Political News - Los Alamos Daily Post

Happy Columbus Day, Discovery Day, Dia De La Raza…

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 12, 2015

First Landing of Columbus on the Shores of the New World; painting by Dióscoro Puebla (1862). Courtesy/wikipedia

Staff Report

Today is Columbus Day and some organizations are open and others closed around the local area.

Los Alamos County is open except for the Eco Station; LANL is closed, Los Alamos Public Schools is closed, Santa Fe National Forest Offices are closed and the NCRTD blue bus company is closed.

Many countries in the New World and elsewhere officially celebrate as a holiday the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, which happened Oct. 12, 1492. Read More

Date Change: Democratic Party Meeting Oct. 19

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 11, 2015

DPLA News:

The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County monthly meeting is typically held the second Monday of each month, however, because of the Columbus Day holiday; the date for this month’s meeting has changed.

The October meeting is 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19 at UNM-Los Alamos, Building 5, Wallace Hall.

The featured speaker is a representative from Santa Fe speaking for Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders. Read More

Secretary Jewell Joins New Mexico Community Leaders To Welcome Valles Caldera To National Park Service

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 11, 2015

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell addresses the crowd gathered Saturday at the Valles Caldera for the hand-over to the National Park Service. Photo by Felicia Orth

Sen. Martin Heinrich stands next to the arrowhead plaque unveiled at the end of the speeches Saturday at the Valles Caldera. Photo by Felicia Orth

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT News:

Area underscores importance of Land and Water Conservation Fund to preserve nation’s natural, cultural and outdoor recreation heritage

SANTA FE – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined state, tribal and local leaders Saturday to celebrate Read More

Energy Department Invests More Than $20 Million To Advance Fuel Cell Technologies

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 11, 2015

Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy David Danielson

DOE News:

The Energy Department announced Thursday a new report that shows the fuel cell industry is continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate, totaling more than $2.2 billion in sales in 2014.

In order to further expand on this emerging market, the Department also announced the investment of more than $20 million in 10 projects to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, and enable early adoption of fuel cell applications such as light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

These projects will Read More

Mother Teresa’s Volunteer Receives Caring Award

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 11, 2015

Noah Levinson. Photo by Miranda Parro/Reformer

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, co-chairs of the Caring Institute, have announced the 2015 Caring Award honorees.

The Caring Institute was founded in 1985 by Val J. Halamandaris after a meeting with Mother Teresa, who told him there was a poverty of the spirit in the developed world that was much worse than the poverty of the body seen in the developing world.

When she directed him to do something about it, he founded an awards program that identifies those who give back to society

Saturday: Interior Secretary Jewell Celebrates Valles Caldera’s Addition To National Park Service

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 9, 2015

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell

U.S. DEPT. OF INTERIOR News:

SANTA FE – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell is visiting the Valles Caldera Saturday, Oct. 10.

Jewell will join U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, former U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, tribal, state and local officials, and other conservation and community leaders to celebrate the inclusion of the Valles Caldera National Preserve as part of the National Park System.

The dedication ceremony is 11 a.m. in the Valle Grande Contact Station Parking Area

Valles Caldera National Preserve was established Read More

Lujan Grisham Opens Hearing On 2015 Fire Season

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 8, 2015

U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the following opening statement during today’s Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Conservation & Forestry. As the ranking member on the committee, Lujan Grisham kicked off the hearing to review 2015 fire season and long-term trends.

—As Prepared for Delivery—

“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I really appreciate you calling today’s hearing to review the 2015 fire season and long-term wildfire trends. Although wildfires have occasionally been discussed in Read More

Udall Votes For Major National Defense Bill, Urges Solution To Dangerous Sequestration Cuts

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 8, 2015

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall joined the Senate in voting 70-27 for a major defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The bill — the result of an agreement between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives — includes several priorities Udall has championed for New Mexico. In addition to programs important for New Mexico’s military bases and national laboratories, the bill includes Udall’s measure to strengthen the open-air burn pits registry he created

Heinrich Statement On Gun Violence Prevention

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 8, 2015

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. issued the following statement on the need for bipartisan, commonsense solutions to reduce gun violence in America:

“It is no secret that I am a passionate outdoorsman, hunter and supporter of the Second Amendment. It is my firmly held belief that law-abiding citizens should be able to own firearms for both sport and self-defense. That is not a political statement, it is simply who I am.

“In our efforts to protect the established constitutional right of individual Read More

UNM Researcher Travels East To Track Pope’s Visit

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 8, 2015

Pope Francis rides in the ‘Popemobile.’ Courtesy/UNM

UNM News:

In his first visit to the United States, Pope Francis made headlines around the world and was greeted by hundreds of thousands of American Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

And for University of New Mexico sociology Professor Richard Wood, to see and study the pope on American soil was a special experience.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9yIz1cxaes

“What I focus on is the intersection of faith and public life in the United States,” Wood said, who is also

VIDEO: Udall Leads Bipartisan Coalition Of Senators Pushing For Vote On Chemical Safety Reform

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 8, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON ― As the Senate prepares to begin debate on chemical safety reform, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M) led a bipartisan coalition of senators calling on Congress to finally protect families from dangerous chemicals by passing the bipartisan Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which Udall wrote with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.).

The bill is named for the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who worked for many years to reform the broken and outdated Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA).

It would

Udall, Heinrich Announce $4.39 Million For Tribal Suicide, Drug Abuse And Domestic Violence Prevention

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 8, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that several New Mexico Tribes and organizations will be receiving a total of $4.39 million over five years to prevent suicide, fight drug abuse and combat domestic violence through the Indian Health Service’s Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) and Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative (DVPI) programs.

The MSPI programprovides support for Tribal communities to develop culturally appropriate prevention and treatment methods for suicide and drug abuse, particularly

Road Map Meeting For Monitoring Gold King Mine Spill’s Effects In New Mexico Oct. 20

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2015

NMED News:

SANTA FE – The State of New Mexico’s Long-Term Impact Review Team, named by Gov. Susana Martinez during the Environmental Protection Agency’s Gold King Mine Spill last August, is developing a road map for continuing environmental monitoring activities.

The Road Map meeting is 5:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20 San Juan College, Rooms 9008 & 9010 at the Henderson Fine Arts Center, 4601 College Boulevard in Farmington.

Through working together and sharing ideas and information based on the public’s input and different agencies’ areas of expertise, we’ll be able to better ensure that Read More

White House Invites New Mexico’s Senate Majority Leader To Plenary Panel For Worker Voice Summit

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 7, 2015

President Barack Obama

New Mexico’s Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is one of six members of the plenary panel, “The Importance of Worker Voice,” for the White House Summit on Worker Voice.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez

President Barack Obama is hosting the 2015 “Worker Voice Summit” at the White House to discuss the benefits of empowering employees to become partners in growing the economy.

Obama and Labor Secretary Tom Perez join summit members Sanchez, Sarita Gupta, Ambereen Khan-Baker, Gregory Adams, Joe Schmidt and Robert Hathorn.

The panel will establish Read More

Governor Announces Tourism In 2014 Generates Largest Economic Impact In New Mexico History

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 6, 2015

Gov. Susana Martinez announced today at a press conference in Albuquerque that tourism in 2014 has injected $6.1 billion into New Mexico’s economy. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Today, Gov. Susana Martinez announced that tourism in 2014 generated the largest economic impact in state history, injecting $6.1 billion into New Mexico’s economy and supporting nearly 89,000 jobs.

“Tourism plays a critical role in diversifying our state’s economy. When more people visit New Mexico, more dollars go directly into our communities, and that results in more jobs and better Read More

AFTNM/ATF Lawsuit Against NMPED Concludes With Motion For Preliminary Injunction Today

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 6, 2015

AFTNM/AFT News:

SANTA FE ― American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation’s District Court lawsuit against the New Mexico Public Education Department concludes today with the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction.

This lawsuit seeks to provide relief to educators across New Mexico by pausing, and eventually seeking to prevent the use of high-stakes testing in the evaluation of education professionals.

It is the belief of AFTNM and ATF that the current evaluation system, imposed by Public Education Department

Senator Moores and Rep. Steinborn Join APV And SWEC In Calling For Ban On Killing Contests

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 6, 2015

APV News:

New Mexico should end repulsive killing contests that celebrate killing for killing’s sake … next coyote killing-contest is Oct. 9-11

LAS CRUCES – Animal Protection Voters (APV) and Southwest Environmental Center (SWEC) renew calls for a statewide ban on the cruel and dangerous practice of animal-killing contests.

Contests began last month and will continue throughout the fall of 2015 and into winter of 2016. The next killing contest, which promotes and rewards indiscriminate killing of native wildlife, is set for the weekend of Oct. 9. Hundreds of Read More

Udall, Heinrich Welcome $5.7 Million To Build Veterans Cemetery At Fort Stanton

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 5, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich have announced that they have secured $5,741,388 to cover the full cost of construction for a veterans cemetery near Fort Stanton.

Currently, the state has only two veterans cemeteries — located in Santa Fe and at Fort Bayard — and many veterans and their families have to travel a great distance to honor loved ones.

The new cemetery at Fort Stanton will serve more than 7,500 veterans and their families. Ground breaking for the project is expected this coming Veterans Day, Nov.

LAFRW Features Bernadette Martinez Oct. 8

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on October 4, 2015

LAFRW News:

The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women will host a special event at nnon Thursday, Oct. 8 in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Special guest speaker, Bernadette Martinez, will present “Hidden Heritage of New Mexico: Then and Now – The 400 Year Old Secret.” This documentary, produced by Martinez, sends a life-saving message to its viewers by revealing the genetic danger posed to Hispanic women in Northern New Mexico by the BRCA1 gene.

The BRCA1 gene, which commonly causes breast and gynecologic cancers, appears in unusually high concentration in Hispanic Read More

AG Urges Passage Of Comprehensive Addiction & Recovery Act For Heroin And Opioid Addiction Epidemic

Submitted by Chris Clark on October 3, 2015

Attorney General Balderas

CONGRESSIONAL News:

SANTA FE ― Tuesday Sept. 29, Attorney General Balderas and attorneys general from 36 states plus the District of Columbia sent a letter to the leadership of the Committee on the Judiciary for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives urging passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2015 (S. 524/HR 953).

This comes as New Mexico and other states continue to address the epidemic of heroin and opioid-based painkiller abuse and addiction and its devastating effect on public health and

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