Politics

Happy Columbus Day, Discovery Day, Dia De La Raza…

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First Landing of Columbus on the Shores of the New World; painting by Dióscoro Puebla (1862). Courtesy/wikipedia

Staff Report

Today is Columbus Day and some organizations are open and others closed around the local area.

Los Alamos County is open except for the Eco Station; LANL is closed, Los Alamos Public Schools is closed, Santa Fe National Forest Offices are closed and the NCRTD blue bus company is closed.

Many countries in the New World and elsewhere officially celebrate as a holiday the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, which happened Oct. 12, 1492. Read More

Date Change: Democratic Party Meeting Oct. 19

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DPLA News:

The Democratic Party of Los Alamos County monthly meeting is typically held the second Monday of each month, however, because of the Columbus Day holiday; the date for this month’s meeting has changed.

The October meeting is 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19 at UNM-Los Alamos, Building 5, Wallace Hall.

The featured speaker is a representative from Santa Fe speaking for Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders. Read More

Secretary Jewell Joins New Mexico Community Leaders To Welcome Valles Caldera To National Park Service

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Interior Secretary Sally Jewell addresses the crowd gathered Saturday at the Valles Caldera for the hand-over to the National Park Service. Photo by Felicia Orth
 
Sen. Martin Heinrich stands next to the arrowhead plaque unveiled at the end of the speeches Saturday at the Valles Caldera. Photo by Felicia Orth

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT News:

  • Area underscores importance of Land and Water Conservation Fund to preserve nation’s natural, cultural and outdoor recreation heritage

SANTA FE – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined state, tribal and local leaders Saturday to celebrate Read More

Energy Department Invests More Than $20 Million To Advance Fuel Cell Technologies

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Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy David Danielson

DOE News:

The Energy Department announced Thursday a new report that shows the fuel cell industry is continuing to grow at an unprecedented rate, totaling more than $2.2 billion in sales in 2014.

In order to further expand on this emerging market, the Department also announced the investment of more than $20 million in 10 projects to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, and enable early adoption of fuel cell applications such as light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). 

These projects will Read More

Mother Teresa’s Volunteer Receives Caring Award

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Noah Levinson. Photo by Miranda Parro/Reformer
 
SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Bob Dole and Tom Daschle, co-chairs of the Caring Institute, have announced the 2015 Caring Award honorees.
 
The Caring Institute was founded in 1985 by Val J. Halamandaris after a meeting with Mother Teresa, who told him there was a poverty of the spirit in the developed world that was much worse than the poverty of the body seen in the developing world.
 
When she directed him to do something about it, he founded an awards program that identifies those who give back to society
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Saturday: Interior Secretary Jewell Celebrates Valles Caldera’s Addition To National Park Service

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U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell

U.S. DEPT. OF INTERIOR News:

SANTA FE – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell is visiting the Valles Caldera Saturday, Oct. 10.

Jewell will join U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, former U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, tribal, state and local officials, and other conservation and community leaders to celebrate the inclusion of the Valles Caldera National Preserve as part of the National Park System.

The dedication ceremony is 11 a.m. in the Valle Grande Contact Station Parking Area

Valles Caldera National Preserve was established Read More

Lujan Grisham Opens Hearing On 2015 Fire Season

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U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham

U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the following opening statement during today’s Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Conservation & Forestry. As the ranking member on the committee, Lujan Grisham kicked off the hearing to review 2015 fire season and long-term trends.  

—As Prepared for Delivery—

“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I really appreciate you calling today’s hearing to review the 2015 fire season and long-term wildfire trends. Although wildfires have occasionally been discussed in Read More

Udall Votes For Major National Defense Bill, Urges Solution To Dangerous Sequestration Cuts

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall joined the Senate in voting 70-27 for a major defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
 
The bill — the result of an agreement between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives — includes several priorities Udall has championed for New Mexico. In addition to programs important for New Mexico’s military bases and national laboratories, the bill includes Udall’s measure to strengthen the open-air burn pits registry he created
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Heinrich Statement On Gun Violence Prevention

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. issued the following statement on the need for bipartisan, commonsense solutions to reduce gun violence in America:

“It is no secret that I am a passionate outdoorsman, hunter and supporter of the Second Amendment. It is my firmly held belief that law-abiding citizens should be able to own firearms for both sport and self-defense. That is not a political statement, it is simply who I am. 

“In our efforts to protect the established constitutional right of individual Read More

UNM Researcher Travels East To Track Pope’s Visit

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Pope Francis rides in the ‘Popemobile.’ Courtesy/UNM
 
UNM News:
 
In his first visit to the United States, Pope Francis made headlines around the world and was greeted by hundreds of thousands of American Catholics and non-Catholics alike.
 
And for University of New Mexico sociology Professor Richard Wood, to see and study the pope on American soil was a special experience.
 
 
“What I focus on is the intersection of faith and public life in the United States,” Wood said, who is also
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