Ambassador Vicki Huddleston Speaks In Los Alamos Tuesday Evening
Ambassador Vicki Huddleston
COMMUNITY News:
“Our Woman in Havana” is the title of a talk by former Ambassador Vicki Huddleston slated for 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 7 at Mesa Public Library.
Sponsored by the AAUW of Los Alamos, the talk is based on her years “as one of America’s top Cuba hands”. She will address events such as the Elian Gonzalez custody saga and the post-9/11 decision to use Guantanamo as a prison for terror suspects.
Huddleston’s talk promises to be interesting with everything from stories of spies to an argument she had with Fidel Castro at a cocktail party.
Huddleston managed American Read More
Wallin: Why New Mexico’s Legislature Should Advance A Women’s Policy Agenda
Kids County Director Amber Wallin, MPALetter To The Editor: About ‘Civility’ In Public Discourse
By RICHARD NEBELThis is in response to two columns by Father Glenn (link, link), two letters to the editor by Khalil Spencer (link, link), a column by Pastor Granillo (link), along with contributions from the prophet Isaiah, St. Luke, St. Paul, and everybody else who has recently written in to the Los Alamos Daily Post discussing “civility” in public discourse.
Now, who could possibly be opposed to “civility” in public discourse? Well, it depends on how it is defined, who defines it, and most importantly, how it is implemented.
The simple fact of the matter is this: “civility” Read More
Guest Column: Legislature Must Follow New Mexico Tradition Of Taking Care Of Families
By ADRIANN BARBOAIn New Mexico, we take care of each other. It’s just our way. For generations, my family has made it through tough times by supporting each other.
My Grandpa Barboa was a cattle rancher in Albuquerque’s South Valley. He used to tell me stories about the times when they would have a matanza so the community could get through a tough winter or poor summer harvest. I always love when we have our family matanzas. It is a time when we come together and celebrate each other. What my grandpa explained was something even more: a matanza is way for everyone Read More
Coyote Killing Contests Bill Passes Key Committee
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Sen. Jeff Steinborn passed bipartisan legislation through the Senate Judiciary Committee Saturday to end the practice of coyote killing contests in New Mexico.
“Today New Mexico is one step closer to banning inhumane coyote killing contests. This blood sport serves no purpose in the management of coyotes other than killing for the sake of killing. It’s time to make these contests a thing of the past,” Sen. Steinborn said.
This bill now goes to the senate floor for final passage and then, if passed, to the House for consideration in that body. Read More
Udall Statement Opposing Effort To Roll Back Fair Pay And Workplace Protections
U.S. SENATE News:Bill For Students To Continue Education Unanimously Passes New Mexico House
Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE News:
HB 108 Creates Uniformity in Transfer Credits Among New Mexico Colleges
SANTA FE — Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard’s (D-Los Alamos) bill to help students continue their education by creating uniformity in transfer credits among New Mexico colleges unanimously passed the New Mexico House. HB 108 sets up guidelines and provides clarity for transfer students so they will be able to complete their degrees on time and enter the workforce.
“Too many times, I’ve heard of students losing a chance at furthering their education due to inconsistent transfer Read More
House Passes Bill To Create NM Chile License Plate
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Tonight, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 393, legislation to create a specialty chile license plate. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Cathrynn Brown (R-Eddy) and it now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The specialty license plate would be available to New Mexicans for a fee of $35, with $25 of the fee directed to fund educational programs at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The museum would also be tasked with designing the license plate with guidance provided by the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Department.
Noting that the Colorado Read More
Letter To The Editor: About That Support For Background Checks…
By GLENN MICHELI can imagine Devon having a little mental conversation with himself when he obtained that gun, “Oh! wait a minute, I can’t posses guns, I’m a felon!”, and poof, another possible criminal activity is thwarted by yet another rock solid gun law.
New Mexico House Passes Minimum Wage Increase
House Speaker Brian Egolf
STATE News:
- Bill to Raise Minimum Wage to $9.25 an Hour Passes Along Mostly Party Lines
SANTA FE – House Bill 442 passed the House Friday night along mostly party lines in a 37-30 vote. HB 442, sponsored by Representatives Brian Egolf (D-Santa Fe), Debbie Rodella (D-Española), Patricio Ruiloba (D-Albuquerque), Carl Trujillo (D-Santa Fe), and Miguel P. Garcia (D-Albuquerque), would raise the state’s minimum wage to $9.25 an hour, a sensible increase over the current minimum wage of $7.50 per hour.
The increase will put more than $3,000 a year in additional earnings Read More
AG Balderas Issues Statement About Jeff Sessions
Attorney General Hector Balderas. Courtesy photoHouse Agrees Dads Can Change Diapers, Too
STATE News:
SANTA FE – House Bill 106, Baby Changing Facilities in Men’s Rooms, passed on a 44-22 vote Friday evening. Sponsored by Rep. Andrés Romero (D-Albuquerque), the bill would require that all new construction or major renovations of restrooms in public places include baby changing stations in both the women’s and men’s bathrooms.
“It’s about time we recognize the role that both parents play in raising children,” Romero said. “I’m glad we are one step closer for mothers and fathers to both have a safe, designated space to change their babies.”
House Bill 106 does not apply to restrooms Read More
Isolated Confinement Bill Moves To House Floor
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Today in the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas’ (D-Albuquerque) House Bill 175 passed by a 7-6 vote. HB 175 bans the use of isolated confinement for pregnant women and minors in New Mexico prisons and jails. It also sets a 48-hour maximum for solitary confinement of inmates with severe mentally illness.
“Isolated confinement is overused and misused in our great state,” Rep. Maestas said. “It is detrimental to public safety. If you put a human being in prolonged isolated confinement, that human will never, ever be the same. That makes us all less Read More
UNM-LA: Public Notice Of Possible Quorum
UNM-LA Public Notice:
A joint swearing in ceremony for UNM-Los Alamos Advisory Board members and Los Alamos Public School Board members has been scheduled:
- Monday, March 6, 2017
- 3-4 p.m.
- Los Alamos County Judge’s Chambers in the Justice Center at 2500 Trinity Dr., Suite C
A Quorum of UNM-LA Advisory Board Members may be present. No action will be taken. Read More
Udall Statement On His Vote To Confirm Rick Perry As Secretary Of Energy
U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick PerryState Auditor Launches Probe At City Of Jal
State Auditor Tim KellerInnovations In Teaching Act Passes House
HOUSE DEMOCRATS News:
- Bill Supports Teachers Who Engage in New & Cutting-Edge Curriculums
SANTA FE – The Innovations in Teaching Act passed the House floor Thursday night by a vote of 37-30. House Bill 105, sponsored by Rep. Andrés Romero (D-Albuquerque) and Rep. Nathan Small (D-Las Cruces), encourages teachers to delve into innovative and cutting-edge curriculums by allowing them to apply for a waiver from standards-based assessments.
“Rather than focus solely on high stakes testing, this bill allows teachers to innovate in their classrooms without being punished on their evaluations,” Read More
Letter To The Editor: If You Are Going To Quote Numbers, You Need To Provide Credible References
By KHALIL SPENCERThere were near mirror-image letters in the Los Alamos Daily Post (link) and Santa Fe New Mexican Thursday claiming that state level background checks are credited with reductions of 46 or 47 percent fewer women shot to death by their partners and 48 or 53 percent fewer law enforcement officers killed by handguns. The problem is, nowhere do the authors of these letters provide sources for this information.
I put the quotes from the letters into a web search and came up with an Everytown For Gun Safety source (there may be others), almost verbatim, with links to details Read More
Bill To Level Playing Field For Minority-Owned Businesses Passes House Unanimously
Rep. Antonio Maestas 
