State

Hall Weighs in on Supreme Court’s Health Care Decision

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By Rep. Jim Hall
House District 43

I am currently in Washington, D.C., attending a conference for state legislators on Medicaid put on by the non-partisan Council of State Governments.

The primary focus of the conference has been how to address the ongoing, large increases in Medicaid costs on state finances.

Today’s decision by the Supreme Court makes these issues even more timely and important.

The predicted growth in New Mexico Medicaid before the Court’s decision was an increase in New Mexico Medicaid enrollees by between 172,000 and 212,000 at a yearly cost increase of between $350 Read More

LATA Leads List of Top Revenue Companies

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A Los Alamos field crew member from LATA uses a hand auger to collect environmental samples in northern New Mexico. Courtesy/LATA

By Carol A. Clark

A Los Alamos Company stood out among New Mexico’s top high-tech companies recognized last week for their achievements by New Mexico Flying 40, which annually honors the state’s fastest-growing companies.

Los Alamos Technical Associates (LATA), 999 Central Ave., led the list of Top 10 revenue companies for the second consecutive year.

LATA is a technical project management services company with total revenues of $237.8 million in 2011, which Read More

Celebration Marks 1,000th TRU Waste Shipment

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Employees of the Transuranic (TRU) Waste processing facility are joined by local and state officials to celebrate the 1,000th (1,014th) shipment of TRU waste to WIPP. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

By Greg Kendall

New Mexico’s governor and other dignitaries gathered at Los Alamos National Laboratory Tuesday for a special event marking the 1,000th shipment of nuclear waste to a permanent repository at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) near Carlsbad.

“I am pleased we continue to make progress on our environmental cleanup commitment to protect this beautiful place where Read More

Hall Prefers Civility of New Mexico Politics

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District 43 Report
By State Representative Jim Hall

This is the fourth report in the series on State House District 43. The district is large, diverse, and filled with active people and events. This report is necessarily brief and only covers a few events. 

First, there is now more background information on the Las Conchas Fire, the science, and proposed policy and technical responses. 

As I mentioned in my special report, one of the major events was the EPSCoR sponsored meeting on “Fire and Water: The Las Conchas Fire.”

The final meeting report is at: (https:////nmfirst.org/_literature_139628/Town_Hall_on_New_Mexico_Fire_and_Water_Final_Report Read More

Luján Named Ranking Member of Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs

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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District announced today that he has been named Ranking Member of the House Natural Resource Committee’s Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs.

Luján, who is serving in his second term, will replace Rep. Dan Boren of Oklahoma as Ranking Member.

“It is an honor to be named to this important position that is critical for the many states that are home to native communities,” Luján said. “As Ranking Member, I look forward to building on my efforts to strengthen an effective government-to-government relationship that respects Read More

Valles Caldera Trust Releases Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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VALLES CALDERA TRUST News

Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

The Valles Caldera Trust (Trust) released a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Public Access and Use Plan (PAUP) aimed at expanding visitor access to the Valles Caldera National Preserve (preserve). The plan describes six alternatives for the development of facilities and infrastructure on the landscape including sites for a visitor center. The DEIS describes possible effects and environmental impacts each alternative may have on the preserve. A complete version of the DEIS is available at www.vallescaldera.gov Read More

Fire Reported Between Espanola and Chimayo

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FIRE News:

Crews from Santa Fe County are responding to a fire reported at 6 p.m. today in the bosque between Espanola and Chimayo that has burned more than two acres.

Crews report the fire is crowning in the cottonwood trees and burning dense salt cedar undergrowth near Mile Marker 6 at Road 76 in the Chimayo area at the Rio Arriba County line.

Structures are threatened and evacuations have been reported in the area, possibly for a two-mile radius around the fire.

No shelter information has been released at this point, but residents are being told to head south, according to fire officials, and to Read More

Arrowsmith Graduates from Leadership New Mexico

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From left, Leadership New Mexico Chair Tony Atkinson, Program Director Jenny Lewis, Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities Manager John Arrowsmith and LNM Curriculum Committee Chair Jim Haynes at the LNM graduation ceremony June 15 in Taos. Photo by Sharon Stover/Cell Phone

Leadership New Mexico

Los Alamos Deprtment of Public Utilities Manager John Arrowsmith is one of 38 members of the Leadership New Mexico class of 2011-2012 gathered June 13-15 in Taos for its final session and graduation ceremony.

Leadership New Mexico is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization founded Read More

Hikes, Talks & Walks on Tap at Bandelier

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BANDELIER News:
 
An opportunity for anyone looking for a day of challenging volunteer trail work is set for Sunday, June 24 at Bandelier National Monument.
 
Volunteers, along with the Bandelier trail crew, will hike about 1.5 miles out along the trail from the Visitor Center toward mid-Alamo Canyon to reset water bars and do other needed work.
 
Be sure to call ahead to the Visitor Center, 505-672-3861 x 517, to sign up. Volunteers must be at least 13, but no experience is needed.
 
Bring at least a gallon of water, as well as lunch, sunscreen, hat, and good boots.

Also on Sunday,

Read More

Rodeo de Santa Fe is in Full Swing

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A contestant of the Mutton Busting competition clings to her lamb as it comes out of the chute during the Rodeo de Santa Fe. The Rodeo runs through June the 24 at the Rodeo Grounds in Santa Fe. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Santa Fe County Queen Sara Czmyrid watches the Mutton Busting competition at the Rodeo de Santa Fe. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

A cowgirl pushes her horse hard during the barrel race portion of the Rodeo de Santa Fe. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com

Miss Rodeo New Mexico Danika Jackson leads the opening procession of riders at the 63rd annual Read More