Nation

DOE Awards $2.2 Million Financial Assistance Grant To New Mexico Environmental Department Oversight Bureau

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DOE News:

CINCINNATI — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded a non-competitive financial assistance grant to the New Mexico Environmental Department Oversight Bureau today.

The bureau will conduct independent, confirmatory environmental monitoring at and around EM’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant — including groundwater, surface water, soil, vegetation, air, and gamma radiation sampling — to verify protection of public health and the environment from transuranic waste operations.

The total estimated value of the grant is $2.2 million Read More

Interior Department Opens Transformational Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum

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DOI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior today celebrated the opening of the new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum, unveiling a 15,000-square-foot immersive museum beneath one of the nation’s most iconic memorials. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum joined the National Park Service, National Park Foundation and project partners to officially open the new experience to the public. 

Opening just ahead of America’s 250th birthday, the project gives visitors unprecedented access to the story of how the Lincoln Memorial was built, what it represents Read More

Heinrich, Lummis Introduce Legislation To Improve Teacher Pay At Tribal Schools

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act, bipartisan legislation to help improve teacher pay at Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. New Mexico is home to 45 BIE-funded schools, which serve students from the state’s 23 federally recognized Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations.

BIE schools are funded by Congress and distributed to schools through the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) formula. Years of underfunding of ISEP have made it difficult for BIE Read More

U.S. Forest Service Adds Long-Sought Protections To Limit Health Risks For Wildland Firefighters

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USFS News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service along with the Department of the Interior today announced new steps to reduce hazardous exposure for federal wildland firefighters during the 2026 fire year. These actions include expanded access to N95 respirators on the fireline, required training and standardized decontamination protocols.

Wildland firefighters work in extreme conditions with prolonged exposure to smoke, ash and airborne particles. While no respirator currently meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards Read More

FEMA Provides Over $3.5 Billion To Survivors Of Historic Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire

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FEMA News:

SANTA FE — As of June 23, FEMA has provided more than $3.51 billion for more than 24,502 claims to individuals and families who were affected by the historic Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fire and flooding.

This milestone comes a little more than four years since the largest and most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history. The speed with which these resources were made available and delivered, has helped thousands of survivors navigate recovery faster.

Congress acted swiftly to pass the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and secure a total of $5.45 billion Read More

UbiQD Expands Los Alamos Headquarters Campus With Economic Development Support

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Gathered at the closing on the new building recently at the Title Guaranty office in downtown Los Alamos, from left, UbiQD Facilities Manager Mike Krajcik, Title Guaranty President Denise Terrazas and UbiQD CEO Hunter McDaniel. Courtesy/UbiQD

Gathered after the closing on the new building, from left, UbiQD’s Chief Admin Officer Liseth Garay, CEO Hunter McDaniel and Facilities Manager Mike Krajcik in front of Title Guaranty. Courtesy/UbiQD

UbiQD News:

  • Facility expansion enables next leg of growth with space for new manufacturing equipment and R&D

LOS ALAMOS –UbiQD®, a global leader Read More

Rep. Vasquez Votes To Pass Bipartisan Housing Bill To Bring Down Housing Costs, Curb Corporate Homebuying

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U.S. HOUSE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 20, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted to pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill to bring down housing costs in New Mexico. The bill—the largest housing package to pass out of the House in 36 years — now heads to the Senate and makes sweeping changes to the American housing market.

Measures in the bill include:   

  • Authorizes funding to build more affordable housing for working families in New Mexico: The bill funds additional affordable housing projects to boost housing stock and bring down prices. The bill also establishes
Read More

Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Observes Second-Annual ENS Sign Awareness Day June 24

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OLI News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the national rail safety education nonprofit, joins State Operation Lifesaver Programs and rail safety partners in observing the second-annual Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. OLI reminds everyone that recognizing and understanding how to use the Blue and White ENS sign can save lives when seconds count.

“Located across the U.S. where roadways cross tracks, ENS signs provide a critical connection to railroads in emergencies,” OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh said. Read More

Heinrich Questions Trump Nominees On Screwworm Mitigation Efforts, Funding International Conservation Programs, And Administrative Budget Cuts And Expenses

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Ranking Member Heinrich (D-N.M.) questions Kevin Lilly, Trump’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks and William Hague, Trump’s Assistant Secretary of the Interior nominee before U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, June 23, 2026. Courtesy photo

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider pending Trump nominees, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, questioned Kevin Lilly,  President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife Read More

Heinrich, Fischer, Welch, Curtis Introduce Legislation To Protect Firefighters From Harmful Chemicals

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and John Curtis (R-Idaho) introduced the Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art (PFAS) Alternatives Act of 2026, legislation to support the development of next-generation, PFAS-free protective gear to better protect firefighters from the dangers of their work.

Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens when they respond to virtually every type of fire or incident. This includes PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, which can be found in firefighters’ Read More