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Save the Date!
CSG West Legislative Exchange on Women's Health
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The CSG West Health Committee will host a virtual Legislative Exchange on Women’s Health on Wednesday, November 13, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.
The discussion will focus on research and legislation surrounding menopause and perimenopause. Currently, 75 million U.S. women are in perimenopause, menopause, or post-menopause—with 6,000 more women reaching menopause each day. Even though half the U.S. population will eventually experience menopause, menopause research has long been underinvested in and overlooked.
There are too few research, awareness, education, and outreach programs specifically focusing on menopause and mid-life women’s health issues. Further, only 30 percent of U.S. residency programs offer a formal menopause curriculum, and 80 percent of OB/GYN residents admit to being ill-prepared to discuss menopause.
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Please join us for an engaging conversation about the future of women’s health.
To secure your seat and receive programming updates, please register below.
If you have any questions, please contact Shilpa Patel at spatel@csg.org.
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Housing Block for Colorado River Forum Closes October 25th | Post-election and before the holidays, join us in warm, sunny Phoenix for an extraordinary discussion about the Colorado River! Designed especially for agriculture, energy, and water leaders of the west, the Colorado River Forum will include the following speakers and activities: | |
Anne Castle
Water Policy Group
Brenda Berman
Central Arizona Project
Bitah Becker
Navajo Nation
Alan Rhoades
Berkeley Lawrence National Laboratory
Lesley Meyers
Salt River Project
Anna Evans
Interwest Energy
Alexander Funk
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Colby Pellegrino
Southern Nevada Water Authority
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Policy tour featuring the cantilevered cover canal of the Gila River Indian Community, Arizona agriculture
Hosted lunch at the University of Arizona Extension Research Center
And more on the AGENDA
| The weather will be warm, the discussions dynamic, and Southwest hospitality at its finest. The housing block closes October 25th. Register below and join us in the Grand Canyon State for an unforgettable deep dive on the issues that drive the West. | | |
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Quagga Mussels in the Snake River: Update | |
The Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) recently announced a targeted quagga mussel treatment to eradicate the small population of the invasive species in the Snake River. On October 8, ISDA and contractors launched a 10-day comprehensive treatment from downriver of Hansen Bridge to Centennial Waterfront Park.
The treatment product is the same product used to treat the Snake River in 2023, a copper-based product called Natrix. The 2023 Natrix treatment significantly reduced the quagga mussel population in the Snake River.
The current treatment is the first of the multi-faceted treatment plan. ISDA is planning a second treatment in November to target quagga mussels in still water and deep pool sections of the river.
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Department of Defense Releases FY23 Defense Spending by State Report | |
The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation has released its Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Spending by State report. This report aims to provide states and communities insight into how defense-related procurement, personnel, and spending impact their economies.
The report includes graphs, maps, and tables highlighting key data such as overall spending figures, types of goods and services contracted, major defense vendors, defense personnel numbers, and DoD-awarded grants. It offers public and private sector leaders a valuable resource to evaluate how defense investments in installations, communities, and the private sector can be leveraged by advancing regional innovation, industrial capabilities, supply chain resilience, and workforce development.
Access the full report below.
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CSG West honors the lives of two distinguished Western legislators, each with over 30 years of public service. We pay tribute to former Utah Senator Ralph Okerlund and former New Mexico Senator John Arthur Smith for their lasting contributions to their states and our region. | |
Photo credit: Utah Legislative Services Office | |
Remembering Former Utah Senator Ralph Okerlund | |
Former Utah Senator Ralph Okerlund, who passed away on October 9, devoted more than three decades to public service. Starting as a teacher at South Sevier High School, Senator Okerlund later served as a city councilman and mayor in Monroe, Utah, before his election to the Utah State Senate in 2009. He was elected by his colleagues to serve as Senate Majority Leader from 2013 to 2020. Throughout his tenure in the Utah Legislature, Senator Okerlund advocated for rural economic development and sponsored bipartisan legislation to improve behavioral health services across the state.
Senator Okerlund’s leadership extended to CSG West, where he was chair-elect in 2017, served on the Agriculture & Water Committee from 2017-2018, and on the Executive Committee from 2017-2020. He was remembered by colleagues for his civility and ability to bridge political divides. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, three children, and ten grandchildren.
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Honoring Former New Mexico Senator John Arthur Smith | |
The CSG West family is mourning the loss of former longtime New Mexico Senator John Arthur Smith, who passed away on October 7th. Senator Smith served in the New Mexico State Legislature for over three decades, from 1989 until 2020, including his role as chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Known for his fiscal conservatism and cautious approach to state spending, colleagues from both parties recognized him for his fairness and ability to find compromise on key issues.
His legacy includes significant contributions to education and fiscal policy, such as his co-sponsorship of full-day kindergarten and brokering bipartisan agreements like the state’s compliance with the federal Real ID Act. Smith’s leadership and willingness to work across the aisle left a lasting impact on New Mexico's legislative process, earning him deep respect from Democrats and Republicans alike.
Senator Smith was also involved with CSG West, serving on the Energy & Environment Committee from 2017 to 2018. His commitment to collaboration, civility, and responsible governance will be remembered by all who had the honor of working with him.
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Photo credit: New Mexico Senate | | | |
THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS WEST www.csgwest.org | |
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CSG West is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization serving western state legislatures. All active legislators are considered members of our organization and included in organizational correspondence regarding news and events. While we hope you find this information of use, we also understand the need for a tidy inbox. If you do not wish to receive email updates from us, please unsubscribe below to be removed from our email list. | | | | |
