Nation

Rural Communities Awarded Federal Aid for Police Vehicles, Water Well and Sewer Line Upgrades

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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

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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

IRS Tips for Faster Answers to Typical Questions

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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

New Mexico Congressional Delegation Supports Minimum Wage Increase

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CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Wednesday, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced their enthusiastic support for increasing New Mexico’s minimum wage.

The New Mexico state legislature is currently debating a measure to raise the minimum wage and provide for annual inflation increases to strengthen the economy and help lift more families into the middle class. Udall, Heinrich, Luján and Lujan Grisham also support raising the federal minimum wage.

“Increasing the minimum wage ensures families have Read More

Udall, Heinrich Urge USDA to Move Quickly on Disaster Aid to Livestock Producers

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U.S. SENATE News:

  • Farm Bill provision would ensure new and retroactive aid for ranchers who have had to cut back their herds during N.M. drought

WASHINGTON–U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced that they have sent a bipartisan letter signed by a coalition of senators to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, encouraging the USDA to expedite the implementation of the livestock disaster programs reauthorized in the 2014 Farm Bill.
 
The Farm Bill’s disaster assistance programs are critical for New Mexico’s livestock producers, who have had Read More

Bill Would Improve Health Care for Rural Veterans

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 U.S. SENATE News:

Bill would improve access to care by expanding transportation options, recruiting and retaining doctors and prioritizing improvements at rural clinics

WASHINGTON–U.S. Senators Tom Udall, D-N.M., and Dean Heller, R-Nev., introduced a bill to address some of the biggest barriers to health care for veterans in rural communities.
 
More than six million veterans, including a third of all Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, live in rural communities. But as many as half of those veterans may be going without care from the VA. Rural veterans too often struggle to access Read More

Local United Way Earns 4-Star Rating From Charity Navigator for Fifth Time in a Row

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United Way Executive Director Kristy Ortega during a recent presentation to the Rotary Club of Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

 

UWNNM News:

 

United Way of Northern New Mexico (UWNNM) have earned a 4-star rating for the fifth time in a row from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.

 

Since 2002, using data-driven analysis, Charity Navigator has awarded only the most fiscally responsible organizations a 4-star rating. In 2011, Charity Navigator added a second dimension of Accountability and Transparency Read More

Fee Waived at Bandelier; Across National Park System on Presidents Day Weekend

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CourtesyNPS

BANDELIER News:

Saturday Feb. 15 through Monday Feb. 17, the public is invited to visit free of charge Bandelier and other national parks, monuments and many areas administered by other federal agencies throughout the United States.

The Presidents Day weekend is the second of the times in 2014 when all National Park Service sites open their gates to visitors without charging entrance fees.
 
“This should be a wonderful weekend to visit Bandelier,” Superintendent Jason Lott said. “The area really needs more snow, but in the meantime the weather is expected Read More

FBI: Protecting Aircraft From Laser Strikes

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Last year, 3,960 laser strikes against aircraft were reported. The FBI will offer up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of any individual who intentionally aims a laser at an aircraft. Courtesy/FBI

FBI News:

  • Protecting Aircraft From Lasers … New Program Offers Rewards for Information

Today the FBI announced a program aimed at deterring people from pointing lasers at aircraft—a felony punishable by five years in jail—and rewarding those who come forward with information about individuals who engage in this dangerous activity.

“Aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft is Read More

Luján: Farm Bill to Help New Mexico Communities

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Rep. Ben Ray Luján

U.S CONGRESSIONAL News:

Santa Fe–After President Barack Obama signed the bipartisan Farm Bill into law Friday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s 3rd District highlighted the important impact the legislation will have on communities in New Mexico.

“Farmers and ranchers in New Mexico have waited a long time for this day.  With the President’s signature on a new Farm Bill, those in the agricultural sector who contribute greatly to New Mexico’s economy, while honoring our culture and history, will receive important assistance that will help in their efforts Read More