New Mexico Environment Department Secures Funding For Mobile Air Monitoring Lab From Legal Settlement
NMED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is enhancing its ability to monitor air quality with a new mobile air monitoring lab, funded by a $500,000 legal settlement between conservation group WildEarth Guardians and OXY USA Inc., one of the largest oil and gas producers in the country.
The funding will allow NMED to purchase the lab, equip it with supplies, and cover start-up costs, including personnel and operational needs.
The mobile lab will be able to test air quality and weather conditions in real time in the Permian Basin, a region that produces nearly 40% of the Read More
State Treasurer: Let’s Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is!
By LAURA M. MONTOYA
New Mexico State Treasurer
My journey is similar to many other New Mexicans’ in that it took a lot of hard work, hope, resilience, community, and prayer to keep pushing forward to work towards something better for me and my family.
Dreams were the hope that helped drive the determination to keep pushing forward, but survival was always at the forefront of every decision and job I undertook. Financial struggle, living paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet — a typical New Mexico story. Add limited resources, knowledge and opportunity, and you have an equation for failure or extreme Read More
Medicaid Provider Rates Increase In 2025
Health Care Authority News:
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- Some services raised to 150% of Medicare rates
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SANTA FE – The Health Care Authority (HCA) announced today that some Medicaid provider rates increased effective Jan. 1, as part of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s ongoing efforts to strengthen health care access across the state.
The adjustments aim to support providers delivering services to Medicaid patients.
“This increase is an important step in building a stronger partnership with health care providers who serve Medicaid members,” Medicaid Director Dana Flannery said. “By investing in our providers, we are Read More
Taiji Classes Begin Feb. 8 At Unitarian Church
NMSP: Man Shot After Argument At Family Health Center
NMSP News:
New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau agents were called Dec. 30, 2024, to 1302 East Main Street, Quay County Family Health Center in Tucumcari, to investigate a shooting.
Agents learned that around 4:10 p.m., a call came into 911 where a female stated her husband was shot. Investigators learned that Anthony Kent, 56, was arguing with another male in the parking lot of the health center when the argument escalated.
At some point during the argument, Kent brandished a firearm and discharged multiple rounds. The male’s wife exited the health center after hearing the Read More
New Year’s Resolution: Help Others Thrive In 2025 … Give Blood!
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Los Alamos
How would you like to have a New Year’s Resolution that could be accomplished in a brief period, just once or even a few times a year? If the idea is new to you, try it just once and if you like it, feel free to set your own goal. Oh, and did I mention it just might save a life?
You can help someone thrive in 2025 and help a non-profit organization save lives for people in the process. The nonprofit is Vitalant, and the goal is donating blood. Did you know in January of 2024 there was a total of 180 donations in our community? They hope to beat that goal in the new year, even by one Read More
New Documents On Review Of Chromium Interim Measures Remediation System In Mortandad Canyon Added To LANL Electronic Public Reading Room
LANL News:
Per regulatory requirements, new documents have been added to the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room.
All legacy cleanup documents required to be posted after April 30, 2018, are available on the site linked above.
For legacy cleanup documents that were posted prior to April 30, 2018, visit the LANL electronic public reading room.
In March 2024, EM-LA and NMED convened a team of experts from the Network of National Laboratories for Environmental Management and Stewardship, industry, academia, and EPA Region 6 to perform a technical review of actions Read More
County Shares Respiratory Virus Guidance Snapshot
Dannemann: Consumer Protection On The Line
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
The patient was all set for surgery. The insurance company had approved the surgery and the patient was in the hospital’s administrative office to settle last-minute details. Two days before the surgery was scheduled, the hospital received a notice from the insurance company that the claim was denied. The patient, panicked, contacted the insurance company and was told, “Well, you can always pay cash.”
This story was told in several reports I heard on NPR. At least one version was recounted by the patient herself, which Read More
Supreme Court Justice And District Judge: Healthy Communities Are Rooted In Meaningful Access To Affordable Civil Legal Services
Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon
By New Mexico Supreme Court Justice C. Shannon Bacon
and District Judge Erin B. O’Connell, chair of the New Mexico Commission on Access to Justice
Three out of four low-income households in New Mexico struggle with legal issues impacting basic needs like housing, financial stability, access to social and medical benefits.
New Mexico’s civil legal service providers handle thousands of cases every year, but a lack of capacity caused them to turn away more than half of the people seeking help last year.
The New Mexico Commission on Access to Justice works Read More
Los Alamos High School Key Club Members Spread Holiday Joy At CYFD’s 2024 Foster Children Christmas Party
Deborah Brug, Jonathon Chen, Rafaela Rocha, and Lucia Rudin prepare to load the school Suburban with cotton candy machinery. Jonathon Chen and Deborah Brug spin cotton candy for guests. Photo by Morrie Pongratz
Jonathon Chen and Deborah Brug spin cotton candy for guests. Photo by Morrie Pongratz
Kiwanis Key Club News:
What does a Los Alamos High School (LAHS) student do after finishing final exams? For five Key Clubbers, the answer was simple – help bring holiday cheer to foster children.
Last Friday, Key Club members volunteered at the Foster Children Christmas Party hosted by the Read More
Homewise Given Transformative Investment Totaling $35M
HOMEWISE News:
Homewise has announced a transformative investment totaling $35 million with a $25 million donation from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving and a $10 million impact investment from the Anchorum Health Foundation.
These extraordinary contributions will directly fund programs that create pathways to affordable homeownership and improve energy efficiency in homes. None of the funding will be allocated to operational costs, ensuring that every dollar is dedicated to expanding Homewise’s impact on individuals, families, and communities.
“The affordable housing crisis Read More
Sandra Salazar Hosts 5th Annual Adopt A Grandparent Event
Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant Sandra Salazar , left, is assisted by Destini Kuropatwinski of Sombrillo Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center with unloading 63 Christmas stockings Thursday and placing them under the Christmas tree for residents. Courtesy photo
Sophia Sisneros, left, assists her Aunt Sandra Salazar to deliver Christmas stockings Thursday to the residents at Sombrillo Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for her 5th Annual Adopt a Grandparent event. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
This year marks the fifth year Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant Read More
New Mexico’s 988 Lifeline Available 24/7 During Holidays
HCA News:
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- Mental health support is always available
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SANTA FE — The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) reminds residents that the 988 lifeline is available 24/7 throughout the holiday season, providing free and confidential support for anyone experiencing mental health, emotional, or substance use challenges.
“If you’re facing a difficult time, you’re not alone this holiday season,” said Kari Armijo, Secretary of the New Mexico Health Care Authority. “The 988 lifeline is available 24/7 to provide support, someone to talk to, and behavioral health resources.”
The holiday season, while Read More
Raffin: Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Dr. Celeste Raffin
Member
Los Alamos Health Council
Mr. X was a 50 something white male who worked for a prominent firm in a large Intermountain West city. He lived in an elegant old home in a very tony neighborhood.
One January morning, he came to work and told his secretary that he wasn’t feeling well. He complained of a headache, nausea, feeling dizzy and spacy. She urged him to call his doctor but by the end of the day he felt much better so he went home.
For several days, he would come to work feeling poorly but then normal by the end of the day. He thought he was fighting off a flu bug. One morning he did not Read More
Lost Your Medicare Coverage? Here’s How To Regain It!
By BEVERLY NEAL-CLINTON
Loreen and Lane Retirement Answer Agent
Los Alamos
If you’ve recently lost your Medicare coverage under Aetna, Humana 341, Presbyterian PPO, Wellcare, United CSNP, or simply due to a plan discontinuance, you may qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP), allowing you to make changes to your plan outside the regular enrollment windows. Beginning in January.
This SEP can be a lifeline for those who’ve experienced a qualifying event such as marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse, an employer settlement payment, losing employer-based insurance, changes in income, Read More
Robinson: Faceless Flunkies Making Dangerous Decisions
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
“Live your life in such a way that half the world isn’t dancing in the streets when some hero puts you in the forever box.”
This meme, with a photo of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, isn’t circulating in public – it’s on websites for medical professionals.
Debates over Thompson’s assassination and the capture of his accused killer are still blazing on social media and even at Christmas parties and show no sign of letting up. The consensus is the shooting reveals a seething anger against health insurers, although most of us stop Read More
U.S. Senate Passes Luján-Collins Bill To Protect Native American Children Against Abuse And Neglect
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed the Native American Child Protection Act (NACPA), legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).
The bill reauthorizes and reforms three programs that ensure Tribes have the tools needed to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute Native American child abuse and neglect. U.S. Representative Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) introduced the House companion bill.
These programs were originally authorized in 1990 as part of the Indian Read More
COVID-19 & RSV Present In Los Alamos County Wastewater
COUNTY News:
Recent data from the CDC National Wastewater Surveillance System indicates very high COVID-19 activity in New Mexico, based on wastewater samples collected from Santa Fe and Bernalillo counties between Dec. 1 and Dec. 7.
In Los Alamos County, BioBot Analytics data shows COVID-19 concentrations in the Los Alamos townsite wastewater decreased from 10 million copies per liter (copies/L) on Dec. 3 to 5 million copies/L on Dec. 10. Similarly, White Rock wastewater concentrations dropped from 6.3 million copies/L on Nov. 26 to 5.7 million copies/L on Dec. 9. These represent the Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Urges Senate Leadership To Help Lower Rx Costs And Save Rural Pharmacies
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) is urging Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to rein in damaging pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices that hurt patients and pharmacies.
PBMs are intermediaries that negotiate and manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurance companies, self-insured employers, and government programs.
Currently, three PBMs control nearly 80 percent of the prescription drug market and operate with little oversight by federal regulators Read More
