Op-Ed: Looking Beyond The Plastic Bag
By JASON CHAPPEL
Candidate for Los Alamos County Council
‘Building Bridges. Empowering Citizens.’
ElectJasonChappel.com
This week, the Los Alamos Environmental Sustainability Board voted not to recommend the proposed single-use plastic bag ban to the County Council after hearing comments from members of our community. I appreciate the Board’s willingness to listen to a variety of perspectives before making its recommendation.
I was one of the community members who spoke during public comment. As Assistant Store Leader for Operations at Smith’s Marketplace, I shared my perspective Read More
Cinema Cindy Reviews: The Odyssey
By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
Los Alamos
Christopher Nolan’s new blockbuster “The Odyssey” was released Friday. Only a director/writer of Nolan’s renown would have the hubris to bring this epic song-poem, which originated in Greece in the 8th century BCE, to a modern audience via a nearly three hour feature film. Mostly, Nolan’s efforts work, though not all film reviewers are enamored.
Cast in the title role of Odysseus is a mature Matt Damon, made to age appropriately over the twenty years of the epic. This is a colossal role for Damon, allowing him to demonstrate deeper acting chops than he may ever Read More
Deb Haaland To Increase Child Tax Credit, Working Families Tax Credit If Elected Governor
From the campaign of Deb Haaland:
ALBUQUERQUE — Deb Haaland, the Democratic nominee for governor in New Mexico, proposed bold solutions to put more money in people’s pockets. As a single mom trying to make ends meet, tax credits were a critical lifeline.
Haaland believes that working people should be able to hold onto more of their paychecks, while requiring the wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share. To address this need, Haaland plans to increase the Child Tax Credit and the Working Families Tax Credit.
The costs associated with raising children are among the biggest expenses Read More
New Mexico Organizations Stand With Congressional Delegation, Tribal Nations To Restore Bears Ears And Grand Staircase-Escalante
NEW MEXICO WILD News:
ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Wild, Friends of the Rio Grande del Norte, and Friends of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks stand in solidarity with the members of Congress and Tribal Nations fighting to restore Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments after President Trump signed executive orders gutting protections for both—an action that Tribal Nations, members of Congress, and legal experts say exceeds presidential authority and is illegal.
The Antiquities Act empowers presidents to establish national monuments but grants no power to abolish or shrink Read More
Rep. Vasquez Holds Briefing With National Transportation Safety Board For Answers On Deadly Civilian Plane Crash Near Ruidoso
U.S. HOUSE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 14, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) met with National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials to help identify answers and accountability for the deadly medical plane crash that took place near Ruidoso in May, following reports that military testing may have played a role in the crash.
Following the tragic crash near Ruidoso, Rep. Vasquez requested a briefing from the NTSB to ensure appropriate steps are being taken to understand the cause of the accident, address any underlying safety issues, and protect New Mexicans from similar incidents Read More
Heinrich Introduces Legislation And Grid Initiative To Deliver Reliable Power To Working Families, Businesses
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 16, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, introduced the Grid Connection and Congestion Management Act, which would require grid operators to establish a fast-track process for connecting new energy projects to the electric grid, reducing delays and easing congestion.
“As electricity demand grows, we need to find better, faster ways to add more affordable, reliable power to the grid,” Heinrich said. “Right now, unnecessary delays are slowing projects that could help lower Read More
Video: Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann On Work Session
Los Alamos County Council Vice Chair Ryn Herrmann discusses highlights from Tuesday’s work session during a visit Wednesday to the newsroom at the Los Alamos Daily Post. Video by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com Read More
Heinrich, Leger Fernández Lead New Mexico & Texas Democrats To Introduce Legislation Reversing Rate Cuts For Veterans’ Essential Homecare Services
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) led New Mexico and Texas congressional Democrats in introducing the Protecting Home-Based Care for Rural Veterans Act, legislation to reverse the Trump administration’s cuts to reimbursement rates for essential homecare services for veterans in New Mexico and Texas.
As of Jan. 1, 2026, the reimbursement rate for veterans’ homecare services fell by nearly 20 percent in New Mexico and 43 percent in parts of Texas, which could result in homemaker and home health aide agency Read More
Luján, Merkley, Massie, Khanna, Leger Fernández Introduce Epstein Files Transparency Act II
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) introduced the Epstein Files Transparency Act II, legislation that gives standing to state attorneys general, the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators, and members of Congress to challenge the Department of Justice (DOJ) in court for the DOJ’s failure to comply with the disclosure of materials required by Public Law 119-38, the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA). U.S. Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) are leading the House legislation. Read More
Los Alamos County Council Hears Efforts To Mitigate Chromium Plume
Field crews conduct drilling operations at R-80 monitoring well in Mortandad Canyon. The new well will further characterization efforts in the Northeast portion of the hexavalent chromium plume. Courtesy/EM-LA
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Environmental Management-Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) Manager Stanley Pyram emphasized during the Los Alamos County Council meeting July 7 that the interim measure the field office is using to mitigate the hexavalent chromium plume is working. Yet, New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has issued three Read More
Hampton: Boukas To Speak On Suicide And Overdoses At August Health Council Meeting
Lisa Hampton
By LISA HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos County Health Council
As Chair of the Los Alamos County Health Council, I wanted to personally invite you to attend the Thursday, Aug. 6 Health Council Meeting at noon, in the Municipal Building.
Our guest speaker will be Nick Boukas, Director of the New Mexico Health Care Authority’s Behavioral Health Services Division. He will be speaking to us about issues revolving around suicides, drug overdoses, and other mental health crises.
Boukas’ Division runs New Mexico’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the free and confidential Read More
Citizen Efforts Pay Off With Newly Installed Four-Way Stop At Urban Street And North Road
The intersection of Urban Street and North Road now features a four-way stop. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
In the aftermath of a tragedy Los Alamos County took measures to make its roadways safer.
Los Alamos resident Brian Easton was killed by a vehicle as he walked across the intersection at Urban Street and North Road on March 14.
His death spurred members of the Girl Scouts Pajarito Service Unit to present a citizen petition April 7 to Los Alamos County Council that pushed for a four-way or all-way stop at the intersection. Read More
Sen. Heinrich Questions Jay Clayton On DOJ’s Obstruction Of Investigation Of Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questions Jay Clayton on DOJ’s obstruction of investigation of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes at Zorro Ranch, July 15, 2026. Watch the video here. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) pressed Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and nominee to be the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), on the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) refusal to provide evidence related to Jeffrey Epsein’s alleged crimes at Zorro Ranch in Read More
Rep. Vasquez Supports Bipartisan Push To End American Taxpayer Support For Israeli Military Operations
Rep. Gabe Vasquez
U.S. HOUSE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On July 15, U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) voted in favor of a bipartisan amendment to block $3.3 billion in security assistance and other funding for Netanyahu’s far-right Israeli government from the National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The amendment was introduced by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie (KY-04).
“Hardworking New Mexicans’ tax dollars should not be spent on a blank check for Netanyahu’s far-right government to unleash senseless violence in Gaza and Lebanon, deny humanitarian Read More
Think New Mexico Hosts Four 2026 Summer Leadership Interns To Assist In Researching And Developing Policy Proposals
Gathered for a luncheon Tuesday at La Plazuela at La Fonda Tuesday in Santa Fe, front row from left, Think New Mexico 2026 Summer Leadership Intern Viviana Ornelas, Board President Roberta Ramo and Intern Marly Fisher. Back row from left, Think New Mexico Field Director Noah Apodaca, Intern Ian Hernandez, Think New Mexico Board Secretary Liddie Martinez, Intern Awlen Salazar and Healthcare Reform Director Lauren Leland. Courtesy/TNM
Gathered Tuesday at La Plazuela at La Fonda in Santa Fe, front row from left, Think New Mexico 2026 Summer Leadership Intern Viviana Ornelas, Board President Read More
Heinrich, Schatz, Senate Democrats Host Roundtable With Labor Leaders To Discuss Future Of Energy Workforce
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D- Hawai‘i), host a roundtable on the future of America’s energy workforce, July 14, 2026. Courtesy photo
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) convened a roundtable with labor leaders to discuss the future of America’s energy workforce and the policies needed to create good-paying Read More
New Mexico Land Commissioner Garcia Richard Again Denies Request To Run Portion Of Project Jupiter Pipeline Through State Lands
From the New Mexico State Land Office:
-
-
-
-
- Commissioner issues letter in response to developer’s appeal of initial rejection
-
-
-
SANTA FE – New Mexico Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has again denied a request to run a portion of a natural gas pipeline through state lands to service the controversial Project Jupiter data center in southern New Mexico.
In a letter dated July 14, 2026, Commissioner Garcia Richard rejected a request from Energy Transfer – a subsidiary of the developer of the project – to reconsider the Commissioner’s initial denial in March 2026 of applications for two rights-of-way Read More
New Mexico Forward Party Files Ballot Access Lawsuit
NMFP News:
The New Mexico Forward Party has filed a lawsuit July 14 in Federal District Court challenging a ballot access law.
“This lawsuit was filed so that justice can be served, and more choices can be offered to New Mexico voters.
“No other state requires candidates of a qualified party to submit their own petitions to qualify for the general election ballot and we believe it is unconstitutional. Typically, once a party completes the petition process to become qualified and is approved by the Secretary of State, as the New Mexico Forward Party was on May 14, it then has the right to place its nominees Read More
Luján, Welch, Schiff, Raskin, Ocasio-Cortez Introduce Legislation Imposing Gift Ban On Supreme Court Justices
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) introduced the High Court Gift Ban Act, legislation to close a glaring ethics loophole that allows U.S. Supreme Court Justices to accept lavish gifts from wealthy benefactors and individuals with interests before the Court. U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) introduced companion legislation in the House.
Unlike other federal judges, Members of Congress, and executive branch officials—who are all bound by strict gift rules—Supreme Court Read More
Common Cause NM Secures Legal Win For Voter Privacy
CCNM News:
SANTA FE — Following a concerted, multi-state legal effort by Common Cause to safeguard the private information of millions of voters, a federal judge Tuesday dismissed the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit to obtain sensitive voter data in New Mexico.
Common Cause and a coalition of individual voters led the charge by filing the original motion to halt this federal overreach and ensure that New Mexico’s sensitive data remains secure.
“Today’s ruling is a massive victory for voter privacy and a testament to the power of organized advocacy in the face of federal overreach,” Read More
