similar proposals sponsored by Rep. John Conyers when he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2003, 2005, and 2007. Udall made the following statement:
“I believe that health care is a human right, and that all New Mexicans
Read More State Auditor Uncovers Likely Fraud, Embezzlement
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
State Auditor Tim Keller
STATE News:
- Keller identifies hundreds of checks worth more than $475,000 written to vendors were cashed into a former employee’s personal bank account
ALBUQUERQUE – Today, State Auditor Tim Keller released the results of an investigation into La Promesa Early Learning Center, a state charter school in Albuquerque.
The Risk Review found about half a million dollars were diverted from the School into a former employee’s personal bank account between June 2010 and July 2016. Office of the State Auditor (OSA) subpoenas of bank records uncovered that the former Assistant Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Delivers Opening Statement At Joint Economic Committee Hearing On E-Commerce
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichU.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Joint Economic Committee, delivered the following statement at Sept. 12 hearing entitled “The Dynamic Gains from Free Digital Trade for the U.S. Economy.” Ranking Member Heinrich highlighted in his opening remarks how e-commerce is crucial to growing and democratizing the economy.
Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
Thank you, Vice Chairman Lee, and thank you to our panel for being here today.
Community Weighs In On Tourism Strategic Plan
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
Los Alamos County Planning Assistant Anita Barela and her daughter, Leia Roach, take part in the public meeting regarding the County’s tourism strategic plan Sept. 6 at UNM-LA. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Tourism is in fact a growing industry in Los Alamos, a packed house learned Sept. 6 in the UNM-LA Student Center.
Members of the community crowded into the room to participate in a meeting hosted by Los Alamos County, along with its contractor, Design Workshop, Read More
National Debt Crosses Historic Milestone
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
FTD News:Our nation has experienced a historic fiscal milestone as gross national debt eclipsed the $20 trillion mark for the first time in history. The following is a statement from the Campaign to Fix the Debt’s Co-Chairs Judd Gregg and Edward Rendell:
President Trump spent much of the campaign warning about our $20 trillion debt; we have now officially hit that frightening milestone. The United States now holds more gross debt than at any time in history, and our debt held by the public is a larger share of the economy than at any time since just after World War II.
With
Read More Letter To The Editor: Death Toll Of 9/11
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
By Dr. T. DOUGLAS REILLYLos Alamos
On Monday the USA remembered the 16th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the failed attempt to attack another DC building that resulted in the plane crash near Shanksville, Penn.
The combined death toll from these four events was 2995. Please consider the further death toll from these attacks:
The Afghanistan and Iraq Wars were, and still are being, fought as a response to the events of 9/11. The combined toll at present of military people from the USA, Iraq and Afghanistan, and coalition
Read More Champion Of Internet Freedom Held In China
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
RSF News:Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls for the immediate release of Zhen Jianghua, the director of Across The Great FireWall (ATGFW.org), an anti-censorship website, and condemns the Chinese government’s continuing persecution of citizen-journalists and bloggers.
The police arrested Zhen Jianghua in Zhuhai, in the southern province of Guangdong, Sept. 1 without giving any explanation, and are holding him in an unknown location. They arrested his partner at the same time, but released her six hours later. The couple’s apartment was
Read More Udall, Heinrich Join Senators Urging Congress To Pass Wildfire Funding Fix In Any Future Disaster Aid
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
U.S. SENATE News:WASHINGTON, D.C. ― With large fires blazing across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined a bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), in a letter urging Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell and Charles E. Schumer to include a wildfire funding fix in any future disaster aid legislation that passes through Congress.
The Senate passed a bipartisan funding bill to help
Read More Lunch With A Leader Sept. 19
Submitted by Chris Clark
on September 12, 2017
LWV News:The League of Women Voters presents their monthly community event, Lunch with a Leader at 11:45 a.m. Sept. 19 in Mesa Library.
Their guest speakers will be Jennifer Sublett and Lynn Bjorkland from the US Forest Service. They will be discussing the Forest Service – its history, management, goals. budget, etc. This information will help the League with their study regarding the transfer of federal public land to NM.
Jennifer is currently a District Volunteer Coordinator in the recreation and trails program with the SF National Forest. She
Read More Letter To The Editor: Regarding The Nuisance Code
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
By BRADY BURKELos Alamos
Perhaps the problem isn’t the ordinance, but its enforcement.
There was a comment by a former CA highway patrol officer who said that he could easily find three violations on any new vehicle. That kind of enforcement would be considered abusive and non-productive, unless he was looking to generate revenue. The public would really prefer that he focus on issues that present a danger to the traveling public or the driver and their occupants.
The terms of the Nuisance Ordinance are not extreme, but using that ordinance to enforce petty aesthetic issues, is an abuse Read More
Pearce Urges Congress To Find Solution For DACA
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
U.S. Rep. Steve PearceU.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce sent a letter Sept. 6 to House Speaker Paul Ryan urging Congress to work in a bipartisan manner to establish a permanent solution for people protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.
“For decades, Congress sat idly by while the Executive Branch imposed temporary, patchwork immigration policies, sidestepping the Constitution. Congress, not the President, has the responsibility to enact the changes our nation needs, and can no longer afford to
Read More CIR: Enforcing The Broken Border Sept. 18
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 12, 2017
Former NM Attorney General Gary KingCIR News:
Join the Santa Fe Council on International Relations at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 18 at La Posada, 330 E. Palace Ave., in Santa Fe for an intimate conversation between two former Attorneys General, describing their work in enforcing the border against the Mexican drug cartels.
Former Arizona Attorney General Terry GoddardTerry Goddard (AZ) will talk about his work in, among other things, stopping the flow of laundered drug money into the U.S.; Gary King (NM) will discuss his
Read More Secretary Of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver Adopts Final Campaign Finance Rule
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 11, 2017
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver
STATE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver today adopted the final version of a campaign finance rule intended to provide much needed guidance regarding New Mexico’s Campaign Reporting Act (CRA) and to bring the CRA into constitutional compliance following numerous court cases.
The rule will go into effect Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, which is the first day of a new campaign finance reporting period.
“For too long our campaign finance disclosure laws have been vague and confusing, and this rule will provide much needed
Democratic Party Of Los Alamos County Meets Tonight!
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 11, 2017
Bill Hargraves
DPLA News:
The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County will hold it’s monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. – TONIGHT – Monday, Sept. 11.
LAPS School Board Member Bill Hargraves will be the speaker.
County Party business and upcoming events also will be discussed.
The meeting is in Building 05 at UNM-Los Alamos, 4000 University Dr.
Sheriff Lucero Files Suit Against County Council
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 11, 2017
Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero By MAIRE O’NEILL
Los Alamos Daily Post
Los Alamos County Sheriff Marco Lucero has filed a complaint for declaratory judgement in the First Judicial District Court against the Los Alamos County Council. The complaint, which has been assigned to Judge Francis Mathews, was filed Aug. 29 by Lucero’s attorney, A. Blair Dunn.
Sheriff Lucero said today that he is disappointed that things have gotten to this point. He said he has tried without success to reach agreement with the Council, that the voters spoke plainly in the November Read More
Pearce Calls For Investigation Of UNMHSC, SWWO
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 11, 2017
U.S. Rep. Steve PearceU.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce has sent a letter to the United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions to request an investigation into the wrongdoings between the University of New Mexico Health Service Center (UNMHSC) and Southwestern Women’s Options (SWWO).
“I’ve worked tirelessly with New Mexico officials and Members in Congress to ensure the rights and liberties of women and the unborn are protected. In 2016, an investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Select Panel on Infant Lives raised serious
Read More AG Files Lawsuit Against Opioid Manufacturers And Distributors For Fueling Epidemic Crippling New Mexico
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 11, 2017
AG News:ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that he has brought a lawsuit on behalf of the State of New Mexico against the country’s largest manufacturers and wholesale distributors of opioids, a crucial first step toward holding these companies responsible for flooding New Mexico’s communities with prescription opioids and fueling the opioid epidemic by putting profits over people.
The State of New Mexico is filing suit against five of the largest manufacturers of prescription opioids and their related companies and against the country’s
Read More Letter To The Editor: In The Great Gun Debate, Both Sides Need Practice Hitting The Target
Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on September 10, 2017
By KHAL SPENCERLos Alamos
It’s an unfortunate observation, nearly rising to the level of a physical law, that both sides in the Great Gun Debate will usually miss the target on any given issue.
After the recent Clovis Library mass shooting, someone wrote a long essay to the Santa Fe New Mexican calling for a ban on concealed carry in libraries. But concealed carry was irrelevant to the shooting as the shooter, at 16 years old, was not a legal concealed carrier nor eligible to become one at his age. Further, it should be noted that in spite of concealed carry being lawful in libraries,
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