WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) was sworn in to serve as the next U.S. Senator from New Mexico. Following his swearing-in ceremony, Senator Luján highlighted his priorities to address the COVID-19 pandemic and put New Mexico’s economy on the path to recovery.

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. – Congresswoman Yvette Herrell announced that she will object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election on January 6.

SANTA FE, NM – Attorney General Hector Balderas announced on Jan. 5 that his office has sued Total Teaching Solutions International, and its CEO Janice Bickert. TTSI and Ms. Bickert have been engaged in recruiting teachers from the Philippines to teach in New Mexico school districts. However, TTSI charged exorbitant and excessive fees for theplacement services they offer and, in some cases, failed to provide. TTSI charges approximately $15,000 for services. Several other companies operating in the State of New Mexico that provides nearly identical services on average charge $4,000 per teacher.

SANTA FE, NM—Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that his office sued Sterigenics U.S., LLC and its related companies for knowingly emitting an air pollutant known as ethylene oxide in excess of permissible limits from its plant in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. The lawsuit, filed in the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces, alleges that since 1989, as part of the sterilization process in the plant, the companies have emitted, and may still be emitting, high amounts of ethylene oxide, thereby damaging the environment and potentially putting New Mexicans at risk.

SANTA FE, N.M.— The New Mexico Environment Department entered into a settlement agreement with O’Reilly Auto Parts for alleged violations of the state’s public health order and the Occupational Health and Safety Act that resulted in an unsafe workplace at a Santa Fe store. Under the settlement agreement, O’Reilly Auto Parts will pay $79,200 in penalties.

WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States is imposing sanctions on 17 companies and one individual in connection with Iran’s metals industry. The Iranian regime uses revenue from its metals sector to fund the regime’s destabilizing activities around the world.

CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Last week the Cibola Citizen reported on veteran Don Rogers whose home burned to the ground before the holidays. Rogers lost everything, from his life savings to his life’s work, in the inferno.

SANTA FE, NM – Attorney General Hector Balderas today joined a bi-partisan coalition of 38 attorneys general in suing Google LLC for anticompetitive conduct in violation of federal law. The states allege that Google illegally maintains its monopoly power over general search engines and related advertising markets through a series of anticompetitive exclusionary contracts and conduct. As a result, Google has deprived consumers of competition that could lead to greater choice, innovation, and better privacy protections.

Do not feel obliged to include cause of death. While acquaintances who first learn of a person’s death via an obituary may be curious about cause of death, loved ones of the deceased do not have to include such information if they are uncomfortable doing so. Many obituaries never include such information, so readers likely won’t expect it.

Drafting a last will and testament is an essential component of estate planning. Despite the importance of having a will, a recent survey from AARP found that two out of five Americans over the age of 45 do not have one.