State

USDA Has Best Year Ever in NM Home Loans

October 31, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Zuni Pueblo Self Help Groundbreaking. Courtesy/USDA

Sundland Park home construction. Courtesy/USDA

USDA News:

ALBUQUERQUE – USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner announced today his agency set a record in the number of home loans produced in the 2013 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

In making the announcement Brunner said, “In the last five years USDA increased the number of home loans and grants made across the state. We attribute this success to excellent staff work and the development of community partners that help us deliver our programs deeper into rural communities.” Read More

New Online Resources Helps Parents Boost Student Literacy Skills

October 30, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE– Gov. Susana Martinez has announced new resources to help parents reinforce strong literacy skills with their children. The “New Mexico Reads to Lead!” website, LiteracyNewMexico.org, includes monthly calendars with daily reading activities, recommended reading lists for every grade level and many other resources available in English, Spanish and Diné. Parents and educators can also utilize the website to create school-wide reading events titled “Readers Raise the Roof.”

“A strong partnership between Read More

New Mexico Delegation Welcomes President’s Disaster Declaration

October 30, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that President Obama has declared a major disaster for the state of New Mexico and Santa Clara Pueblo for the severe storms and flooding from Sept. 9-22.

The declaration means the president has ordered federal aid to help state and local recovery efforts. The assistance will be available on a cost-sharing basis for damage to public infrastructure in Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Eddy, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Read More

Paint Spill Removal Underway at Bandelier

October 30, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Construction crew digging up dirt soiled with paint and hauling it down to N.M. 4. Courtesy/NPS

Trees will be left to naturally shed the layer of paint. Courtesy/NPS

BANDELIER News:

San Bar Construction Corporation continues work to remove paint associated with a September 2012 vehicle accident within Bandelier National Monument’s boundary. Crews began work last Monday and are expected to continue into this week. There will be no road closures during removal operations.

The paint spill is a result of a tractor-trailer accident that occurred Sept. 18, 2012. The rig, traveling eastbound Read More

Teacher Unions Host Town Hall Today

October 30, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

COMMUNITY News:

The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association – unions who represent teachers have scheduled a Town Hall meeting at 6-7 p.m. today at Capital High School in Santa Fe.

Los Alamos community members and parents are invited to share in the discussion of teacher evaluations, issues with education and possible solutions.

Free Guided Field Trip to Visit Southwest Jemez Mountains Restoration Project

October 28, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest is hosting two free field trips 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nov. 8-9 for the public to learn about restoration efforts planned for the Southwest Jemez Mountains. The field trips include travel to various locations in the forest and hear from specialists engaged in managing this intricate and complex landscape.

All are welcome but reservations are required. Spaces are limited and it is first come, first served. Following your confirmed reservation, you will receive detailed instructions on meeting time and location. Some transportation will Read More

Bandelier Volunteer George Best Gives Back

October 28, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

George Best. Photo by Kirsten Laskey

By KIRSTEN LASKEY

George Best may be retired but he still has a job. Every Monday, he dons a uniform and heads to Bandelier National Monument to work as a volunteer.

Best, 93, provides assistance to the staff at the visitor center, which includes answering questions and greeting visitors as they disembark the shuttle buses. Additionally, Best said he walks the trails to answer questions as well as point out archeological features. He added he also keeps an eye out for anyone who needs help.

Best has a lot of history with Bandelier; he first traveled to the park Read More

Governor Announces Programs to Hire Military Veteran Medics and Truck Drivers

October 28, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE – Gov. Susana Martinez has announced two efforts to speed up the hiring of National Guard, Reserve, Active Duty service members, and veterans for trucking and EMT jobs in New Mexico. Martinez says her administration is implementing initiatives to expedite the transition of qualified military veterans into jobs in the transportation industry and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs in New Mexico.

Speaking at the New Mexico Patriotic Employer Recognition Luncheon today at the Albuquerque National Guard Armory, the Governor announced details of Heroes to Read More

Statement from Gov. Susana Martinez

October 27, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Gov. Susana Martinez

STATE News:

SANTA FE – Gov. Susana Martinez issued a statement Saturday night following the shooting of law enforcement officers in Albuquerque. According to reports, a gunman ordered a citizen to call police and when they arrived – he opened fire – wounding two Albuquerque police officers and a Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy. All three law enforcement officers were hospitalized with gunshot wounds. The gunman died at the scene.

Governor’s statement:

“I spoke tonight to Chief Banks and Sheriff Houston to offer my unwavering Read More

Udall, Heinrich, Coalition of Senators Call for Extension of Open Enrollment

October 26, 2013 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

U.S. SENATE news:

As technical glitches persist, Senators urge HHS Secretary to push back health insurance exchange enrollment deadline

WASHINGTON – As Americans continue to experience technical difficulties with federal and state health insurance enrollment, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich called on U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to extend the open enrollment period to give Americans more time to obtain health insurance coverage.

“As long as these substantial technology glitches persist, we are losing valuable time to