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NEW MEXICO’S RETIREMENT PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS AND COLLEGE

FACULTY IS CONSIDERING PROPOSALS TO SHORE UP ITS LONG TERM FINANCES BY ESTABLISHING A MINIMUM RETIREMENT AGE FOR SOME EDUCATORS AND LIMITING COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR RETIREES. THE EDUCATIONAL RETIREMENT BOARD WILL MAKE A DECISION NEXT MONTH ON A PACKAGE OF PENSION CHANGES TO RECOMMEND TO THE LEGISLATURE. THE PROGRAM COVERS 97,000 CURRENT WORKERS AND RETIREES. THE MOST FAR REACHING PROPOSAL WOULD ESTABLISH A MINIMUM RETIREMENT AGE OF 62 FOR EDUCATORS HIRED IN THE FUTURE AND SOME CURRENT WORKERS. IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO THOSE WITHIN TEN YEARS OF RETIREMENT UNDER EXISTING ELIGIBILITY PROVISIONS. CURRENTLY, MOST EDUCATORS CAN RETIRE WITH FULL BENEFITS AT ANY AGE AFTER WORKING FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS.

THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT WILL WAIVE RECREATION

RELATED FEES FOR VISITORS TO THE NATIONAL SYSTEM OF PUBLIC LANDS FOR VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND, THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE FEE FREE DAYS INCLUDE AREAS MANAGED WITHIN THE BLM’S NATIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION SYSTEM. THE FEE FREE REQUIREMENT ONLY APPLIES TO STANDARD AMENITY FEES SUCH AS INDIVIDUAL DAY-USE FEES. OTHER FEES, SUCH AS THOSE FOR GROUP DAY USE, OVERNIGHT CAMPING, AND CABIN RENTALS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT. THESE FEE SITES IN OUR AREA INCLUDE VALLEY OF FIRES RECREATION AREA AND THREE RIVERS PETROGLYPH SITES.

U.S. SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN TODAY CONFIRMED THAT NEW MEXICO

RECEIVED $434.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN ROYALTY PAYMENTS IN FISCAL YEAR 2011 FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION ON FEDERAL LANDS IN THE STATE, AN INCREASE OF $53.9 MILLION DOLLARS FROM FISCAL YEAR 2010. ONLY WYOMING RECEIVED MORE ROYALTIES THAN NEW MEXICO. “UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, OIL PRODUCTION AND ROYALTIES ARE UP IN NEW MEXICO. THESE ROYALTY PAYMENTS WILL BOLSTER NEW MEXICO’S BUDGET DURING THIS VERY DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIME, BINGAMAN SAID.

FIRE OFFICIALS ON THE SACRAMENTO RANGER DISTRICT

WILL CONTINUE THE SOMBRERO PRESCRIBED BURN NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF TIMBERON THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK, WEATHER CONDITIONS PERMITTING. FIRE OFFICIALS ACCOMPLISHED 340 ACRES LAST WEEK, AND WILL PRESCRIBE BURN THE REMAINING 800 ACRES THIS WEEK. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE TO REDUCE HAZARDOUS FUEL LOADING, TO MOVE THE AREA TOWARDS A MORE FIRE ADAPTED ECOSYSTEM, AND WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT.

THE NEW MEXICO DEPT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS UNEMPLOYMENT

INSURANCE CALL CENTER WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW IN OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY. AND THE DEPT URGES CLAIMANTS TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY. THE UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIMS SYSTEM WEBSITE WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 3AM TO 8PM DAILY, AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TOLL-FREE PHONE OPTION WILL BE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY FOR NORMAL SELF SERVICE FUNCTIONS. TOMORROW IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY AND BANKING INSTITUTIONS AND THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE WILL BE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF VETERANS DAY.