Politics

Wildlife Advocates To Rally Before Tuesday’s Game Commission Meeting

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Mary Katherine Ray

SIERRA CLUB News:

Another critical wildlife decision looms for Gov. Martinez’s Game Commission — will it do the right thing?

On Tuesday, the New Mexico Game Commission will decide whether to allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to release the endangered Mexican gray wolf in the wild in New Mexico in accordance with the Endangered Species Act. U.S. Fish and Wildlife is appealing to the commission because New Mexico Game and Fish Director Alexa Sandoval denied the agency’s permit.

The public is invited to rally at 8 a.m. before Tuesday’s commission meeting to support scientifically Read More

American Federation of Teachers New Mexico Responds To Upcoming State PARCC Results

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AFNM President Stephanie Ly

AFTNM News:

Secretary Skandera Warns Schools, Parents, And Educators To ‘Brace Themselves’    

Albuquerque – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:

“With the upcoming release of the Partnership for Assessment and Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) scores, Secretary Skandera is working hard to lower expectations for student performance, yet doesn’t tell the full story in her comments.

“In the absence of meaningful data until full PARCC results are released on Oct. 30, and Read More

RPLA/LAFRW Host Constitution Day Dinner

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Chairman Bill McKerley of the Republican Party of Los Alamos welcomes state and local dignitaries and guests to last Saturday’s annual Constitution Day Dinner at the Golf Course Community Building. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

At the head table from  left, Jacqueline Chrobocinski, County Councilor James Chrobocinski, Jennifer McKerley, RPLA Chair Bill McKerley, Rep. Saira Blair, James Robinson, Mary Wilhoit and Dennis Wilhoit. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Rep. Saira Blair of the West Virginia House is the youngest elected legislator Read More

Environmental Assessment Proposing To Address Chromium Contamination At LANL

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DOE News:

In this Environmental Assessment (EA), the Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to address chromium contamination in the groundwater beneath Mortandad Canyon at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

Groundwater sampling data show the presence of chromium contamination in the regional aquifer resulting from historical use of potassium dichromate – a corrosion inhibitor – in non-nuclear cooling-tower water that was discharged to an outfall as part of operational maintenance activities.

DOE’s proposed action is to implement an interim measure that would control offsite Read More

DOE To Perform Ordnance Clearance Sweeps For Pre Manhattan-Era Munitions In Bayo And Rendija Canyons

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EM-LA News:

A multi-disciplinary team led by the Department of Energy Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) will begin setting up for ordinance clearance sweeps Sept. 27.

A comprehensive sweep will take place at the head of a tributary to Bayo Canyon on land primarily owned by the Los Alamos County, while similar work will be performed in Rendija Canyon on 15 acres owned by the United States Forest Service. Both areas were used in the mid-1940s by the US Army; the area at the head of Bayo Canyon was a former Bazooka firing range, while Rendija Canyon was an ammunition impact zone. Read More

Got Drugs? Udall Encourages New Mexicans To Participate In National Take-Back Day Saturday

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STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall encourages New Mexicans to participate in the 10th National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day this Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and to return unwanted, unneeded or expired prescriptions for safe disposal. 

The Los Alamos Police Department is joining in this nationwide effort and will host three collection sites between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday:

  • Site 1: Los Alamos Police Department lobby at 2500 Trinity Dr. (please deposit prescription medications into the drop box)
  • Site 2: White Rock Visitor Center at 115 N.M.
Read More

New Mexico Serves More Than 2 Million Meals To Low-Income Children Over Summer Break

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez announced Wednesday that the state served more than 2 million meals to low-income children over the summer.

The Children, Youth, and Families Department, through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides free nutritious meals during the summer months to children age 18 and younger.

“Making sure that New Mexico’s children have food on their plates every day is so important to their health and wellbeing,” Martinez said. “And sadly, when school is out of session, many of our kids no longer have access to the healthy meals they Read More

Heinrich Urges National Guard To Fully Compensate New Mexico Servicemembers; Requests Audit

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., is urging the National Guard Bureau near Washington D.C. to conduct an audit to ensure New Mexico National Guardsmen are being properly compensated for their service.

 After his office was contacted by a New Mexico National Guardsman who said he wasn’t fully compensated for his re-enlistment bonus, Heinrich received confirmation that there was no record of his payment being processed. In response, Heinrich sent a letter Wednesday to the National Guard asking that it immediately Read More

Udall, Heinrich Announce $23.2 Million For Albuquerque, Taos, Artesia Airports

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced more than $23.2 million in grants to support air transportation infrastructure at the airports in Taos, Artesia and Albuquerque.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the grants to fund airport construction and rehabilitation, and reduce pollution. 

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich 

The Taos Regional Airport will receive $16,162,353 to fund the construction of a new runway. The Artesia Municipal Airport will receive $2,042,802 to rehabilitate its existing runway, Read More

DOE National Cleanup Workshop Sept. 29-30

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DOE News:

Washington, D.C. – Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, the Department of Energy (DOE), in cooperation with the Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) and Energy Facility Contractors Group (EFCOG), will hold the first DOE National Cleanup Workshop at the Key Bridge Marriott in Arlington, VA.

The workshop brings together senior DOE executives, officials from DOE sites, industry executives, local government officials, and other stakeholders. Topics will include major cleanup successes planned for the next two years, contract and project management improvement, efforts to develop Read More