Los Alamos Hilltopper Wrestling Team Captures District Title!
The Los Alamos Hilltopper Wrestling team captured the district title Saturday at Bernalillo. LAHS Athletic Director and Regional Representative Vicki Nelms, right, with LAHS Wrestling teams seniors from left, Chandler Lauritzen, Brian Geyer and Morgan Irish receiving the District Trophy for the third consecutive year – a highlight to a rough season for the seniors. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
From left, Jonathan Schueler, Brian Geyer, Dominic Montoya and Lane Saunders pose with LAHS Wrestling Head Coach Bob Geyer as they glory in their ‘three-peat’ win Saturday. Read More
Tom Church Confirmed as NMDOT Cabinet Secretary
Tom Church
STATE News:
SANTA FE–The State Senate unanimously confirmed Tom Church Friday as the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Church was appointed as Cabinet Secretary-Designate by Gov. Susana Martinez in April 2013.
Church has extensive experience in the NMDOT. The many roles he’s served in at the department include chief of staff, deputy secretary of business and financial operations, deputy director of administrative services and quality management bureau chief.
“Secretary Church has demonstrated his knowledge and expertise in the transportation Read More
Officials Comment on Radiation at Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Operators prepare drums of contact-handled transuranic waste for loading into transportation containers. Courtesy/energy.gov
STATE News:
CARLSBAD—U.S Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich issued the following statement after an air monitor detected higher than usual radiation levels around 11:30 p.m. Friday on the underground levels of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in Carlsbad:
“We are in close contact with officials at the Department of Energy and WIPP, and we will continue to monitor the situation as more information becomes available. The safety of WIPP personnel Read More
House Highlights from Saturday, Feb. 15
STATE News:
House Highlights from Saturday, Feb. 15:
On the Floor
● House Bill 330, Diploma Seal of Bilingualism sponsored by House Majority Leader Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo-11), has passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 67-0. HB 330 provides for a State Seal of Bilingualism-Biliteracy on New Mexico Diplomas of Excellence for graduates who are proficient in speaking and writing a language other than English. HB 330 requires the Public Education Department to adopt rules to establish criteria for students to earn the state seal of bilingualism-biliteracy. It now heads to the Senate. Read More
Rural Communities Awarded Federal Aid for Police Vehicles, Water Well and Sewer Line Upgrades
USDA News:
Announcement made during visit by federal official from Washington
ALBUQUERQUE–USDA Deputy Under Sec. Doug O’Brien and State Director Terry Brunner announced the award of loans and grants to help two rural New Mexico communities make public safety and infrastructure improvements.
“This funding will help finance projects that are good examples of how USDA Rural Development is committed to making the lives of rural New Mexicans much better through the various programs we have to offer,” O’Brien said.
Rural Development has approved a $28,000 loan and $29,000 grant to help the town Read More
Woman Embedded with Military Units in Afghanistan Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
Farida Yusufi
SHERMAN, TEXAS—A 39-year-old McKinney, Texas woman has pleaded guilty to federal violations stemming from her employment as a translator embedded with several U.S. military units in Afghanistan, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales of the Eastern District of Texas and U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
Farida Yusufi, a U.S. citizen of Afghan origin, pleaded guilty to eight counts of a nine-count indictment, unsealed in August 2013, Friday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant. Specifically, Yusufi pleaded guilty to five counts of making Read More
Gorden Eden, Jr. Tapped for Albuquerque Police Chief
Gorden Eden, Jr.
SANTA FE—New Mexico Department of Public Safety (NMDPS) Cabinet Secretary Gorden Eden, Jr. has been selected to serve as the new chief of the Albuquerque Police Department.
Eden Jr.’s long public service career began as a New Mexico State Police officer and included assignments in the Office of the Chief and the Training and Recruiting Division.
Under the Department of Public Safety, he oversaw the Advanced Training Bureau until he was recruited by Northwestern University, Chicago IL, to serve as the director of its prestigious School of Police Staff and Command, where he Read More
Stand Up Against Violence Toward Women
‘I want to see a world where those who commit gender crimes are treated with outrage while those who survive are treated with empathy and respect. I want a world where the media and social norms reinforce how wrong it is for a man to take advantage of a woman’s space, mind or body. Where boys and men are taught to behave and stand up for their sisters, friends and partners, and girls/women are taught that they can go where they want, wear what they want and be who they are without fear of attracting the ‘wrong kind of attention.’ I want a world where all creatures on this planet are respected, Read More
IRS Tips for Faster Answers to Typical Questions
IRS News:
PHOENIX—The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers the Presidents Day holiday period typically marks one of the busiest weeks of the tax filing season for its phone lines. There are other alternatives to help taxpayers find answers to commonly asked tax questions.
The IRS has several easy-to-use, online tools on IRS.gov. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund, request a copy of their tax transcript or get an answer to their tax questions around the clock.
“The entire week of the Presidents Day holiday marks a peak time in the number of calls to the IRS, and we encourage taxpayers Read More
State Fair Director Avoids Subpoena
Dan Mourning. YouTube PrintScreen/Rob Nikolewski
STATE News:
SANTA FE–New Mexico State Fair Director Dan Mourning avoided a threatened subpoena from Senate Rules Committee (SRC) Chair Linda M. Lopez, D-Bernalillo, by showing up to a Thursday morning hearing.
After a string of absences, Mourning finally spoke about State Fair business, specifically the ongoing issue of the controversial racetrack and casino lease awarded to the Downs at Albuquerque.
Two previous SRC hearings left glaring gaps of information about the State Fairgrounds after senators heard previous testimony Read More
