Politics

Letter To The Editor: Voters … Now Is Your Chance

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By DOUG PIPPIN
Los Alamos
 
I applaud Mr. Khal Spencer’s letter to the editor concerning the four council members with their NO vote for an independent audit. As the old saying goes, “Where there’s smoke, there’s a fire”, and what I, like Mr. Spencer and others, would like to know is, “why the no vote?”, do we have a fire deep within our county?
 

I know the money spent on the past law suits by us, the county, were paid for by our insurer(s), but we pay the insurance premiums, and at last reported our insurance premiums had not gone up due to these

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Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz To Dedicate NSTX-U At Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory

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Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz

DOE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz will dedicate the upgraded National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX-U) at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

The NSTX-U is the nation’s newest fusion energy experiment, a spherical tokamak that explores the creation of high-performance plasmas at temperatures hotter than the center of the sun. The event will include a tour of the NSTX-U facility and the dedication ceremony.

Secretary Moniz will deliver remarks at the dedication and will be joined by Sen. Cory Booker and

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Local GOP Hosts Monthly Meeting 6 p.m. Thursday

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GOP News:
 

The Republican Party of Los Alamos will hold its monthly meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 19, in Wallace Hall, Building 5 at UNM-LA.

 

The Guest Speaker is Los Alamos County Senior Deputy Clerk Naomi Maestas. She will provide updated information regarding New Mexico Voting Information for 2016.

 

The Public is invited to hear Maestas. A short break will then precede the Central Committee business meeting. For further information, contact Chair Bill McKerley at 505.672.1067.

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Letter To The Editor: Lacking An Outside Audit … Doubt Remains

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By KHAL SPENCER
Los Alamos

I am disappointed that Council voted 4-2 against commissioning an independent audit of the County’s personnel policies. This follows some high profile, successful lawsuits against the county and the loss of former acting Police Chief Randy Foster, who was fired, as I understand, due to his handling of a potentially catastrophic personnel situation.

I counted Randy as a friend as well as a Chief, so like Councilor James Chrobocinski, I am somewhat conflicted. That said, I think this was the wrong decision.

County spokespeople can attempt to assuage our concerns Read More

Udall, Heinrich Advance Funding For National Labs, Water Projects, WIPP In Energy And Water Appropriations Bill

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich joined the Senate, in a 90-8 vote May 12 to pass the fiscal year 2017 funding bill for Los Alamos and Sandia national labs, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and several New Mexico water projects.
 
The Energy and Water Appropriations Act is critical for New Mexico and supports U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs nationwide. Udall helped write the legislation as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. A final version of the bill now must be worked out with the U.S.
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Interior Department Expands Buy-Back Program Across Indian Country

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DOI News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Following extensive outreach with tribal leaders and American Indian landowners, Interior Deputy Secretary Michael L. Connor announced an expanded schedule for implementing the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Program) at 63 additional locations from 2018 through mid-2021.
 
Since it began making offers in December 2013, the Program has paid more than $740 million to individual landowners and restored the equivalent of nearly 1.5 million acres of land to tribal governments.
 
The expansion brings the number of locations
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Environment Department Launches Review Process For Water Protection Regulations

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NMED News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Environment Department’s Ground Water Quality Bureau will host an informational public meeting 2-4 p.m., Friday to launch the review process and public dialogue for proposed revisions to water protection regulations at the Runnels Auditorium at 1190 St. Francis Dr. in Santa Fe.

The current ground and surface water protection regulations can be found at 20.6.2 of the New Mexico Administrative Code. 

The meeting will describe the forthcoming review process, highlight areas of the regulations that are under consideration for revision,

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District Attorney Addresses Los Alamos County Council

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 First Judicial District Attorney Jennifer Padgett is addressing the Los Alamos County Council this evening at the White Rock Fire Station. Padgett explained that her office has approximately 75 employees and a budget of $5.8 million. She was recently appointed to the post by Gov. Susana Martinez to fill a vacancy left by Angela Spence Pacheco who retired. Padgett, who is seeking election to the position said no matter what happens in the June Primary Election she will serve for a year so she is interested in learning the needs and issues of each community. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Udall On New Standards To Combat Methane Pollution

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON D.C. ― Thursday May 12, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement in response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s final rules for new and modified oil and gas wells, which limit emissions of methane, a potent heat-trapping greenhouse gas that, combined with other pollutants, has been linked to cancer, lung ailments, and other public health problems:
 
“Natural gas waste has cost New Mexico taxpayers and oil and gas producers millions of dollars — while contributing to a methane hot spot the size of
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Letter To The Editor: I Endorse Councilor Pete Sheehey

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By SHERIFF MARCO V. LUCERO
Los Alamos
 
This letter is in regards to the announcement of my support for Councilor Pete Sheehey in his re-election efforts.
 
As your elected Sheriff and having worked on your behalf for the past five and a half years, I have had the opportunity to meet and know past and present council members. During this time, most of you have seen, read and some of you have heard the lack of support for the Los Alamos County Sheriff’s Office by certain council members. The Sheriff’s Office provides services to the community Los Alamos County with little
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