NM Congressional Delegation Calls For Increased Oversight of State’s Human Services Department; Greater Access To Behavioral Health Services
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham wrote a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell requesting increased oversight of New Mexico Human Services Department to ensure New Mexicans in greatest need of behavioral health services are able to access care.
In 2013, HSD suspended Medicaid payments to 15 nonprofit behavioral health providers due to so-called “credible allegations of fraud.” This led Read More
Military & Veterans Day at the State Fair News
NMDVS News:
Veterans’ Service Organizations, service providers, agencies and others who wish to be a part of the 2014 Military & Veterans Appreciation Day at the State Fair are invited to attend a meeting at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13 at American Legion Post 13, 1201 Mountain Road NE in Albuquerque.
The meeting will be conducted by the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) and New Mexico State Fair—the two agencies along with the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs, which annually present the tribute at the state fair honoring the men and women of our military.
The purpose Read More
Toddler May Be Ebola Outbreak’s Patient Zero
The area of the initial locations of the Ebola virus outbreak is highlighted in red. The main road between the outbreak area and Conakry, the capital of Guinea, also is shown. The map was modified from a United Nations map. Courtesy/NEJM
HSNW News:
A recent report on the Ebola outbreak suggests that a two-year-old boy who died Dec. 6, 2013 in a village in Guéckédou, Guinea might be the virus’s Patient Zero.
Guéckédou borders Sierra Leone and Liberia, where Ebola has infected more than 1,700 people.
According to the study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and reported Read More
American Actor/Comedian Robin Williams Has Died
Robin Williams 1951-2014. Courtesy/robinwilliams.com
Staff Report:
Actor and comedian Robin Williams died Monday in an apparent suicide. He was 63 and according to authorities, had been battling severe depression for some time.
Williams rose to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy. He went on to establish a successful career in both stand-up comedy and feature film acting and earned an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Good Will Hunting.
Born: July 21, 1951, Chicago, IL
Died: Aug. 11, 2014, Tiburon, Calif.
Children: Zelda Rae Williams, Cody Read More
FDA Authorizes Use of Unapproved Ebola Virus Test
2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa – Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Courtesy/CDC
HSNW News:
As Ebola continues to spread throughout West Africa, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of an unapproved Ebola virus test developed by the Department of Defense for use in individuals, including U.S. military personnel and responders, who may be at risk of infection because of their work with individuals who might have the virus.
“Specifically, the test is intended for use in individuals with signs and symptoms of infection with Ebola Zaire virus, who are Read More
Congressional Delegation Joins Interior Secretary to Announce Completion of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge
Senators Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich and Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham join Interior Secretary Sally Jewell Friday to announce the completion of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge. Courtesy photo
NM CONGRESSIONAL News:
ALBUQUERQUE – Friday U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham stood with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to announce that a diverse group of federal, state, and local partners and conservation groups have acquired the lands needed to complete the 570-acre Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, the Southwest’s first urban national Read More
Heinrich Travels Across State Discussing Economy, Energy, WIPP, Veterans Health Care
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
STATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. will travel to Santa Fe, Eddy, and Lea Counties Monday, Aug. 11 and Tuesday, Aug. 12.
He will deliver opening remarks Monday at a public meeting in Santa Fe with Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to receive stakeholder input to the Quadrennial Energy Review, an administration-wide effort to make recommendations regarding key infrastructure needed for transmission, storage and distribution of energy.
The meeting, hosted
DOE’s Lab Accreditation Program Assesses WIPP
WIPP News:
The U.S. Department of Energy Laboratory Accreditation Program (DOELAP) recently conducted an assessment of the WIPP external dosimetry program.
The external dosimetry program is responsible for measuring and tracking external dose received from ionizing radiation. The purpose of the assessment was to assure routine practices comply with required criteria set forth by DOELAP. The three main kinds of ionizing radiation are alpha particles (internal hazard), beta particles and gamma rays.
The overall assessment resulted in no deficiencies, three concerns and four observations, Read More
LAMS Students Landcape School Through Keep New Mexico Beautiful Grant
Web Crew leaders prepare planters for new plants donated from Keep New Mexico Beautiful. Photo by Bernadette LauritzenKeep New Mexico Beautiful has granted Los Alamos Middle School with several opportunities to enhance education and landscaping for the new school year.
The first grant project involves adding plants around the school exterior and conducting a campus clean up prior to the start of school.
“The plants that will be added to the front of the school and other locations around the site will help create a beautiful site,” LAMS Principal Rex Kilburn Read More
Udall, Energy Secretary Discuss Technology Transfer and Economic Development Aug. 11
U.S. SENATE News:
