Employment

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján Presses Budget Office Nominee On Firing FBI Victim Specialist, Attacks On Social Security

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Sen. Ben Ray Luján helped lead opposition to Project 2025. Courtesy photo

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of Senate Committee on the Budget, pressed Dan Bishop, the nominee to be Deputy Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), on firing career civil servants and Elon Musk’s attacks on Social Security following President Trump’s Tuesday night Joint Address to Congress.

Luján shared the story on behalf of a New Mexican who was fired as an FBI victim specialist, saying, “I am not waste, fraud, and abuse. I am not the enemy. I’m not expendable. Read More

Senate Confirms Heather Jordan As Director For New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration

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Heather Jordan

STATE News:

SANTA FE — Today, the New Mexico Senate confirmed Heather Jordan as the director for the New Mexico Workers’ Compensation Administration (WCA).

“Director Jordan is a dedicated public servant with decades of experience leading teams and prioritizing New Mexico’s needs. Her background in the workers’ compensation industry ensures a smooth transition as she takes on the leadership of the Workers’ Compensation Administration,” said Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics, who sponsored Jordan.

“I am truly honored to lead the Workers’ Compensation Administration and Read More

On The Job In Los Alamos: Anita Barela

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On the job in Los Alamos Monday afternoon is new Economic Development Program Manager Anita Barela visiting the Los Alamos Daily Post. Barela began her new position one week ago and is tasked with driving economic growth, supporting business retention and attraction, and fostering small business development within the community. Originally established by Los Alamos County Council several years ago, Barela’s position is designed to provide dedicated support to the County’s small business community. She can be reached at anita.barela@lacnm.us or 505.662.8006. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Northern New Mexico Youth Fund Launches To Support Underserved Youth; Strengthen Career Pathways

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LANL Foundation News:

ESPAÑOLA — The Northern New Mexico Pathways to Opportunity Strategy Table has announced a groundbreaking new initiative to support organizations serving young people in Northern New Mexico – The Northern New Mexico Youth Fund. 

The first pooled fund of its kind in the region, the Youth Fund brings together philanthropic, state, tribal, and federal funding to support innovative Career Technical Education (CTE) and Work-Based Learning (WBL) projects for youth ages 13 to 29 so they have the connections, confidence, and opportunities they need to succeed. The Read More

New Mexico Paid Family And Medical Leave Bill Passes House Of Representatives, Heads To Senate

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Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, debates House Bill 11 on the House floor at the state Capitol Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Photo by Michael G. Seamans/The New Mexican

By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican

A revamped but still highly controversial proposal to provide paid family and medical leave to New Mexicans is heading to the state Senate after winning approval Friday from the state House of Representatives.

The passage of House Bill 11 marks a major win for supporters of the measure after a yearslong effort to offer paid leave to working families in the state failed to pass the chamber Read More

LAMC’s 2025 Daisy Award Honoree Is Kathy Semelsburger

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Los Alamos Medical Center’s Kathy Semelsburger, RN, left, is the 2025 Daisy Award Honoree shown here Wednesday morning receiving her award from LAMC’s Director of Surgical Services James Maxey, RN. She is honored, ‘In deep appreciation of all you do, who you are, and the incredibly meaningful difference you make in the lives of so many people.’ Semelsburger is the Charge Nurse in the Ambulatory Treatment Unit (ATU). She has worked in the ATU for 23 years and at LAMC for 24 years. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Medical Center CEO Tracie Stratton, second from left, together with Read More

Jennifer Armstrong Joins Los Alamos MainStreet Team As Communications Manager

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Jennifer Armstrong. Courtesy/LAMSCD

MAINSTREET News:

Los Alamos MainStreet & Creative District (LAMSCD), a division of Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation (LACDC), announces the hiring of a new staff member, Jennifer Armstrong.

Armstrong has been working with LACDC since June 2024 as the Ambassador Program Manager under Visit Los Alamos. In December, she expanded her role with the company by joining the MainStreet team as the Communications Manager.

Her focus is telling the success stories of Los Alamos MainStreet & Creative District through newsletters, impact Read More

Robinson: DOGE’s Undisciplined Flunkies Know Nothing Of Government

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By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2025 New Mexico News Services

In the who-what-when that’s the architecture of news stories, it’s usually the who that’s most important and the how that’s least important. But in recent federal firings, I find the how equally compelling.

Consider the slash and burn of Elon Musk and his DOGE groupies at the National Nuclear Security Administration, an agency of the Department of Energy.

NPR pieced together an account from interviews with fired employees. They were shut out of their email accounts before learning they were fired. Some were not notified they were Read More

NCRTD Executive Director Anthony Mortillaro To Retire

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Anthony J. Mortillaro

NCRTD News:

ESPAÑOLA — The North Central Regional Transit District (NCRTD) announces that Executive Director Anthony J. Mortillaro has informed the Board of Director’s that he will be commencing his retirement leave as of June 30, 2025, concluding a distinguished tenure marked by significant growth and innovation since the District’s inception 20 years ago.

Since joining the District in 2011, Mortillaro has been instrumental in expanding NCRTD’s services, increasing ridership, and implementing innovative transportation solutions tailored to the unique needs Read More

Bipartisan Legislation Introduced To Bring New Mexico Into Nine Major Interstate Compacts For Health Care Workers

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Fred Nathan, Jr.
Executive Director
Think New Mexico

From Think New Mexico:

A bipartisan team of 10 legislators has introduced a package of bills to bring New Mexico into the interstate compacts for physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, dentists and dental hygienists, emergency medical personnel, audiologists and speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists. (See below for a chart listing all bill numbers and sponsors.)

Joining these interstate compacts was one of the top reforms recommended by the nonpartisan think tank Think New Read More