Los Alamos YMCA Visits Delegation In Washington
Los Alamos Family YMCA Board President Christina Sierk, CEO Linda Daly and Zia Credit Union President David Woodruff with Rep. Ben Ray Luján in Washington, D.C. Woodruff happened to be visiting Rep. Luján as well. Courtesy photo
YMCA Central New Mexico Board President Warren Wilhelm, left, and Los Alamos Family YMCA Board President Christina Sierk discuss the Child Protection Improvements Act with U.S. Sen. Tom Udall in Washington, D.C. Courtesy photo
YMCA News:
Representatives from the New Mexico Alliance of YMCAs were in Washington, D.C. recently to advocate, educate and enlist Read More
Heinrich To Senate Republicans: Do Your Job And Act On Supreme Court Vacancy
U.S. Sen. Martin HeinrichDOE Launches $40 Million Effort To Improve Materials For Clean Energy Solutions
DOE News:House Honors Speaker W. Ken Martinez
Rep. W. Ken MartinezMarco Serna Enters Race For DA In First Judicial District
Marco Serna
POLITICAL News:
SANTA FE – After talking to community leaders and his family, attorney Marco Serna has decided to enter the District Attorney’s race for the First Judicial District.
Serna is a product of the Santa Fe and Espanola community, attending Atalaya Elementary School and St. Michael’s Middle School and High School. He received his Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s.
Serna began his legal work as a Senior Litigator for the State of NM Risk Management Department, and then transferred to the Thirteenth District Attorney’s office working his way up to Supervisor Read More
O’Leary: Time For $30 Million In Recreation Development
Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Susan O’Leary during an interview at the Los Alamos Daily Post. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Over the past several weeks, the County Council advertised and held seven listening sessions to hear from the community about ideas for Capital Improvement Project spending.
The sessions were very well attended, and we heard ideas from citizens ranging from elementary school students to seniors. Most what we heard was passion; passion for our community and for the activities Read More
Udall On President’s Plan To Close Guantánamo
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
From Senator Udall’s Office:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on President Obama’s plan to close the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay:
“I’m pleased to see President Obama moving forward with a proposal to close the Guantánamo Bay prison, and I urge Congress to consider the plan seriously. I’ve long called for permanently shutting down the facility, which is a stain on our nation’s history and continues to Read More
Democratic Party Of Los Alamos County Ward; Pre-Primary Convention Underway At UNM-LA
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján and Democratic Party of Los Alamos County Chair Robyn Schultz gather for a photo with fellow Democrats during this evening’s Ward and Pre-Primary Convention underway at UNM-LA. Courtesy photo
From left, Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján and Maggie Toulouse Oliver at this evening’s Democratic Party of Los Alamos County Ward and Pre-Primary Convention underway at UNM-LA. Courtesy photo Read More
Governor Susana Martinez Announces Secretary Greg Fouratt Named United States Magistrate Judge
Cabinet Secretary Gregory J. Fourat
SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez has announced that New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) Cabinet Secretary Greg Fouratt will leave his post to become a United States Magistrate Judge in Las Cruces.
Secretary Fouratt has served as DPS cabinet secretary since February 2014 and was unanimously confirmed by the New Mexico State Senate in March 2015.
“Secretary Fouratt is a leader who puts New Mexico first, and I am proud of the work he has accomplished during his time in my administration,” Martinez said. “While we are sad to see him go, we know that Read More
State Republican Party Holds Pre-Primary Convention
RPNM News:
ALBUQUERQUE – The Republican Party of New Mexico held its 2016 Pre-Primary Convention Saturday morning, where Republican delegates from across New Mexico chose which candidates would appear on the primary ballot in June.
“We were able to pull off an incredible feat,” RPNM Chair Debbie Maestas said. “We completed the convention and tallied the votes in record time with a technological approach, moving away from the archaic system of paper ballots and instead using tablets to cast and calculate votes.”
Delegates were enthusiastic about the process and Read More
House To Begin Archiving Webcasts
Rep. Jeff SteinbornGovernor Appoints Stephen French To New Mexico Court Of Appeals
STATE News:French served as assistant district attorney for the Second Judicial District from 1980 to 1981. Afterward, he went on to become a founding partner at Walz & French from 1982 to 1990. From 1990 to 1993, he served as legal bureau chief for the State of New Mexico
AG Balderas: Murderer Who Stabbed Ex-Girlfriend 90 Times Will Stay In Prison
NMSC News:DOE Cites LANS For Health And Safety Violations Related To WIPP
DOE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued a Preliminary Notice of Violation (PNOV) to Nuclear Waste Partnership, LLC (NWP) for violations of DOE worker safety and health and nuclear safety requirements.
Concurrently, DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issued a PNOV to Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) for violations of DOE’s nuclear safety requirements. Issuance of these PNOVs marks the completion of DOE’s investigations and enforcement process regarding two events in 2014 at DOE’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). Read More
Delegation Calls For Probe Into NM HSD Suspending Medicaid Payments To Behavioral Health Providers
Update: Response from Kyler Nerison, HSD spokesman:
“This is nothing more than the same partisan stunt orchestrated by the same Washington politicians more than a year ago. The Feds have extensively reviewed this matter and found that the state acted in accordance with the anti-fraud regulations put in place by the Affordable Care Act.
The companies in question overbilled the state millions of dollars in Medicaid funding that should have been used to help those in need. That’s a fact, and we’ve already collected more than $4 million on behalf of taxpayers. The Attorney Read More
DOE Secretary Says WIPP Will Reopen In 2016
CCNS News:
Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS) has announced that U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz recently said the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) would again dispose of plutonium-contaminated nuclear weapons waste in the deep geologic dump by the end of 2016.
WIPP has been shut down for two years following a truck fire and radiation release that contaminated 22 workers and the underground facility. Moniz made his remarks on February 9th when the Obama Administration released its proposed fiscal year 2017 budget, which includes $266 million for WIPP. Read More
Analysis Of Law; Policy Governing Office Of Sheriff
By GEORGE CHANDLERI will give you my best analysis of the law and policy considerations governing the existence and duties of the office of Sheriff of Los Alamos County and its relationship to the Police Department, and how these are affected by legislation pending in the New Mexico Legislature.
I will make informal citations to the constitution and statutes of the State of New Mexico, The charter and a resolution of Los Alamos County, and two pending proposed constitutional amendments. The analysis is straightforward; however there are a number of authorities that Read More
Labor Leaders And Workers Weigh In On 2016 Legislative Victories And Losses
LABOR News:
SANTA FE – As the 2016 legislative session comes to a close, New Mexico’s labor leaders and workers offer their perspective on the 30-day session.
Maxine Velasquez, Secretary-Treasurer, New Mexico Federation of Labor: “This year’s session was bittersweet for working people in New Mexico. While attempts from the new conservative majority in the House to roll back wages and benefits were defeated, much needed conversations about how we create Main Street jobs were pushed aside to make room for grandstanding by those pushing an ‘all crime, all the time’ Read More
Legislature Passes Veterans Tuition Assistance Guarantee Act
STATE News:Sen. Sanchez Issues Statement On Senate Democrats Accomplishments Of 2016 Session
Sen. Michael Sanchez
During the 2016 Legislative Session, Senate Democrats worked – frequently in a bipartisan way – to do what is best for the people, while being fiscally responsible with the taxpayers’ dollars.
We joined with Senate Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation that finally makes our driver’s licenses compliant with tougher federal REAL ID requirements. Our bill keeps our roads safe and supports the needs of law enforcement, while giving U.S. citizens the choice to obtain a REAL ID driver’s license, or a driving authorization Read More
