McCauley Springs Fire Morning Update: Thursday June 25
Map depicting McCauley Springs Fire perimeter in the Jemez. Courtesy/USFS
Map depicting McCauley Springs Fire perimeter in the Jemez. Courtesy/USFS
FOREST SERVICE Update:
The Northern New Mexico Type 3 Incident Management Team, Incident Commander Luke McLarty, assumed command of the McCauley Springs Fire on Wednesday evening.
A Complex Incident Management Team has been ordered and will be arriving today. Both teams will communicate and work closely to ensure a smooth transfer of command.
The current incident management team wants to thank the evacuees and community for Read More
Children’s Parade & Carnival To Be Held On 4th Of July In White Rock
COMMUNITY News:
Announcing the exciting return of the community Independence Day Children’s parade and Carnival in White Rock, NM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Activities begin at 10 a.m. with a flag ceremony performed by the JROTC, and children’s parade around the block, led by the Los Alamos Police and Fire department. Children are invited to festively decorate their bikes, trikes, strollers, wagons, scooters, etc. and join the parade!
A free carnival on the back lawn of the church follows the parade with popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy for all. There Read More
State Treasurer Montoya Addresses State’s Affordability, Debt Crisis At Albuquerque Roundtable
New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya presents at recent AFT roundtable. Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
NMSTO News:
SANTA FE — This week, New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya participated in the Keeping the Dream Alive: Albuquerque’s Affordability Roundtable event to bring awareness to the affordability and consumer debt crisis affecting New Mexicans. Hosted by the City of Albuquerque Office of Financial Empowerment, City of Albuquerque Office of Consumer Protection, and Protect Borrowers, the roundtable featured financial and economic experts, local leaders, and members Read More
PAC 8 Community Media Center: June 26-July 2, 2026
PAC 8 News:
PAC 8 Community Media Center is available for recording events, transferring old media, shooting and editing, live streaming and drone photography and videography.
For information, call 505.662.7228 or visit pac8cmc.com.
PAC 8 Television schedule for June 26-July 2, 2026:
June 26, 2026
- 6 a.m. — Democracy Now! – Live
- 10 a.m. — The Thom Hartmann Program
- 11 a.m. — County Council Replay 6-9–26
- 4 p.m. — Democracy Now!
- 5 p.m. — PAC PAGES – Los Alamos County News Updates
- 6 p.m. — Understanding Homelessness
- 8 p.m. — LARSO Town Hall Meeting
- 12 a.m. — Free Speech TV
Saturday, June 27, 2026 Read More
Helicopter With Water Bucket Leaves Santa Fe Airport
Helicopter and water bucket taking off Wednesday from the Santa Fe Airport to help with firefighting efforts in the area. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen Read More
New Documents Added To Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room
LANL News:
New documents have been added to the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room.
All legacy cleanup documents required to be posted after April 30, 2018, are available on the site linked above.
For legacy cleanup documents that were posted prior to April 30, 2018, please visit the LANL electronic public reading room.
- Review, Notice of Completion of Off-Site Waste Shipments for Final Disposal, Activity 4.0, Compliance Plan, Site Treatment Plan, Federal Facility Compliance Order, Los Alamos National Laboratory [April 7, 9, 14, 16 2026, Shipments]
https://ext.em-la.doe.gov/GovFTPFiles/api/GetFiles/GetFile?fileName=EMID-704392_NMED_Review_STP_Shipment_Apr_7-9-14-16_062426.pdf
Rep. Vasquez Votes To Pass Bipartisan Housing Bill To Bring Down Housing Costs, Curb Corporate Homebuying
U.S. HOUSE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On May 20, 2026, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted to pass the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan bill to bring down housing costs in New Mexico. The bill—the largest housing package to pass out of the House in 36 years — now heads to the Senate and makes sweeping changes to the American housing market.
Measures in the bill include:
- Authorizes funding to build more affordable housing for working families in New Mexico: The bill funds additional affordable housing projects to boost housing stock and bring down prices. The bill also establishes
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. Observes Second-Annual ENS Sign Awareness Day June 24
OLI News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI), the national rail safety education nonprofit, joins State Operation Lifesaver Programs and rail safety partners in observing the second-annual Emergency Notification System (ENS) Sign Awareness Day, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. OLI reminds everyone that recognizing and understanding how to use the Blue and White ENS sign can save lives when seconds count.
“Located across the U.S. where roadways cross tracks, ENS signs provide a critical connection to railroads in emergencies,” OLI Executive Director Rachel Maleh said. Read More
Vista Linda Campground Moves To Reservation Only System
Vista Linda campground in Jemez Ranger District. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — The Jemez Ranger District will transition Vista Linda Campground from a first come, first served campground to a reservation only campground beginning June 30, 2026. The change is intended to improve visitor access and trip planning by allowing campers to reserve sites in advance.
The Forest Service is adapting management practices to better meet visitor expectations and improve campground operations. Transitioning Vista Linda Campground to a reservation-based system will help provide a more predictable Read More
Upcoming Lane Closures On I-25 Near St. Francis Drive
NMDOT News:
SANTE FE — As part of the upgrades on I-25 from NM 14/Cerrillos Road to US 285/El Dorado, lane closures are expected to take place beginning June 25 for guardrail installation.
There will be two closures northbound near the St. Francis exit, and one southbound in the same location. Each closure is expected to last no longer than 46 hours.
Beginning 9 a.m. on Thursday, June 25, the on-ramp from Old Pecos Trail to northbound I-25 will be closed. It will be reopened by 7 a.m. on Saturday June 27.
Beginning 9 a.m. on Monday, June 29, the on-ramp from St. Francis Drive to northbound I-25 will be Read More
Heinrich Questions Trump Nominees On Screwworm Mitigation Efforts, Funding International Conservation Programs, And Administrative Budget Cuts And Expenses
Ranking Member Heinrich (D-N.M.) questions Kevin Lilly, Trump’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks and William Hague, Trump’s Assistant Secretary of the Interior nominee before U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, June 23, 2026. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider pending Trump nominees, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, questioned Kevin Lilly, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife Read More
Governor Issues Statement On DEA’s Failure To Seize Thousands Of Fentanyl Pills In New Mexico
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today issued the following statement:
I am appalled by reporting this week by the Associated Press and Albuquerque Journal that revealed federal authorities made a deliberate decision to let hundreds of thousands of fentanyl pills flood into New Mexico communities, despite knowing that fentanyl is so lethal the White House has designated it a weapon of mass destruction.
Let me say that again: the Drug Enforcement Administration watched as 74,000 fentanyl pills were delivered to a mobile home park in Albuquerque, Read More
Daily Postcard: Daybreak Through A Haze
Daily Postcard: Daybreak through a haze as seen from Quemazon. Photo by DW Decker
The moment before the sun peeks out. Photo by DW Decker Read More
McCauley Springs Fire In The Jemez Consumes 150 Acres
An aerial view today of smoke billowing from the McCauley Springs Fire in the Jemez Mountains. The fire is burning about a mile west of Jemez Falls Campground and as of this afternoon the fire has consumed 150 acres. Due to continued N.M. 4 road closures and power outages associated with the fire, Valles Caldera National Preserve will be closed Thursday, June 25. Courtesy/USFS
- McCauley Springs Fire Evening Update
- 150
- Jemez Ranger District, near Battleship Rock
- Undetermined
- 0%
- June 24, 2026
- Timber
Obituary: James Howard Douglass, Jr. Aug 5, 1979 – Jun 21, 2026
JAMES HOWARD DOUGLASS, JR. Aug 5, 1979 – Jun 21, 2026
It is with a very heavy heart to announce the passing of our beloved James. H. Douglass, Jr. (Jimmy).
Jimmy was born to Sgt. First Class James H. Douglass, Sr. and Janice Douglass on August 5, 1979, in Wiesbaden, Germany. He was welcomed by his siters Deborah and Laura.
Jimmy was a free spirit who had many hobbies. He loved cooking, RC cars, NASCAR, video games and his two Australian Shepherds, Maggie Mae and Jackie Blue.
He leaves behind his parents Jimbo and Jan, uncles Keith Kihara and Paul Neadrow, sisters Deborah and Laura (Greg), nephews Jason Read More
Wilmot Is Best Predictor In Weekly Pace Race June 23
Scene from the weekly pace race held Tuesday on the Burnt Mesa Trail. Courtesy/ACRR
Scene from the weekly pace race held Tuesday on the Burnt Mesa Trail. Courtesy/ACRR
ACRR News:
Zeke Wilmot was the top predictor in the Atomic City Road Runners (ACRR) weekly pace race held Tuesday on the Burnt Mesa Trail in Bandelier National Monument. He was 2 seconds off his predicted time.
Other accurate predictors were:
- James Zola with a 3 second differential
- Aurea Rojas recording a 8 second difference
- Eric Davis was 9 seconds off as well as the first-place finisher in the 2-mile distance at 21:06
- Edith Acosta
Update On McCauley Spring Fire Burning In The Jemez
New Mexico Forest Service News:
SANTA FE —The McCauley Springs Fire was detected this morning June 24, on the Jemez Ranger District and is approximately 30 acres.
Coordinating with the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the community of Sierra de los Pinos is in “Go” status and currently under evacuation. Sandoval County has set up an evacuation center at Mountain Baptist Church in La Cueva and the Jemez Senior Center.
N.M. 4 is now closed at the main entrance to Valles Caldera National Preserve. Access beyond the closure is restricted to emergency vehicles and authorized personnel. Note: Read More
YMCA To Host July 4th Firecracker 5K Family Fun Run, Community Parade, Announces Road Closures
YMCA News:
The Family YMCA will host its annual Firecracker 5K Family Fun Run and Community Parade on Saturday, July 4. Temporary road closures and traffic control measures will be in place to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.
Canyon Road will be closed from approximately 8-10 a.m., from 15th Street to Central Avenue and continuing to the Los Alamos High School parking lot to Diamond Drive, for the Firecracker 5K Family Fun Run.
Traffic control will also be in place on:
- 15th Street from Iris Street to Canyon Road; and
- Canyon Road from Central Avenue to Los Alamos High School.
Following Read More
Canceled: APP Board Meeting Due To Lack Of Quorum
COUNTY News:
The Art in Public Places Advisory Board (APP) meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 25 is canceled due to lack of quorum.
The next meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 23 in Suite 110 at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave. The meeting is open to the public.
About the Art In Public Places Advisory Board:
To encourage the integration of art into the architecture of municipal structures, increase the general public awareness of art, to visually enhance the community, to capture a part of our history for future generations, to promote the establishment Read More
Blackhawk Helicopter Lands At Los Alamos County Airport
A Blackhawk helicopter arrived Saturday afternoon at Los Alamos County Airport and Airport Manager Gary Goddard explained that the U.S. Forest Service was responding to the Rio Fire near Chacoma Mountain and the helicopter was dumping water from Abiquiu Lake on the fire. Goddard added that the Rio Fire is contained and the Forest Service is ‘mopping up at this point’. Courtesy photo Read More