Politics

Senate Approves Keystone XL Pipeline

by

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate today passed legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline with a 62-36 vote. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, released the following statement after voting against the measure:

“Tar sands are not the right choice to meet our future energy needs. Instead of focusing on the past, which the Keystone XL Pipeline represents, we need to look to the future of clean energy technologies and the domestic jobs they support. Our national energy policy should be focused on two fundamental Read More

ProgressNow Banned From Speaking Today In Right-To-Work Hearing

by

ProgressNowNM’s Alex Curtas during House Business and Employment Committee public comment. Courtesy/ProgressNowNM

ProgressNowNM News:

SANTA FE – ProgressNowNM issued a news release today saying that after allowing members of the public to read letters from business leaders and employees across the state, the Chair of the House Business and Employment Committee told ProgressNowNM’s communications director he could not read an email between the sponsor’s expert witness and political operatives discussing right-to-work legislation, then had him removed from the microphone.

In Read More

USDVA Approves $15.6 Million For New Mexico State Veterans’ Home

by

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved $15.6 million conditional funding for the New Mexico State Veterans’ Home in Truth or Consequences to construct a new 59 bed facility.

The construction and expansion project includes 39 Alzheimer’s beds, a 20 bed Skilled Nursing Unit, a new rehabilitation section for inpatient and outpatient services and a new pool.

The N.M. State Veterans’ Home must complete Read More

Meet School Board Candidate Sheryl Nichols

by

By SHERYL NICHOLS, Candidate
Los Alamos School Board District 3

I was born and raised in Los Alamos, and after successfully navigating through the Los Alamos school system moved away until 1990. Upon returning home was hired by Los Alamos County and worked in the County Clerks Office until August – 2014, when I retired.

While working for the county I observed various interactions between the LA School Board and Administration, and Los Alamos County such as: budget issues; coordination of physical building allocations in the development of Trinity Site and Airport Basin; and of course Read More

Sanchez Proposes Bill Raising Minimum Wage

by

STATE News:

SANTA FE – This week Sen. Clemente Sanchez, D-Cibola, Socorro, McKinley and Valencia counties, introduced Senate Bill 10 (SB 10) proposing a minimum wage increase to $8.30 an hour.

New Mexico’s minimum wage is $7.50 an hour.

“People who are working at a minimum wage need all the help they can get. Seven fifty an hour is not enough to live on when considering mortgages or rent, bills and loans, especially when one adds children to the equation,” Sanchez said.

According to the bill, new employees will earn the current minimum wage of $7.50 an hour, while in training, for no longer than six Read More

Bi-Partisan Bill Streamlines Ride-Sharing Regulations

by

Rep. Monica Youngblood

STATE News:

Santa Fe – Republican Rep. Monica Youngblood and Democratic Sen. Phil Griego are introducing legislation to regulate ridesharing companies, such as Uber and Lyft, in New Mexico.

The ridesharing services, which were introduced in Albuquerque and Santa Fe over the past year, have expanded safe, reliable transportation options for New Mexicans. In addition, they provide valuable economic opportunities.

Sen. Phil Griego

“Ride-sharing services provide a safe ride home and good jobs,” Youngblood said. “Putting this law on the books will not only expand Read More

Letter to the Editor: Find Out About School Board Candidates At LAPS Foundation’s Forum Thursday

by

By MORRIS PONGRATZ
Los Alamos

Only 160 folks have voted in the school board election. 

If you need more information about the school board candidates, come to the high school speech theater at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, Jan. 29 for the LAPS Foundation’s School Board Candidate Forum. Read More

O’Leary Poses Questions To Utilities Department

by

Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary poses questions to the Department of Public Utilities during Tuesday’s regular Council meeting in Council Chambers. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

STAFF REPORT

At Tuesday night’s County Council meeting, Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary raised questions about the introduction of the electric rate ordinance that she would liked answered as the process moves forward.

“Our County Manager has advised me that tonight’s meeting is the appropriate forum for me to let the Utility Department know about specific Read More

IRS Commissioner: Bad Bet Hiding Money Offshore

by

IRS Commissioner John Koskinen

IRS News:

PHOENIX – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) today said avoiding taxes by hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts remains on its annual list of tax scams known as the “Dirty Dozen” for the 2015 filing season.

“The recent string of successful enforcement actions against offshore tax cheats and the financial organizations that help them shows that it’s a bad bet to hide money and income offshore,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said. “Taxpayers are best served by coming in voluntarily and getting their taxes and filing requirements Read More

A Mere 160 Votes Cast In School Board Election

by

From left, Poll Workers Steve Ciddio and John Puckett assist voters Mary and Ed Van Eeckhout Tuesday who arrived to cast their ballot in the election underway including the County-wide election for two board positions at UNM-LA Advisory Board and three district positions for the Los Alamos Public Schools Board of Education. in the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. Photo by Election Presiding Judge Michael Sanchez

Los Alamos County Clerk Sharon Stover addressed County Council Tuesday evening saying just 160 voters had cast their ballot as of 5 p.m. and she wanted to encourage voters Read More