Nation

Udall Named Chair of Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M.

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Sen. Tom Udall has been named Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee.

Udall was named the new to lead the subcommittee by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., Chair of the full Appropriations Committee. He succeeds Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., who passed away June 3, 2013.

“As Chairman I look forward to the responsibility of ensuring taxpayers dollars are spent wisely and the interests of hardworking families in New Mexico are protected,” Udall said. “I am honored to build Read More

College Students Attend Los Alamos Dynamics Summer School at LANL

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Katy Korkos of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce discusses local businesses and details the many activities available in town  for college students gathered at Tuesday’s day-long orientation at the Los Alamos Research Park. The students are participating in the LANL/UCSD Los Alamos Dynamics Summer School Engineering Institute. During Tuesday’s orientation, the students heard from a variety of speakers including LANL’s Associate Director of Engineering Steve Girrens who welcomed them to the Laboratory. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

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Learn to Backpack at Bandelier

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Bandelier Backcountry. Photo by Sally King/BNM

BANDELIER News:

Join Bandelier staff and the Los Alamos Mountaineers for the second annual Introduction to Backpacking course.

This three part course will be offered Tuesday June 18, Thursday June 27, and Saturday and Sunday July 20 and 21. We encourage anyone who wants to experience Bandelier’s backcountry beyond day hikes to attend. Both beginner backpackers and those with experience are welcome to participate in this exciting event.

Tuesday, June 18: The Los Alamos Mountaineers and Bandelier staff will offer a presentation uncovering

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Thompson Ridge Fire 75 Percent Contained

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Valles Caldera. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire

The Thompson Ridge Fire is now 75 percent contained. The fire started May 31, 2013.

It is burning on the Valles Caldera National Preserve about two miles northeast of La Cueva.

The fire is in steep rugged terrain and is burning mixed conifer and ponderosa pine. The Arizona Central West Zone Incident Management Team, led by Incident Commander Bea Day, assumed management responsibility for the fire Sunday June 2, 2013.

Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Human
Date of Origin Friday May 31, 2013 approx. 2 p.m.
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Thompson Ridge Fire Behavior Expected To Be Moderate Today

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The Thompson Ridge Fire at the Valles Caldera. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire

Acres: 23,946; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 60 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 16 crews, 42 engines, 33 water tenders, 5 dozers; Total personnel: 885 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Firefighters took advantage of favorable conditions to conduct burnout operations along the containment line on the southwest flank of Read More

Udall Calls for Independent Probe Into NSA Data Collection

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U.S. SENATE:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) today led a bipartisan call for an independent investigation into the National Security Agency’s (NSA) phone records and data collection programs by a key privacy and civil liberties panel originally recommended by the 9/11 Commission and strengthened through Udall’s efforts in the House of Representatives.
 
Udall sent a bipartisan letter to the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, asking it to “make it an urgent priority to investigate the programs mentioned above and determine whether they (1) are conducted
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NM Delegation Introduces Bill to Strengthen STEM Fields

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Sen. Tom Udall
 
CONGRESSIONAL News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, along with Reps. Ben Ray Luján, Michelle Lujan Grisham and Steve Pearce announced Wednesday that they have introduced a bill to strengthen the nation’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education and training programs in New Mexico and the U.S.
 
The STEM Support for Teachers in Education and Mentoring (STEM²) Act includes a package of initiatives designed to improve student interest and performance in STEM skills. It would help teachers and schools better
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Thompson Ridge Fire: Today’s Aerial Operations Success Allows Firefighters To Go Direct Tonight With Hand Ignition

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Thompson Ridge Fire. Photo by Kristen Honig/Valles Caldera Trust

Thompson Ridge Fire Evening Update

Acres: 22,900; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 60 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 16 crews, 42 engines, 33 water tenders, 5 dozers; Total personnel: 885 and Available air support: 3 air tankers, 6 helicopters.

Weather so often dictates what we do and how we do it. Today through the morning hours we received a nice cover of clouds, which helped to moderate our fire Read More

Udall Encouraged by Vote to Begin Comprehensive Immigration Reform Debate

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WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) issued the following statement Tuesday after voting to begin debate on the comprehensive immigration reform legislation, S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act:

“I was very encouraged with the strong, bipartisan vote to restart the debate on comprehensive immigration reform in the U.S. Senate.
 
“We still have a long way to go before immigration reform becomes law, and as it progresses in the Senate I will be looking to make sure it supports New Mexico’s interests as a
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