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Government

Paid Family Medical Leave Act dies in New Mexico House

The New Mexico Senate Bill 3, also known as the Paid Family Medical Leave Act, failed to pass in the New Mexico House of Representatives. This development has been perceived by many as a political upset. Critics of the bill argued that it would excessively increase taxes, leading to its defeat in the House with a vote count of 36 against and 34 in favor.


Government

29 Couples Say "I Do" at Doña Ana County Government Center

A total of 29 couples tied the knot during the Doña Ana County Clerk’s annual event, “Romance at the Rotunda” on Valentine’s Day at the Doña Ana County Government Center building. Chief Deputy County Clerk Caroline Zamora expressed her joy about the event, stating, "At our office, we are a small part of critical moments in an individual's life, and this includes marriage and obtaining a marriage license. Our Romance at the Rotunda event is such a joy. Sharing the experience with loving couples and families is lovely and one of my favorite days of the year. I want to thank...


Government

New Mexico legislature faces criticism over public participation restrictions

The New Mexico House Judiciary Committee is facing criticism over alleged public participation restrictions at its public hearings on gun-related bills last month.


Government

Road Closure Notice: County Rd B-010 in La Mesa, NM

The Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) has announced the temporary closure of County Road B-010 in the La Mesa area for road repairs starting on Monday, February 26, 2024. The closure is expected to last until March 1.According to the announcement, the road will be closed to through traffic during this period. Motorists are advised to use alternate routes to reach their destinations. Detour signs will be displayed to guide traffic through San Miguel and Royce Roads."We understand that this closure may cause inconvenience for some motorists, but it is necessary...


Government

Santa Fe County Seeks Members for Capital Improvements Advisory Committee

Santa Fe County is currently seeking individuals from the general public who are interested in serving on the Capital Improvements Advisory Committee (CIAC). The CIAC consists of five members who are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC).According to the announcement, the primary duty of the CIAC is to advise the BCC on matters related to the capital improvement plan (CIP), land use assumptions, and impact fees within the County. The committee's responsibilities include advising and assisting the County in updating and adopting land use assumptions,...


Government

Santa Fe County Seeks Public Input for Hazard Mitigation Plan

Santa Fe County is seeking public input for its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMAP), a comprehensive effort to identify and develop strategies to minimize the impact of various hazards on the unincorporated area of the County. In order to ensure the success of the plan, the county is actively engaging with diverse stakeholders and inviting them to participate in public meetings and surveys.Fire Chief Jacob Black emphasizes the importance of public engagement in hazard mitigation planning, stating, "Public engagement is critical to the success of hazard mitigation planning....


Government

Bernalillo County Commissioner Walt Benson Strongly Supports Return To Work Legislation

Bernalillo County Commissioner Walt Benson has expressed his strong support for the recently passed Return to Work bill, HB236, by the New Mexico House of Representatives. The bill is currently awaiting final passage on the Senate Floor. Commissioner Benson also highlighted the Senate version of the bill, SB 87, which is awaiting a final hearing.The Return to Work legislation was developed through a bipartisan effort with input from the New Mexico Association of Counties and the American Federation of State and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). It aims to provide an...


Government

Assessor Shows Love to ‘Entire’ Staff

County Assessor Damian Lara has implemented a new policy that brings fair and equitable accounting to his staff. Both union and non-union employees are now entitled to the same assessor certification and corresponding pay benefit. This move comes after Bernalillo County entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 18, Local 2260 AFL-CIO, which represents white-collar employees.Assessor Lara encouraged all his staff to participate in an extensive training program, which, when...


Government

Los Alamos environmental performance report

Los Alamos National Laboratory has released the Annual Site Environmental Report (ASER), a comprehensive document that provides an overview of the laboratory's environmental performance. The report includes data on soil, water, air, animals, and plants, in addition to covering compliance, radiation dose estimates, and waste management.


Government

RDC Fund Supports Manufacturing and Technology Companies in Northern New Mexico with No-Interest Loans

The Santa Fe County Economic Development Division has recently introduced the Regional Development Corporation (RDC) Technology and Manufacturing (TEAM) fund. This initiative aims to provide no-interest loans to manufacturing and technology-based companies in Northern New Mexico. The primary goal of the TEAM Fund is to support the growth of businesses in the region, ultimately leading to job creation, increased revenues, and attracting further funding and investment."The TEAM Fund is a testament to RDC's commitment to sustaining and assisting developing businesses in...


Government

County of Doña Ana to Observe Presidents' Day

Doña Ana County will be observing Presidents' Day on Monday, February 19, 2024. As a result, most administrative offices in the county will be closed on that day. However, it is important to note that first responders in the field will not be affected by the holiday closure.According to county officials, regular business hours for administrative offices will resume at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 20. The closure is in line with the observance of the federal holiday which honors two of the most prominent presidents in American history, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln....


Government

City of Las Cruces Utilities Announces Spring 2024 Lush and Lean Workshops

The City of Las Cruces Utilities Water Conservation program has announced the schedule for its 2024 Spring Lush and Lean Program. The workshops, designed to promote water conservation and sustainable landscaping practices, will be held every Thursday in March from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Branigan Library Roadrunner Room, located at 200 E. Picacho Avenue.The presentations, which will begin promptly at 5:45 p.m., will cover a range of topics related to gardening and landscaping in the desert climate of southern New Mexico. Stephanie Walker, Ph.D., Extension Vegetable...


Government

Sandia recognized for excellence in technology transfer

Sandia National Laboratories has announced that its employees have received recognition from the Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) for their outstanding success in commercializing technology. The FLC serves as a hub, fostering partnerships and pathways to connect laboratory innovations with commercial markets.


Government

Light-powered nanoscale tech advancements by Los Alamos scientists

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has announced that its scientists are at the forefront of developing nanometer-scale light-based systems, a revolutionary step in ultrafast microelectronics and room-temperature infrared detection. This new metasurface architecture could lead to significant advancements in ultrafast information processing and the development of versatile terahertz sources, overcoming the current limitations of integrated circuits in terms of speed and adaptability.


Government

Los Alamos unveils 2024 fellows for 'deep tech' entrepreneurs

Los Alamos National Laboratory has unveiled the 2024 cohort of The New Mexico Lab-Embedded Entrepreneur Program (New Mexico LEEP). The selected fellows will collaborate with lab scientists to refine their innovative projects.


Government

Senator Heinrich Honored as National Heritage Champion

Senator Heinrich was honored as a Heritage Champion by the Alliance of National Heritage Areas (ANHA) at their annual Congressional Breakfast and Awards Reception. The senator, who represents the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA), has been a strong advocate for National Heritage Areas and played a crucial role in ensuring the passage of the National Heritage Area Act.In his acceptance speech, Senator Heinrich highlighted the importance of National Heritage Areas in supporting arts, cultural organizations, and historic sites, particularly in Hispanic and...


Government

"Take a Ride on Us" Program Provides Safe Ride Option for February Celebrations

The "Take a Ride on Us" program is offering a safe ride option for residents in Sandoval and Bernalillo Counties during February celebrations. With events such as the big game, Mardi Gras, and Valentine's Day approaching, the program aims to ensure that people have a reliable and secure transportation option.Starting from Sunday, February 11 at 10 a.m. until Thursday, February 14 at 2 a.m., the program will provide 2,500 trips on a first-come, first-served basis. To avail of this offer, riders can open the Uber app, go to the vouchers section, and enter the code BIGFEB24....


Government

Delays Expected on Bridge Boulevard starting Friday, Feb. 9

Bernalillo County has issued a warning to the public about potential delays on Bridge Boulevard this weekend. The delays are due to ongoing construction work as part of the Bridge Boulevard Corridor Redevelopment Plan. The project, which is currently in its second phase, aims to improve the corridor from the Atrisco Riverside Drain to Young Avenue.Starting from Friday, Feb. 9, traffic patterns and signals will be adjusted in the area to accommodate utility work. Motorists should anticipate longer wait times and delays until Tuesday, Feb. 13. The construction work is...


Government

County road closure scheduled in Vado/Del Cerro area

The Doña Ana County Flood Commission has announced a temporary road closure in the Vado/Del Cerro area for the installation of a storm drain. Starting on Monday, February 12, Cristo Avenue will be closed between Ojito Avenue and Calle De La Cruz for a period of 45 days. The closure is necessary to facilitate storm drain improvements in the area.Motorists are advised to use alternate routes during the closure period. Detour signs will be in place to guide traffic around the affected area. The closure is expected to last until April 12, 2024."We apologize for the...


Government

Los Alamos investigates quantum device defects and fluctuations through experimentation

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has announced that a joint team with D-Wave Quantum Systems is examining fluctuations in inducing magnetic ordering on a network of qubits. The team discovered that these fluctuations, when utilized on a D-Wave quantum annealing platform, can decrease the total energy of the interacting magnetic moments.