U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Applauds Final Passage Of Historic Veterans Health Care Bill
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, spoke at a press conference after the Senate voted 86 to 11 on the final passage of the bipartisan SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The legislation now goes to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
WATCH: Heinrich Speaks At Honoring Our PACT Act Final Passage Press Conference
Heinrich thanked all of the veterans, families, and organizations who Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill To Eliminate Copays For Veterans Accessing Contraception
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), joined a bipartisan group of senators to introduce the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act to eliminate copayments for contraception covered by VA.
“All veterans should be able to easily access the essential care and benefits they deserve, including contraception,” Heinrich said. “Eliminating these co-payments will close an unfair loophole and ensure that women veterans enrolled in the Read More
New Mexico’s Nationally Leading Oil And Gas Emissions Rule Becomes Law Aug. 5, 2022
Environment Department Secretary James Kenney
STATE News:
SANTA FE — A nationally leading rule over the oil and gas industry that will cut harmful air emissions by 260 million pounds is now state law – a fulfillment of one of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s first commitments made in office.
The rule, which was developed with input from more than 520 stakeholders representing industry, environmental groups and the public, was published in the state register this week.
The rule will go into effect Aug. 5, 2022.
The new rule embraces innovation and is more protective of public health and the environment Read More
Luján On Final Senate Passage Of PACT Act For Veterans
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement Tuesday on final passage of the PACT Act, a vital piece of legislation that will provide 3.5 million veterans health care coverage for treating toxin-exposure related health injuries.
After signed into law, the PACT Act will fund health care and specialized medical treatments for veterans who’ve been exposed to toxic chemicals from burn-pits during their time of service.
“Today, America witnessed the sheer determination and payoff of our veterans and Senate Democrats’ Read More
Senate Kills VA Plan To Close CBOCs Nationwide
Courtesy/DVS
DVS News:
New Mexico Department of Veterans Services (DVS) Cabinet Secretary Sonya Smith is praising the bipartisan decision of 12 U.S. Senators to not support a plan by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to close more than 30 VA medical centers, and 172 clinics across the country—including five here in New Mexico.
The formal voice of non-support June 27 has effectively killed the plan by halting confirmation hearings, before they even started, for nominees to serve on VA’s nine-member Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) Commission.
The commission, formed by Read More
LAPS Names Caron Inglis District Healthy Schools Director
Healthy Schools Director Caron Inglis
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) has named Caron Inglis as the new Healthy Schools Director for the district.
The Healthy Schools program was started in 2016 and aims to support the well-being of all LAPS students and staff by fostering strong relationships, creating safe environments, and developing skills to provide the foundation for effective teaching and learning.
“Over the course of the last six years, the Healthy Schools program has been successful in making wellness an integral part of Los Alamos Public Schools,” Inglis said. “I am Read More
Heinrich Introduces Legislation To Address Mental Health Care Provider Shortages And Improve Access To Services At Community Health Centers
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced the Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act, legislation to address the severe mental health care provider shortages and improve access to affordable services at community health centers.
The bill would provide new incentives to help bolster the mental health workforce, and establish a new program that would provide federal grants to community health centers to help them recruit, hire, and employ qualified mental health professionals who are fluent in a language other Read More
On The Job In Los Alamos: Dr. Angela Bratton
On the job in Los Alamos Monday is Dr. Angela Bratton of Eye Associates of New Mexico. Dr. Bratton graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and has been practicing for 28 years. Eye Associates of New Mexico opened in 2002 at 1623 Central Ave. For information, call 505.662.5444. #worklosalamos #wherediscoveriesaremade. Photo by Jenn Bartram/ladailypost.com Read More
ECECD Invests $4.3 Million To Stabilize And Support Vital Early Childhood Services
ECECD News:
SANTA FE — Wednesday, the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD) announced that it has issued another round of one-time payments to recognize the early intervention and home visiting professionals who continued serving young children and families throughout the pandemic.
This new round of payments also included stabilization grants to the businesses throughout New Mexico that provide early intervention and home visiting, as well as payments directly to families enrolled in ECECD’s Home Visiting program.
“New Mexico’s early childhood system is Read More
Los Alamos COVID Impact: 50 New Cases For Week Ending Aug. 1, 2022
Los Alamos COVID-19 Impact:
COVID-19 statistics for the week ending Aug. 1, 2022 impacting Los Alamos County:
-
364 tests
- 50 diagnoses (41 in Los Alamos, 9 in White Rock)
- 1 death
Source: New Mexico Department of Health. By Eli Ben-Naim.
County: Summary Of Findings For Community Services Master Plan Survey Meeting Rescheduled To Aug. 3
COUNTY News:
The Community Services Department would like to invite the community to a rescheduled Zoom meeting, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 3 that will focus on the summary findings of the community survey completed in May.
The Los Alamos County Community Services Department has been working with a professional consulting team to assist with the development of an Integrated Community Services Master Plan, that will help identify and assess existing programs, services, facilities, gaps and look at future needs within the community.
Zoom meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83101896726 Read More
Highlands University Launches Mental Health Initiative
Leon Bustos
NMHU News:
With funding from the New Mexico Department of Higher Education, New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) is implementing a pilot program to support student wellness.
Across the United States, mental health challenges in college students have been steadily increasing. The pandemic has only compounded those challenges, and students at Highlands University are no exception.
To complicate things further, the recent Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon fires have added to student stress on campus. To help alleviate some of these stressors, Highlands is implementing a pilot Read More
Chart 665: Currently The Leading State, New Mexico Now Top 5 In Cumulative Covid-19 Related Deaths
This map shows the cumulative number of deaths per 100,000 by state. The top five states are displayed in red, and the bottom five states are displayed in yellow. New Mexico, which is currently leading the United States in COVID-19 related deaths, ranks fifth in cumulative COVID-19 related deaths. In the earlier stages of the pandemic, New Mexico was close to the median. Source: New York Times. Map: mapchart.net. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
Community Briefed On Latest COVID-19 Status
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The reported COVID-19 cases from PCR and laboratory tests in Los Alamos County have declined, retired Epidemiologist William Athas said during the community briefing Thursday night, hosted by Los Alamos County.
He said on average, the reported cases total 7-8 per day. This contrasts to mid-June when there were 30 cases a day, Athas said.
“The trend at least appears to be coming down, which is good,” he said.
The trouble is COVID is hard to predict and control, Athas said, adding that this is not just about infections. the Department Read More
Gruninger: Yoga Philosophy – The Gunas
By JACCI GRUNINGER, MS, C-IAYT
Los Alamos
No, I’m not talking about the Goonies movie, which was a classic and major stepping stone for many of today’s more famous actors. And, when we explore the gunas and the concept of energy, the movie could even be broken down into the various components you’ll find in today’s article.
The gunas are three types of energy and come from Sankhya philosophy. Guna translates as thread or quality. Think of threading (sewing) things together. The three gunas are present in everything, including ourselves. They are qualities that are found in everything.
A desk, Read More
Masks Are Still Required At Los Alamos Medical Center
Courtesy/LAMC
LAMC News:
While the mask mandate has been lifted in most indoor settings in the state of New Mexico, Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) still requires that a mask be worn by all employees, providers, patients and visitors while in the facility.
LAMC would like to thank the public for helping to keep the hospital safe for all! Read More
Ariel Posen Performs At Summer Concert At Pond Tonight!
Courtesy/Sancre Productions
Courtesy/Sancre Productions
Summer Concert News:
Tonight the Los Alamos Medical Center sponsors the Los Alamos debut performance of Ariel Posen at the Los Alamos Summer Concert Series at Ashley Pond Park.
Posen’s music occupies the space between genres. It’s a rootsy sound that nods to his influences — heartland rock & roll, electrified Americana, blue-eyed soul, R&B, Beatles-inspired pop — while still moving forward, pushing Posen into territory that’s uniquely his own.
After earning international acclaim (as well as a Western Canadian Music Read More
New Mexico Highlands University Houses Wildfire Evacuees
NMHU News:
When the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Wildfires began, New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) stepped in to help.
Kathryn Mahan, the ecological monitoring program manager for the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute at Highlands University, has been splitting her time between Kansas and her home in Las Dispensas.
Mahan said she was in Kansas in early April and in the middle of packing up her belongings and her young daughter to head to her home in Las Dispensas when she got word that her house had burned to the ground. She soon learned that her home was the first Read More
Chart 664: Los Alamos Marks 19th COVID Related Death
This chart displays the cumulative number of COVID-19 related deaths in Los Alamos versus date. New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports the 19th death since the start of the pandemic in Los Alamos County. Source: NMDOH. Created by Eli Ben-NaimGovernor Breaks Ground On New Mexico State Veterans’ Home In Truth Or Consequences
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham with veterans Tuesday breaking ground on new residences at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences. Courtesy photo
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks with a veteran Tuesday during the ground breaking event for new residences at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
Truth or Consequences — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined New Mexico veterans Tuesday to break ground on new residences at the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences, fulfilling her pledge to build new state-of-the-art Read More
