Politics

New Mexico Delegation, BLM Move To Save Money, Improve Public Health And Protect Climate

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SIERRA CLUB News:
 
On Friday morning, most of New Mexico’s congressional delegation sent a letter urging EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to not only strengthen and finalize its rule to reduce methane waste from new oil and gas drilling operations, but to issue a new rule addressing existing sources. 
 
New Mexico’s senators and U.S. Reps. Ben R. Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham noted the health benefits of reigning in the tons of escaped methane from thousands of oil and gas operations in New Mexico, as well as the economic benefits that capturing
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New Mexico Delegation Welcomes BLM’s Draft Rule On Reducing Natural Gas Loss, Fighting Climate Change

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday, that they welcome the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) draft rules for curbing natural gas waste.
 
New Mexico is the nation’s leading producer of oil from onshore federal land, and second for natural gas production. Yet too much of the state’s natural gas goes to waste through venting, flaring and leaks – causing dangerous methane pollution over the San
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School Bond Absentee Precinct Board Begins Its Work

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The Absentee Precinct Board begins its work counting school bond ballots this morning at the County Municipal Building. Tuesday is Election Day and ballots must be physically received by 7 p.m. in the County Clerk’s Office to be counted. Postmarked envelopes DO NOT count. Elections results will be posted after the Absentee Board has processed all ballots received. Courtesy photo Read More

Earthjustice: Supreme Court Ruling A Win For Clean Energy

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The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Courtesy/Earthjustice

EARTHJUSTICE News:

  • Decision helps reduce barriers to critical clean energy resource, reducing rates and enhancing grid reliability

Washington, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision that ensures that a critically important clean energy resource will continue to provide key benefits in our wholesale energy markets.

It decided that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has the authority to remove barriers to “demand response” programs, which compensates consumers for reducing their Read More

SCAM ALERT: Attorney General Warns New Mexicans Of Craigslist Apartment Rental Scams

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PUBLIC SAFETY News:

SANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas issued a Scam Alert today in response to a recent uptick in reports of Craigslist apartment scams from consumers across New Mexico.

This scam typically occurs when someone is looking for an apartment or house to rent on Craigslist. The “landlord” will not be available to show the property personally as they claim to be out of town, but they promise a great deal on the rent. Typically, the person posting the photo and ad does not own the property. The scammer will request deposit money to be sent to another state or country. Once that money Read More

Udall, Heinrich Call On Legislature To Put Constitutional Amendment On Ballot To Help NM Children

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SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday, the first day of the state legislative session, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrichsent a letter to the leaders of the New Mexico House and Senate, formally calling on them to work together to improve the well-being of New Mexico’s children.
 
Specifically, Udall and Heinrich urged legislators to bring up and pass a measure that would allow voters to amend the constitution and invest a portion of the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund in the most effective early childhood programs. 
 
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James Pre-files Bill To Provide Adult Children Visitation Rights

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Rep. Conrad James
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Rep. Conrad James pre-filed legislation, HB 120, which would ensure visitation rights of adult children if their loved ones are under the care of another person.
 
“Children should not be forbidden from keeping in contact with their ill parents,” James said. “When an ill parent is under the care of another person, it is imperative that their children are able to visit them and maintain that relationship under those difficult circumstances.”
 
Not everyone sees eye to eye when it comes to visiting and caring for an elderly
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Balderas Hosts Mexican Prosecutors, Investigators And Forensic Experts For Interdisciplinary Exchange

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Courtesy photo
 
NMAG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE ― Attorney General Hector Balderas announced Jan. 15 the successful completion of a weeklong training and interdisciplinary exchange for Mexican prosecutors, investigators and forensic experts hosted by the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General.
 
Mexican and New Mexican law enforcement officials came together this week in Albuquerque to strengthen law enforcement relationships across the shared border, increase interagency communication, and receive training from the Office of the Attorney General and other
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Lawmaker Pre-files Resolution To Clean Up Unethical Public Officials And Employees

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Rep. Jim Dines
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE ― Last week, Rep. Jim Dines pre-filed House Joint Resolution 5 that would give New Mexico voters the option on the next ballot to create an independent ethics commission in an effort to crack down on unethical public officials and employees of the legislative and executive branches of government.
 
The joint resolution would call for an amendment to the New Mexico Constitution which would have to be voted on and passed by New Mexicans.
 
“It is important to let the people of New Mexico vote on creating an independent ethics
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DOE And New Mexico Finalize $74M In Settlement Agreements For Nuclear Waste Incidents of 2014

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The New Mexico Environment Department, the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors signed two settlement agreements resolving the February 2014 incidents at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad and the associated activities at Los Alamos National Laboratory.  The agreements provide for a set of Supplemental Environmental Projects (SEPs) in both the Carlsbad and Los Alamos communities that enhance and improve New Mexico’s roads, water infrastructure and emergency response infrastructure. Courtesy/NMED

NMED News:

  • Agreements Include Schedules and Funding Parameters
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