LAFSE: Placing The Burden On The Backs Of Our Students And Staff
By TREY PEREYRA & STACY MARTENS
Co-Presidents
Los Alamos Federation of School Employees, AFT Local #3902
The Los Alamos Federation of School Employees (LAFSE) would like to address the District Administration, School Board, Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) staff, and LAPS students and parents regarding the school-year (SY) calendar for 2024-2025. In any year, it’s hard to create a calendar that meets state requirements and balances students’ holistic well-being, staff morale, and parents’ preferences. The circumstances surrounding the SY24/25 calendar were particularly challenging. Read More
Historical Society To Present Lecture April 29 On Nobel Laureates Of Los Alamos During Manhattan Project-Era
Historical Society News:
The Los Alamos Historical Society has announced its free upcoming lecture, scheduled 7-9 p.m. Monday, April 29 at Crossroads Bible Church.
This event marks the second to last lecture in the series and promises an entertaining and educational discussion on the Nobel Laureates of Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project-era.
Distinguished guests will bring their expertise and unique perspectives:
- Alan Carr, Senior Historian at LANL, brings years of experience and research into the history of the Manhattan Project and nuclear testing.
- Ellen McGehee, Historian
Leger Fernández On New HPCC Director Col. Jay Mitchell
Col. Jay Mitchell
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
Leger Fernández Recently Called on FEMA to Appoint a Director with Strong New Mexico Ties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has named Col. Jay Mitchell as the Director of Operations, leading the day-to-day operations for both the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon (HPCC) Claims Office (Claims Office) and Stafford Act wildfire disaster recovery operations based in Santa Fe. Mitchell is expected to begin in May and will be supported in his transition by leadership at FEMA.
“I am relieved FEMA Read More
New Mexico House Democratic Leaders Respond To Governor’s Announcement Calling For Special Session
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Today, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that she will call the legislature into special session this summer beginning July 18 to address issues related to public safety and behavioral healthcare.
The special session is expected to last several days.
New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque), Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), and Majority Caucus Chair Ray Lara (D-Chamberino) issued the following statement:
“We anticipated this announcement and we share the Governor’s commitment Read More
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BLM Seeks Public Input On New Mountain Bike Trail
BLM News:
FARMINGTON — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Farmington Field Office is considering the designation of a new mountain bike trail on public lands north of Kirtland.
San Juan County, in partnership with the BLM, is proposing a single-track recreational trail improvement project that will be designated for mountain bikes and Class I E-bikes. The BLM is considering the inclusion of Class I E-bikes to provide additional outdoor recreation opportunities for an emerging demographic that includes older or disabled riders.
The proposed project will utilize an existing social trail, Read More
Los Alamos County Comprehensive Health Plan Update Identifies Challenges And Offers Short-Term Solutions
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
There’s a lot to celebrate in Los Alamos, but as Los Alamos County Council discovered during its March 26 meeting, there also is no shortage of challenges.
County Social Services Division Manager Jessica Strong, in her update on the development of the Comprehensive Health Plan to council, listed some of the challenges the Los Alamos Health Council identified after conducting 200 interviews with various community members as well as some of the immediate actions that can be taken to address these challenges.
These challenges Read More
NMRLD New Mexico Cannabis Control Division Reminds Public To Consume Safely Ahead Of Springtime Events
NMRLD News:
Santa Fe – The weather is warming up and the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s (NMRLD) Cannabis Control Division is urging cannabis consumers to follow the laws and practice safe consumption this spring.
“Springtime is when we start seeing more outdoor events and an uptick in public consumption,” Cannabis Control Division Director Todd Stevens said. “We want to remind the public and our licensees that it is illegal to consume cannabis in public spaces like festivals, expos, and even at a licensed dispensary that doesn’t have an official consumption lounge license.” Read More
New Mexico Department Of Workforce Solutions Releases Part One Of Broadband Workforce Sector Strategy
Cabinet Secretary Sarita Nair
NMDWS News:
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- New Mexico Is Investing Nearly $2 Billion To Provide Statewide Universal Broadband Access
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ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS) has released Part One of New Mexico’s Broadband Sector Strategy.
Prepared in partnership with the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and industry stakeholders, the report is the first step in bring together industry, educators, and communities to ensure we have a strong workforce to build universal broadband access with the support of the New Mexico legislature, Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Cosponsors Legislation To Fast-Track Veterans Access To Health Care Benefits
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) cosponsored the Combat Veterans Pre-Enrollment Act, legislation to give combat veterans the option to enroll in their health care benefits program before officially transitioning out of active duty.
The bill would create an opt-in program to allow transitioning servicemembers to access Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services their first day as a civilian. Currently, transitioning service members must wait until they have left service and received their official separation paperwork to apply for Veterans Health Read More
Robinson: A Better Way To Run A Railroad
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
There’s nothing like a road trip to make you appreciate another mode of transportation – trains. They keep motorists company along many a New Mexico highway. Before we left the federal Department of Transportation unveiled a new railroad rule, so I was paying more attention to trains.
On April 2 DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration began requiring trains to have at least two crew members. The feds cited “troubling trends that point toward a need for heightened caution and awareness in railroad safety”.
The number of human-caused Read More
Canceled: Today’s Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board Meeting
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board meeting scheduled for noon today, April 16, in the Municipal Building has been canceled due to lack of quorum. Read More
County Environmental Sustainability Board To Meet April 18
COUNTY News:Q&A With Council Candidate James Wernicke
Council Candidate James Wernicke
ELECTION News:
Libertarian James Wernicke is running for a seat on the Los Alamos County Council. He recently answered questions from the Los Alamos Daily Post about the local election.
This is part of a series of Q&As with political candidates that the Post will publish ahead of the June 4 Primary.
Post: How long have you lived in Los Alamos?
Wernicke: I’ve lived in Los Alamos permanently since 2013.
Post: Where do you work?
Wernicke: I’ve worked at the lab since 2013.
Post: Why are you running for County Council?
Wernicke: I believe there’s room for Read More
Hampton: April 4 Transportation Board Meeting Update
By DAVID HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos Transportation Board
At our last Transportation Board meeting, April 4, 2024, we received a presentation from Member Karen Edwards on the inclusion of blind and low-vision customers in public transportation. She challenged us to consider special transportation difficulties these individuals may experience and to take them into consideration in planning and operating our public transit system.
May 16 will be the annual Bike-to-Work Day (note the date change). If you are interested in helping with this event, including planning, please email Louise Romero Read More
Gessing: LNG Permit Ban Absurd
By PAUL GESSING
President
New Mexico’s Rio Grande Foundation
What if I told you that one federal government policy could do the following:
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- Undermine Russia’s war against Ukraine (without the US spending a dime);
- Strengthen economic ties between the US and Asian and European nations;
- Reduce CO2 emissions; and
- Increase US tax revenues and American jobs (including in New Mexico).
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The policy I’m referring to is to allow American exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG). Thanks to American technological prowess the US is producing enough energy not only for itself, but for the world as well.
Sadly, Read More
NMDOT Introduces Work Zone Safety Mascot ‘Zippy’
NMDOT News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) has introduced the newest member of the NMDOT team, “Zippy” the roadrunner mascot.
Zippy is dedicated to promoting work zone safety across the State of New Mexico, and will raise awareness around work zone safety, educate drivers and share messages about the importance of staying safe in work zones.
Zippy’s introduction coincides with the start of National Work Zone Awareness Week (NWZAW) today, April 15, and the roadrunner educator will be sharing safety messages for the next several months. Zippy will be featured Read More
VIDEO: Heinrich On First Ever Electrify New Mexico Event
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and the Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Electrification Caucus, provided a video keynote speech to the first ever Business to Business Electrify New Mexico event hosted last week by Renewable Energy Industries Association of New Mexico.
“Very soon, most of us will power our cars, heat our water, and heat and cool our homes with clean electrons rather than hydrocarbon molecules,” Heinrich said. “This will not only help us meet the moment Read More
Dannemann: A Medical Cost You Didn’t Know About
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Most of us have never heard of independent medical examinations. We might need to know a little more about them.
An independent medical examination (IME) is an exam performed when there is litigation related to a sick or injured person’s medical condition that requires more than the opinion of the treating physician. A doctor is hired – or, if necessary, a few doctors with different specialties – to give an unbiased opinion.
New Mexico workers’ compensation has an unusual system for IMEs. If the parties can’t agree to an IME Read More
Harris: Two New Mexico Political Groups Using Opposite Tactics To Reach Common Goal … Elect Democrats
By LINDA G. HARRIS
Politics Two Ways
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
Two New Mexico political groups are using opposite tactics to reach a common goal—elect Democrats. While the West Side Democrats in Albuquerque focuses on personal activism, Blue CD2 New Mexico uses data and remote messaging techniques to reach new voters. Both groups say their specific methods are helping win elections.
The West Side group is led by Dorothy Wilkinson. She spent 28 years teaching in Gallup before retiring to Albuquerque, where she had planned to take it easy. “But 2016 happened,” she said. Her return to activism Read More
