Public Safety - Los Alamos Daily Post

Udall Gives Sepich Family Signed ‘Katie’s Law’ Legislation

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 27, 2013

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall in his Washington, D.C. office Tuesday with the family of murdered NMSU student Katie Sepich. Courtesy/Tom Udall’s Office

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall welcomed the Sepich family to his Washington office Tuesday to present them with signed copies of the Katie Sepich Enhanced DNA Collection Act of 2012, the federal legislation President Obama recently signed into law.

Udall met with Jayann and Dave Sepich and their two children to give them copies of the legislation and praise their efforts to expand “Katie’s

Udall: NM to Receive $7.2 Million Reimbursement for Fire Fighting Efforts

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2013

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is providing more than $7.2 million to New Mexico for the state’s recent fire suppression efforts in the 2011 Track and Donaldson fires.

“As New Mexico faces this ongoing drought, we are preparing for another potentially dangerous fire season,” Udall said. “These federal grants are critical in ensuring that our state has the resources it needs to combat the wildfires that threaten our homes and ways of life.”

The Forestry

Fuel Tanker Accident Cleanup Continues on U.S. 84/285 at N.M. 599

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2013

NMDOT News:

SANTA FE – Western Refining and its environmental cleanup contractor, D&H Pump, are continuing to work to clean up an estimated 1,600 gallons of gasoline that were spilled from a Western Refining fuel tanker that jackknifed and ruptured on U.S. 84/285 at the N.M. 599 exit Sunday evening.

The right northbound lane and the right southbound lane of U.S. 84/285 were closed as of 11 a.m. today, Feb. 26.

Traffic was delayed Sunday evening as first responders worked to contain the spill. Motorists are advised that the cleanup work could take several days.

The New Mexico Environment Department’s Read More

I-40 Reopened in New Mexico, Closed in Texas

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2013

NMDOT News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico State Police have reopened Interstate 40 in New Mexico to the Texas border.

However, I-40 is closed on the Texas side from Amarillo to Sayre. When motorists reach the border, Texas authorities will escort them in caravans to Amarillo.

Once in Amarillo, motorists will have to continue north or south until I-40 eastbound is reopened.

To monitor the situation on the Texas Department of Transportation’s website, visit https:////www.txdot.gov

Fines Dropped: LANL 6 Given Community Service

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on February 26, 2013

LANL 6 protestors Cathie Sullivan, Wind Euler, Janet Greenwald, Benjamin (Summer) Abbott, Barbara Grothus and Pam Gilchrist. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

LANL 6 News:

The six anti-nuclear activists who went before Judge Alan Kirk in Los Alamos Municipal Court last month have been granted their request to perform community service in lieu of paying fines.

The LANL 6, as they became known, were arrested during a Hiroshima-Day protest at Las Alamos National Laboratory Aug. 6, 2012,

The defendants spoke during their Jan. 9 court appearance about