Harris: Exempting All Social Security Income From Tax Won’t Help Seniors Who Need It Most
By FRED HARRIS
Board Member
New Mexico Voices for Children
Former U.S. Senator
Social Security has done a remarkable job keeping the vast majority of seniors out of poverty. Those seniors who still live in poverty should receive more help from the federal and state governments. But exempting all Social Security income from taxation won’t deliver one penny of help to our low-income seniors. What it will mean is the state will have less money to support the programs and services that matter most to our communities.
Most seniors earning low incomes – and even many earning middle incomes – are already Read More
McQuiston: Preventing The Risk Of Distracted Driving
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Agency
Serving Los Alamos since 1963
Distracted driving is something that some of us forget to think twice about.
Consider your daily commute or your weekly trip to the grocery store. These are routes you have taken so often and are comfortable with. You probably change the station on the radio or take a drink of your coffee.
In the split second, you are performing these tasks, you are taking your eyes off the road and hands off of the wheel, creating the potential for an accident.
According to the CDC, nine people are killed and thousands are injured every day in driver distracted Read More
Liddie’s Traditional New Mexican Dishes: Churros/Chocolate
Churros with a Chocolate Pot. Photo by Liddle Martinez
By LIDDIE MARTINEZ
Española Valley
With both Super Bowl Sunday and Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I thought it would be a good time to talk about a fast and easy snack that is often enjoyed at carnivals, theme parks and fairs but could just as easily be made in your kitchen. Churros are a special treat that you likely won’t be eating very often but, for special occasions, they are a sweet reminder of our blended history.
Chocolate, as we have talked about a number of times, is an ancient food that was grown and cultivated in the southern regions of Read More
Ringside Seat: Storefront Lenders Lose Battle; War Over 175 Percent Interest Rates Goes On
Rep. Micaela Cadena
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Storefront loan companies that charge impoverished people annual interest rates as high as 175 percent aren’t out of business yet.
But they lost a crucial round Wednesday when the House Judiciary Committee voted 7-5 to cap interest and fees at 36 percent.
Acting at the behest of storefront lenders, the same committee last year rewrote a reform bill to allow 99 percent rates. That measure died, enabling the industry to continue charging its staggering 175 percent interest rate.
All seven supporters of the 36 percent cap are Democrats. Read More
Ringside Seat: High Noon At The Capitol On Predatory Lending
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
It’s showdown time in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Rich out-of-state corporations are in one corner. Dirt-poor New Mexicans occupy the other.
It’s no contest as to which side has had the political advantage. Many House members have cared more about appeasing a predatory industry than helping their neediest constituents.
Storefront lenders in New Mexico are legally permitted to charge an annual interest rate of up to 175 percent. It’s a staggering figure that can trap low-income people in debt Read More
Gisler: Light Pollution And Upcoming Review Of Los Alamos County’s Lighting Ordinance Draft
By GALEN GISLER
Los Alamos
An editorial in the Jan. 24, 2022 issue of the Santa Fe New Mexican, “Dark skies are another draw for New Mexico” points out that the dark skies we enjoy here are a benefit to tourism as well as to the well-being of wildlife, human health, and calming the soul. Seven International Dark Sky Parks are in our state, the newest being the Valles Caldera National Preserve, which achieved that prestigious status in 2021.
Unfortunately, most people in the world do not enjoy dark night-time skies and can see at most a handful of stars on a moonless night. With advances in lighting technology, Read More
Taos Winter Sports Team (TWST) At Purgatory Mountain Resort For Southern Series Season Opener
TWST coaches and athletes take a minute to pose for a team photo op after the SG at Purgatory Mountain Resort. From left, Josh Willette, Isaac Olson, Aksel Boukhalfa, Max Oliver, Rowan Heflin, Cullen McLean, Solana Pearl, Joseph Gallegos, Julian LaCome, Greta Klinkmann, Josephine Leeson, Ian Olson and Konik Pearl. Courtesy/Paula Knepper
By PAULA KNEPPER
Taos Winter Sports Team (TWST)
The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) Southern Series of the Rocky Mountain division ski racing season opened Jan. 22, at Purgatory Mountain Resort with a speedy day of Super Giant Slalom (SG or super-G) Read More
