Canceled: April Medical Mission Trip To Haiti
By Katie Fry and Elizabeth Hargreaves:
Dear Los Alamos Community,
Thank you for your continued support of our mission work in Haiti. It is with great sadness that we tell you our trip has been canceled.
The April clinic will happen with an all Haitian team. All financial donations will be used for this clinic. Online donations are accepted here.
The following is a statement from Executive Director Nathan Ruby:
It is with a heavy heart that we share our decision to cancel the April Medical Mission Trip. Canceling a medical team trip is never made lightly, especially when canceling the second in a Read More
The Family YMCA Closes Facilities Until April 6
The Family YMCA at 1450 Iris St. Courtesy/YMCA
YMCA News:
In the community-wide effort to work together and help reduce the impact of COVID-19, The Family YMCA sent notice to its membership Sunday that its facilities will be closed to the public effective today, March 16.
The closure is in alignment with the schools closures and remains in place until April 6, unless further changes are made.
Y Chief of Operations Chris Daniels said it was not an easy decision.
“We know how important working out is to people, and how much it helps to reduce stress in a time like this, but our leadership believes it Read More
Councilor James Robinson Discusses COVID-19 Pandemic
By JAMES ROBINSON
Los Alamos County Council
Good morning Los Alamos,
I personally wanted to first begin by thanking all those workers in our food and retail service. The last week has brought a tremendous amount of change to our daily lives, and every one of you has handled the crowds with grace and patience.
I also would like to give thanks to our amazing community. As soon as it was announced the schools and other services were closing, social media groups were created to help organize volunteers to get those people who are in need what they require to get through this trying time.
When the need comes, Read More
Governor Issues Five Executive Orders To Free Up $3.25M To Address COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Courtesy photo
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has issued five executive orders authorizing up to $3,250,000 of additional funding for emergency response and disaster relief efforts to address the effects of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The funding will be used to assist in humanitarian relief, public health measures and to benefit families and children impacted by school closures.
This disaster-relief funding has been made available to the New Mexico National Guard, the Department of Homeland Security Read More
State Website Contains Information For Families On School Meals … Lists Feeding Plans By District During Closing
STATE News:
The newwmexico.gov website is state government’s one-stop shop for information about the COVID-19 pandemic that led Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to close schools for three weeks beginning today, March 16.
(Updates to the number of confirmed cases in the state will continue to be posted to cv.nmhealth.org.)
The newmexico.gov website is being updated and finalized in real Read More
LANL Stands Up Pandemic Advisory Team
Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
Los Alamos National Laboratory has stood up a Pandemic Advisory Team that is led by the Laboratory’s medical director and is very closely monitoring the situation, a Laboratory spokesperson told the Los Alamos Daily Post this morning in an email.
“At this time, there are no confirmed cases at the Laboratory, and there has been no disruption to Laboratory operations,” the spokesperson said. “The Laboratory is taking precautionary measures to protect the health of the people who work at the Laboratory and surrounding communities, Read More
New Mexico Expands Child Care Eligibility, Guarantees Payments For Child Care Providers During Health Emergency
STATE News:
SANTA FE – In response to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s March 11 declaration of a public health emergency, the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) have made a series of temporary changes to New Mexico’s early childhood policies.
“We recognize that New Mexicans face a range of circumstances and challenges. If you have the flexibility to stay home with your child, we encourage you to do so. If you need child care, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that you have access to healthy and safe care,” said Read More
LARSO Stands Ready To Help With Member Needs
LARSO News:
The Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization has plans to help its members with needs.
Members are encouraged to call the senior centers.
Please DO NOT let people you don’t know into your home or give them money to pick up your prescriptions.
It is lovely to have offers to help, but LARSO staff and volunteers and vetted, background checked and have insurance.
Individuals 60 and older are welcome to become a LASRO member at no charge. Call the Betty Ehart Center in Los Alamos at 505.662.8920 or White Rock Senior Center at 505.672.2034. Read More
NMDVS Postpones Upcoming Events Due To COVID-19 Pandemic Reaching New Mexico
NMDVS News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) has postponed all agency-related public events in the immediate future—following the New Mexico Department of Health’s (DOH) public health order temporarily prohibiting mass gatherings in New Mexico in response to the COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus pandemic reaching the state.
The public health order defines “mass gatherings” as events that bring together 100 or more people in a single room or connected space such as auditoriums, stadiums, arenas, conference centers, and theaters.
Exempt from the order are airports, Read More
Heinrich Issues Update On Operations Of New Mexico Offices
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced Sunday that for the health and safety of both staff and visitors and to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, his New Mexico-based offices will be operating with minimized on-site staff, with the remainder of staff working remotely.
This will go into effect immediately.
Sen. Heinrich’s D.C. office initiated the same modified operations last week.
Sen. Heinrich will continue to keep New Mexicans informed of any changes to the operations of his Read More
LASCU Creates COVID-19 Relief Program
LASCU News:
Los Alamos Schools Credit Union has created a COVID-19 Relief Program for school district employees and their families during the three week shutdown of the Los Alamos Public Schools.
LASCU is offering 0 percent loans, loan payment extensions and financial counseling for those affected by the shutdown.
The Credit Union wants District employees to know this help is available. Visit lascu.org for more information. Read More
EPA Expands COVID-19 Disinfectant List
EPA News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released an expanded list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
The list contains nearly 200 additional products—including 40 new products that went through the agency’s expedited review process. The agency also made key enhancements to the web-based list to improve its usefulness.
“During this pandemic, it’s important that people can easily find the information they’re looking for when choosing and using a Read More
NCRTD Takes Measures To Prevent Spread Of COVID-19
NCRTD News:
North Central Regional Transit District’s RTD Blue Buses provide vital transportation services within north central New Mexico.
The District respects that people may be feeling anxiety and concern about the safety of public transit in the regards to COVID-19; we take this very seriously.
Last week, NCRTD expanded its vehicle cleaning procedures to include increased use of our disinfecting fogger on the vehicles located in Española and Taos. Vehicles in outlying areas are undergoing aggressive disinfectant cleaning on a daily basis.
All operators are utilizing disinfectant Read More
Kirtland Increases Health Protection Condition
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE. – Kirtland has raised its Health Protection Condition (HPCON) level to B-plus in response to the spread of COVID-19.
The decision to implement a higher HPCON was taken to stay in step with the Air Force and state and local authorities.
There are no cases of COVID-19 on Kirtland AFB.
The Installation Commander, Col. David S. Miller, has directed the elevation of the condition level to align with existing precautionary measures, and education of base personnel in preventing a potential widespread outbreak.
The HPCON B-Plus increase implements base measures that defines Read More
AFT-NM Responds to Statewide School Closures
AFT President Stephanie Ly
AFT News:
Albuquerque – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico (AFT) President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:
“The announcement of temporary statewide school closures from March 16 through April 6 is a prudent decision for the health and welfare of our students, families, and education professionals across New Mexico. Worldwide data shows that proactive decisions such as mass closures help to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“Gov. Lujan Grisham and the leadership of the New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) will be issuing additional Read More
NDI New Mexico Postpones March Performances
NDI News:
SANTA FE — At this time New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in New Mexico.
So due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, NDI New Mexico has postponed all March performances and rehearsals of “Think! A Math Magical Journey”.
Our shared priority is prevention of the spread of the virus in our facilities and programs, and the health and safety of our students, families and staff. We are staying informed and following the public health recommendations of our city, state, and federal agencies.
Performance and class schedules are being Read More
Secretary Of State’s Office Will Limit In-Person Services In Response To COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Following Gov. Lujan Grisham’s declaration of a public health emergency last week due to reported COVID-19 cases in New Mexico, the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office will until further notice suspend all in-person services with the exception of in-person activities related to public financing, candidate filing, and apostilles, which will require immediate processing.
All other services the Office provides will be available online or by telephone. This suspension of in-person services applies to both the Secretary Read More
Public Regulation Commission Initiates Teleworking
PRC News:
SANTA FE — Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the following procedures for filings with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) Records Management Bureau shall take place beginning today, March 16:
All filings are requested to be sent in .pdf format, with electronic signatures, to the NMPRC Records Management Bureau’s email address at: prc.records@state.nm.us within regular business hours of the due date, in order to be considered timely filed.
Documents received after regular business hours, will be considered as being filed the next business day. Regular business Read More
NMDWS: Information For Workers Affected By COVID-19
Secretary Bill McCamley
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE – Secretary Bill McCamley of the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) announced Friday he will be filing an emergency provision to the Unemployment Insurance (UI) rules waiving the work search requirement for affected workers who have lost their job or have had a reduction in hours due to COVID-19.
The closure of businesses, cancellation of events, and the prohibition of large gatherings may result in individuals being dismissed or suspended from work through no fault of their own; certain workers may be eligible for unemployment
New Mexico Congressional Delegation: CDC To Distribute $6 Million In Emergency Funds To State
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) and Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.) have announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plans to distribute more than $6 million to New Mexico.
This is part of the funding allocated by the bipartisan, bicameral, coronavirus emergency supplemental Appropriations bill to states, localities, territories and Tribes.
New Mexico will receive $5,974,364 for the CDC Public Health Crisis Cooperative Read More
