Los Alamos teachers of English Language Learners, along with bilingual teachers from around the state, were recognized Thursday by the State Legislature for their work with students who are learning the English language, and as a special feature, Los Alamos Public Schools was presented the 2014 Title III Incentive Award during Bilingual Day at the State Legislature. Photo by Rick Reiss Read More
State
Revised Outdoor Advertising Requirements Approved
NMDOT News:
Santa Fe – The State Transportation Commission has approved revisions to the New Mexico Department of Transportation’s Outdoor Advertising Requirement. The current rules were adopted in 1998 and had not been revised since then.
The revised rules include application and permit fee increases and provisions governing the use of changeable electronic variable message technology on off-premise advertising signs (also known as digital billboards.) The NMDOT was tasked with developing standards concerning digital technology on off-premise signs since no such state Read More
Valles Caldera Trust Recaps 2013 Challenges and Successes
The Valles Caldera. Courtesy/www.vallescaldera.govVALLES CALDERA News:
For the second time in less than 24 months, a downed power line dramatically changed the best laid plans of the Valles Caldera Trust. The Thompson Ridge Fire of 2013 burned more than 23,000 acres of the Valles Caldera National Preserve less than two years after the 2011 Las Conchas Fire scorched 30,000 acres.
Both fires figure prominently in the trust’s Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2013 (Oct. 1, 2012 through Sept. 30, 2013.)
The 2013 Annual Report to Congress (RTC) details how post-fire flooding destroyed Read More
Sierra Club Talk: Diversion of the Gila River
SIERRA CLUB News:
Allyson Siwik, of the Gila Resources Information Project is the featured speaker at a Sierra Club open meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5 at UNM-Los Alamos (Student Center Lecture Hall.) Her talk is titled “The Gila River Versus Development.”
The NM State 30-day Legislative Session focuses primarily on budget issues, but Gov. Martinez also wants to put forth new water policy, including infrastructure and the looming Arizona Water Settlement Act.
This is the last opportunity for the legislature to discuss the issue of AWSA before the state must decide to pursue it (at a cost Read More
Udall, Heinrich Welcome PILT Extension in Farm Bill
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich announced Wednesday that the Farm Bill conference report, made public last night, includes one year of funding for the critical Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program. The news provides relief for rural counties in New Mexico, which face major budget cuts if PILT is not extended.
The senators were among a bipartisan coalition who wrote to Farm Bill negotiators to request an extension of the program, which expired at the end of last year with no plan for renewal. PILT compensates counties that host large amounts Read More
Bill to Fully Staff CYFD Gains Bipartisan Support
Sen. Michael Padilla
N.M. Senate News:
Santa Fe, NM — Sen. Michael Padilla, D-Bernalillo, has introduced bipartisan legislation to fully staff the Children, Youth and Families’ (CYFD) Protective Services Division. The Social Worker Loan for Service Act will provide a pipeline of certified social workers to meet the caseloads for children in protective services.
“This legislation will dramatically reduce caseloads for social workers at CYFD,” Padilla said.
The plan calls for CYFD to select individuals to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work programs at New Mexico higher Read More
CYFD Officials Snub Senate Rules Committee
Sen. Linda Lopez
NM SENATE News:
SANTA FE—Representatives from the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) chose not to attend a Monday morning Senate Rules Committee hearing, which they were invited to, on a high-profile Senate Memorial regarding foster families, child abuse and children’s protective services.
“One of Gov. Susana Martinez’s favorite buzz words is ‘unacceptable,’ and I wonder if she will once again find it unacceptable that her own appointees running the Children, Youth and Families Department chose not to answer questions regarding a bill that directly Read More
N.M. House Seeks Federal Holiday Designation for Native Americans
Rep. Roberto Gonzales
STATE News:
SANTA FE–By a vote of 70-0, the New Mexico House of Representatives approved a measure, which would seek the designation of the national “Native American Heritage Day” as a federal public holiday.
House Memorial 4 sponsored by Rep. Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales, D-Taos) encourages the state’s congressional delegation to advocate for the legal public holiday in honor of Native American people.
This memorial recognizes Native Americans’ historic and contemporary experiences and their substantial contributions to the United States’ cultural, Read More
Winter Weather Returns for Portions of Northern New Mexico
NWS News:
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory through Satuday morning.
A DEEP FETCH OF PACIFIC MOISTURE WILL STREAM EAST ACROSS THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES TODAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST FRIDAY. LIGHT RAIN AND HIGH TERRAIN SNOW WILL DEVELOP OVER RIO ARRIBA COUNTY TODAY THEN CHANGE OVER TO SNOW TONIGHT.
THE MAIN PERIOD FOR POTENTIALLY HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL WILL COME LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED ABOVE 7500 FEET AND ALONG WEST FACING SLOPES. GUSTY WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THIS SNOWFALL CREATING Read More
Bill Targets Repeat DWI Offenders
Rep. Elizabeth Thomson
STATE News:
SANTA FE–The requirements to get a driver’s license reinstated for DWI offenders would become more difficult to meet under House Bill 10 sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, D-Bernalillo.
HB 10 requires an additional fee of $75 (currently $25), completion of the license revocation period, and tighter ignition interlock removal requirements.
Under the current law, a DWI offender is required to use an ignition interlock on their car for a minimum of one year regardless of the blood alcohol readings registered on the interlock. Read More