New Mexico won't be among the many Republican-led states expected to fight President Barack Obama's efforts to cut greenhouse gases from power plants. That word from State Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn. Flynn says the state has properly prepared for the plan because New Governor Susana Martinez had previously brokered an agreement. Martinez moved to comply with the rule to allow the state to craft its own path to compliance. Flynn says New Mexico could have faced a federally imposed implementation plan. The new Environmental Protection Agency rule calls for nationwide carbon reduction mandates. It seeks to reduce U.S. carbon emissions from electric power plants by 30 percent by 2030.
Peace advocates are planning peace vigils in Los Alamos to mark the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The activists are scheduled to hold the peace vigils at Ashley Pond on Thursday and Sunday. Thursday is the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, and Sunday is the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing. Activists also plan to hold nonviolent workshops this week in Santa Fe. During the World War II-era Manhattan Project, scientists at the then-secret city of Los Alamos worked to develop the weapon dropped on the Japanese cities. The project involved three research and production facilities at Los Alamos; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Hanford, Washington.
An early version of the Confederate flag that had flown above Old Town Albuquerque for decades has been taken down. Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry decided to remove the flag Monday after meeting last week with black leaders. Berry says the city still will mark its role in the Civil War by keeping replica cannons and plaques that accurately describe the "Skirmish of Albuquerque" when Confederate and Union soldiers exchanged artillery fire. Debate over the Confederate flag intensified this summer after a white gunman who had posed with Confederate flags killed nine black church members in South Carolina. The version of the Confederate flag flown in Old Town was known as the "Stars and Bars" with seven stars, a blue background and red and white stripes.
Santa Fe Public Schools and many other New Mexico school districts begin the new school year in less than two weeks. And, it’s no coincidence that the State Health Department has just launched its annual “Got Shots? Protect Tots!” statewide immunization program. *****080415-Gallagher-3 :19***** That’s Department of Health Deputy Secretary Lynn Gallagher, who says the shots-for-tots effort is offered at many New Mexico locations. *****080415-Gallagher-2 :20***** Gallagher says you can find a location near you by clicking on the Health Department’s website, at N-M-Health-dot-org, or by calling 866-681-5872.
Federal fish and wildlife officials are appealing to the state to reconsider its rejection of two permits related to Mexican wolf conservation efforts. The Albuquerque Journal reports this is the first year the state has denied the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's request to renew a permit to hold wolves at Ted Turner's Ladder Ranch in southwestern New Mexico. State Game Commission members also denied a request to release wolf pups and two adults on land managed by the U.S. Forest Service in New Mexico. Phoenix-based U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman Jeff Humphrey said state cooperation is preferred, though critics say the agency could proceed regardless of local approval. The appeals are set to be heard during an August 27th Game Commission meeting.
Using the money from the two federal agencies and other resources, the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness has embarked on an ambitious plan. –that is to find housing for all homeless veterans in the state by the end of this year. Based on a count in January, the number of homeless veterans in New Mexico is around 825. The mayors of Santa Fe, Albuquerque and Las Cruces have agreed to support the program, called the “Zero: 2016” initiative.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny skies both today and tomorrow with highs in the upper 80s and a 10-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms both days. Tonight: Mostly clear with the overnight low dipping to 55.