Features

Heinrich Delivers Floor Speech Opposing Nomination Of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. For Health Secretary

by

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This afternoon, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) delivered remarks on the Senate floor amplifying the voices of New Mexicans opposing the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to be the U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services.

“I hope all of my colleagues take seriously what it would mean to confirm this anti-vaccine, anti-science snake oil salesman as our next Secretary of Health and Human Services,” said Heinrich.

Heinrich began his remarks by recounting how Mr. Kennedy’s 2019 trip to the Pacific island of Samoa intensified vaccine skepticism Read More

State Department Of Health Scientific Laboratory Confirms First Measles Case Of 2025 In New Mexico

by

NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) is alerting Lea County residents of the days, times and locations where they may have been exposed to a person with measles.

The NMDOH Scientific Laboratory has confirmed a measles infection of an unvaccinated Lea County teenager. NMDOH is working with the patient’s family, Nor-Lea Hospital and the local school district to assure all contacts are up to date with their measles vaccinations. Two doses of measles vaccine are 97% effective against disease.  

Anyone who visited these locations on these days/times may have been exposed Read More

‘Medicaid Forward’ Plan For NM Nabs Initial Approval

by

By Margaret O’Hara
The Santa Fe New Mexican

A proposal to dramatically expand state-administered health insurance coverage took a step forward Monday, after more than a year of research and public input. 

The House Health and Human Services Committee voted to advance House Bill 186, which would establish “Medicaid Forward,” greatly extending eligibility for Medicaid while capping health care premiums at 5% of a household income. 

The bill’s sponsor, House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski, D-Santa Fe, said the proposal is a “major affordability initiative” Read More

LAPS To Host Los Alamos High School 2023 Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey Findings Feb. 25 In Speech Theater

by

LAPS News:

Dr. Rebecca Kilburn, Research Professor at UNM’s Prevention Research Center and Dylan Pell, Mental Health Epidemiologist at the New Mexico Department of Health will present highlights from the Los Alamos High School 2023 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS) findings Tuesday, Feb. 25. 

The presentation is 6-7:30 p.m. in the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater. Light food and refreshments will be provided. Attendees can park either in front of the Auxiliary Gym or Duane Smith and follow signs to the location.

These discussions are designed for anyone interested in the health Read More

Paying Out-Of-Pocket: New Mexico’s Thorny Medical Malpractice System Explained

by

By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican

Dr. Debbie Vigil didn’t plan to retire in 2023.

Born and raised in Santa Fe, Vigil started practicing as an independent OB-GYN in the city in 1989, out of a desire to serve her home state.

“I was committed to the people of New Mexico,” she said. “I’m Hispanic. I speak the language. I know the culture. That was the whole reason I went into medicine.”

But Vigil said her choice to practice in New Mexico came at a cost, specifically the high cost of medical malpractice insurance in the state, which regularly runs OB-GYNs like Vigil more than $100,000 per year in Read More

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández Introduces Bipartisan Bill To Strengthen Public Safety In Indian Country

by

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM), Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the bipartisan Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act to support the recruitment and retention of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) law enforcement officers, bolster federal missing persons resources, and give Tribes and states tools to combat violence.

U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced Read More

Local Mother And Daughter Need Community’s Support For Medical Treatment At Mayo Clinic And Barrows Neurology

by

Los Alamos resident Heather Burke shown here hospitalized last summer is seeking the community’s support to help her and her daughter obtain medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic and Barrows Neurology. Courtesy photo

By Carol A. Clark
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Heather Burke of Los Alamos is self-employed and known for her tech support company here. She has supported her clients for the last 30 years.

Her heart issues are congenital but have worsened recently, yet she has continued working and has sought medical help in the state. There are very few specialists in New Mexico, Read More

All Shall Be Well: Sadly God Is Not Glorified And America Is Not Living Up To Her Promise

by

Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By The Rev. Mary Ann Hill
Rector
Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church

What a difference two decades makes! At the very beginning of his first term in office, President George W. Bush issued two executive orders aimed at faith-based and community organizations in order to improve the delivery of social services:

“Faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) have a long tradition of helping Americans in need and together represent Read More

Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship Increases – Deadline For Students To Apply Is Feb. 21, 2025

by

Kristin Kosiewicz

By STAN KOSIEWICZ and AMY ANDERSON

In its fourth year, the Kristin Kosiewicz Substance Abuse Awareness Scholarship will provide three awards to graduating seniors. The value of the scholarships will be: one for $4,000 and two for $2,000 each. These local scholarships are administered by the LAPS Foundation and funded by donations.

The deadline for students to apply is Feb. 21, 2025. Link to online application.

This scholarship is in memory of Kristin Kosiewicz, a 1993 graduate of Los Alamos High School. Kristin died Sept. 25, 2021 from an accidental Fentanyl overdose. Link Read More

New Mexico Lawmakers Claim Intimidation, Bullying By Opponents Of Paid Family And Medical Leave

by

The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo

By Daniel J. Chacón
The Santa Fe New Mexican

The battle over a contentious paid family and medical leave proposal is heating up and getting personal, with two Democratic lawmakers accusing opponents of the measure of bullying and intimidation tactics to get them to vote against the bill.

The two lawmakers are both members of the House Commerce and Economic Development Committee, where House Bill 11 is scheduled to be considered next.

The committee chair, Rep. Doreen Gallegos, D-Las Cruces, and Rep. Art De La Cruz, D-Albuquerque, said they were targeted Read More