State

Forest Prescribed Burns Announced

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U.S. Forest Service News:

SANTA FE—Fall provides good prescribed burning conditions—warm days, cool nights and good ventilation for smoke. Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest plan to use this time to conduct several prescribed fires across the forest over the next few weeks to reduce hazardous fuels, improve wildlife habitat, and reduce overcrowding of vegetation.
 
The start dates and duration of the burns are subject to change depending on favorable conditions. Through hand ignition firefighters will burn slash piles and conduct broadcast burns (burning surface fuels
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Veterans’ Benefits Bazaar in Española Oct. 26

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NMDVS News:

ESPAÑOLA—The Blue Star Mothers Northern New Mexico Chapter Four and the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) are hosting the Third Annual Veterans’ Benefits Bazaar in Española 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the New Mexico National Guard Armory, 705 Industrial Park Road.

Representatives from the NMDVS, the VA and other veterans’ service organizations will be there to answer any questions and assist veterans and their families with health care needs, mental health counseling, pensions, finding employment, utilizing a veteran’s G.I. Education Bill, Read More

Udall Visits Navajo Nation

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STATE News:

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will visit communities in Shiprock, Farmington and Aztec today to discuss economic development, broadband and energy issues and how he can use his role as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to support Northwestern New Mexico.

First, the senator will visit with officials from the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) for a tour of its new tier 3 data center that employs Native Americans and residents in the Shiprock area and provides power and “cloud computing” storage capacity for businesses.

In 2010, Udall helped secure Read More

USDA Applauds Construction of Biomass Facility

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Director Terry Brunner

USDA News:

Albuquerque – USDA Rural Development State congratulated AGPower Field Processing I, LLC for its commitment to begin the construction of a facility which will address a major environmental issue with cattle manure while at the same time producing bio-energy and bolstering Chaves County with new jobs.

“Dating back to 2007, USDA has been working in Chavez County to bring a dairy-based biomass facility on-line and we are glad to see this new facility become a reality,” Brunner said.

In 2007, USDA Rural Development provided a $50-thousand Value Added Producer Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Recreation Sites Reopen

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest has begun its process of reopening developed recreational facilities that were closed during the government shutdown. 

We expect to reopen developed sites this weekend after employees have had the chance to evaluate the cleanliness and safety of each individual facility and open locked gates and restrooms. During the fall, we normally winterize and close some developed recreation sites, therefore some places will remain closed for the season. Other areas are still closed due to impacts from flooding.

The following recreation sites Read More

Udall, Heinrich Stand Up for N.M. Priorities in Budget Agreement

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STATE News:
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich today announced that the budget agreement to end the government shutdown will provide additional funding over the previous fiscal year’s levels for a number of programs important to New Mexicans.
 
The bill – a continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 15 – was passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president late Wednesday night.
 
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Udall successfully fought during the negotiations over the bill to increase resources for veterans,
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Los Alamos Resident to Become U.S. Citizen

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STATE News:

Los Alamos resident Victoria Rygh of Honduras will be among the 68 New Mexico residents representing 29 countries who will become U.S. citizens today in Albuquerque. 

Rygh has lived in Los Alamos for five years and works at Los Alamos Medical Center.

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico will deliver the keynote address for the naturalization ceremony. The ceremony, to be held at the South Broadway Cultural Center, will celebrate the naturalization of these citizens – the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements

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Rural Action Caucus Steering Committee Visits Northern New Mexico

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Los Alamos County Utilities Manager John Arrowsmith provides an overview of the Los Alamos Smart Grid and Smart House collaboration to the members of the Rural Action Caucus. Photo by Sharon Stover
 
Rural Action Caucus members learn about the unique history of Los Alamos from the ancient pueblos to the atomic age during the Los Alamos Historic Society Walking Tour. Photo by Sharon Stover
 
By SHARON STOVER
Los Alamos County Clerk

More than 50 elected officials from around the nation attended the Rural Action Caucus (RAC) Steering Committee meeting in Santa Fe, Oct. 10-12.

The Rural Read More

Heinrich Delivers Senate Floor Speech Underlining Devastating Impacts of Shutdown on New Mexico’s Economy

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U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., just delivered a speech on the Senate floor to underline the devastating impacts of the government shutdown on New Mexico’s economy and middle-class families.

Heinrich mentions several of the hardships faced by the Los Alamos community. 

Below are Heinrich’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Mr. President, in the midst of the current crises there have been some who have questioned the relevance of the federal government to our overall economy.  Some have even called Read More