State

Rep. Garcia Richard Focuses on Education

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Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, at podium, honors Los Alamos AP teachers and students Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Sen. Richard Martinez, fourth from left, and LAPS Board of Education President Jim Hall, far right, participated in the event. Courtesy photo
 
Los Alamos AP teachers and students, shown here with education officials and Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, were honored Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy photo
 
STATE News:
 
SANTA FE – Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Rio Arriba, is a well-known advocate for schools, students
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Report: NM Among Worst States on Long-Term Budget Planning

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STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE—New Mexico lacks key, proven budget-planning tools that would help it build an attractive business climate, make government more effective, and weather difficult economic times, according to a major new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a non-partisan policy research organization based in Washington, D.C.

The report, “Budgeting for the Future,” ranks New Mexico 37th in the nation.

“New Mexico can and should do more long-term planning to help build a strong economy, cope with economic ups and downs, and improve government efficiency,” said Read More

Sen. Linda Lopez Introduces Bill to Halt Implementation of Common Core State Standard

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STATE News:

Lack of Public Participation, Inadequate Fiscal Impact and For-Profit Educational Industrial Complex Pressures Cited

SANTA FE – Sen. Linda M. Lopez, D-Bernalillo introduced Senate Bill 296 that, if enacted, would halt the state’s implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) until an in-depth fiscal analysis and broad public outreach is accomplished.

The bill also withdraws New Mexico from the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) testing consortium. The assessments are linked to CCSS, high school graduation, teacher evaluation, Read More

Breaking News: Los Alamos Council Chair Geoff Rodgers Announces Candidacy for House District 43

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House Dist. 43 candidate Geoff Rodgers
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos County Council Chair Geoff Rodgers today announced his candidacy for New Mexico’s House of Representatives District 43.

“I’m a pragmatic, problem solving elected official with a proven track record of reaching across the aisle,” Rodgers said during an interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post.

Rodgers, 52, is in his second term on the Los Alamos County Council. He served 2001 to 2004, was elected again in November 2010 and last month his peers elected him to a second consecutive Read More

MADD Launches ‘Sticker Shock’ Campaign

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MADD News:

The campaign consists of teams of youth, accompanied by adult chaperones, placing brightly colored stickers on multi-packs of alcoholic beverages (beer, wine coolers, etc.) and paper bags at participating stores.

The stickers read, “Providing Alcohol to Minors is ILLEGAL: Fines are up to $5,000 and/or up to two years in jail” and “You Must Be 21 to Purchase Alcoholic Beverages. It’s the Law! ID Required.”

The purpose of Sticker Shock is to raise public awareness about the minimum drinking age law by placing the stickers on multi‐packs of beer, wine coolers and any other alcohol products Read More

Heinrich Statement on House Republicans’ Immigration Reform Principles

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U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., released the following statement on the new set of principles on immigration reform put forward by House Republican leaders:

“The lack of consensus among House Republicans on immigration reform has been disappointing, so I’m encouraged by the recent progress made toward finding common ground and common sense solutions. I’m especially pleased that there’s consensus that we need to provide a special pathway to citizenship to DREAMers.

“But the reality is, passing immigration Read More

Heinrich Seeks Justice For Service Members Discharged Due To Sexual Orientation

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

  • Restore Honor to Service Members Act Would Help Correct Records of Service Members Discharged Before Repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. is cosponsoring the Restore Honor to Service Members Act, a bill that would help service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records to reflect their honorable service and reinstate the benefits they have earned.

“Doing away with the discriminatory military policy of ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Read More

NM Hispanic Students Rank No. 1 Nationwide in Advanced Placement Courses

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Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

 

-Report reveals NM high school AP students save more the $3.5 million in college tuition

 

ALBUQUERQUE — Gov. Susana Martinez announced Saturdy that for the second consecutive year, New Mexico’s Hispanic high school students rank No. 1 nationwide for their success in Advanced Placement courses, demonstrating the ability to succeed in the college classroom. The report shows that nearly half of Hispanic high school graduates in 2013 took an AP course. Of those students, 43 percent scored a three or higher on the exam – the highest percentage in the
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New Mexico Senate Recognizes Los Alamos Teachers

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Barranca Elementary School teachers Lana Martin, left and Joline Keeler were part of a delegation of teachers who received special recognition Friday at the Roundhouse by the New Mexico State Senate for having received their National Board Certification for Teachers. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Superintendent of  Schools Dr. Gene Schmidt visits with Joline Keeler and Lana Martin as they wait for their turn to take to the Senate floor. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Teachers make their way down to the Senate floor. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com Read More

House Highlights For Week Ending Jan. 31

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STATE News:

House Highlights for the week ending Jan. 31:

In Committee

●House Bill 13 School Equalization Guarantee “Local Revenue,” sponsored by Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo-19) received a Do Pass without recommendation. HB 13 proposes revisions to the definition of “local revenue” for calculating a school district’s state equalization guarantee distribution under NMSA 1978, Section 22-8-25. HB 13’s inclusion of  new language clarifies the calculation by explicitly requiring any local taxes, whether authorized or not, to be incorporated into the SEG distribution. Read More