Los Alamos County MRAs To Open For Business In 2026
The boundary of the East Downtown Los Alamos MRA Plan. Courtesy/LAC
The boundary of the White Rock Town Hall MRA. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The two Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas (MRA) in Los Alamos County are just about ready to open for business.
During an interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post Monday, Community Development Department Director Eli Isaacson discussed the Downtown Los Alamos and White Rock Town Hall MRA plans. He explained the application and handbook for property owners, business owners or developers should be finalized Read More
Los Alamos County Council Approves $40 Million In GRT Bonds For Community Broadband Network
Community Broadband Manager Jerry Smith
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, Los Alamos’ cellphone and internet activity screeched to a halt – again. In the last 12 months there have been four outages with the same culprit, a cut fiber optic line.
This time, however, the solution is not only identified but is being implemented. And the solution’s name is the Community Broadband Project.
During Tuesday’s Los Alamos County Council meeting, council unanimously approved an ordinance that authorizes the issuance of Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) improvement Read More
Level 1 Starts Here: Local Voices Shaping Game Design—And Global Security
This image of Pine Lakes Lodge is an example of modeling, texturing, AO/detail maps and collision (Xbox 360, 2007). Environment art by Holly Sheppard
Holly Sheppard, senior world builder at 31st Union. Courtesy photo
By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com
When 21-year-old Holly Sheppard began 3D modeling a simple office chair, she didn’t know she was helping lay the groundwork for a new kind of world building, one that could someday help train international nuclear inspectors.
Sheppard, now a senior world builder at 31st Union, was a University of Advancing Technology Read More
2025 Northern New Mexico Toy Drive Kicks Into Gear
Northern New Mexico Toy Drive powered by EXIT Realty Advantage NM volunteers, from left, Hunter Eaton, Becca Jones, Meredith Horner, Janet Lovato, Jonathan Zambrano, Lance Eaton and Sarah Nelson gathered on Friday at the drive’s headquarters at 1615 Central Ave. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
BY KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Northern New Mexico Toy Drive, powered by EXIT Realty Advantage NM, is gearing up for another big year. With a goal of serving 10,000 children in 2025, the stakes are high—but organizers and volunteers say they’re ready for Read More
Op-Ed: Veterans Fought For Justice Abroad. We Deserve It At Home.
By MIKE DOYLE
U.S. Air Force Veteran and Trial Attorney
Los Lunas
Every veteran knows that service doesn’t end when you take off the uniform. As a U.S. Air Force veteran and a trial attorney, I’ve fought two battles — one wearing a uniform and one in a courtroom. The first taught me discipline and sacrifice. The second has shown me how easily justice slips away from the people who risked everything to defend it.
A study from the Center for Justice & Democracy, “The Costs and Legal Obstacles Facing America’s Service Members and Veterans,” outlines how service members and veterans face staggering Read More
Is That Really A Supermoon Shining Above Ashley Pond?
Is that really a ‘Super Moon’ shining above Ashley Pond Park? Actually, it is an artistically enhanced version of the Moon shining above the pond on Nov. 7. Photo by Steve Bublitz Read More
Shop Small Business Saturday At PEEC’s Gift Shop Nov. 29
PEEC News:
Celebrate the holiday season by supporting local nonprofits and finding unique gifts 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 29 at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) Gift Shop inside the Los Alamos Nature Center.
Admission is free, and shoppers of all ages are welcome.
PEEC’s gift shop features a variety of nature-themed books, toys, and locally made goods, with all purchases helping to support environmental education programs in the community. Shoppers can enjoy special discounts during this one-day event: 20% off for PEEC members and 10% off for non-members.
No registration Read More
‘Lights Of Gisewa’ Farolito Lighting At Jemez Historic Site Dec. 12 & 13—Limited Tickets Now On Sale
A farolito at dusk at a previous ‘Lights of Gisewa’ annual holiday event at Jemez Historic Site. Courtesy/JHS
NMDCA News:
The community is invited to enjoy farolitos, Pueblo dancers, and Native art and music at Jemez Historic Site’s annual holiday event, Lights of Gisewa, 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12 and 13, in Jemez Springs.
Walk the glowing farolito-lined paths curving around ancient Gisewa Pueblo and the remains of the San José de los Jemez Mission during this special holiday event.
The evening’s program includes Pueblo dances between two bonfires by the Northern-Southern Read More
Community Invited To Share Feedback Regarding Fleet Conversion Plan And Community-Wide EV Charging Plan
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County invites residents, business owners, landlords, tenants, HOAs, commuters, and all others to attend a public meeting for a presentation of the draft Fleet Conversion Plan and Community-Wide EV Charging Plan.
The meeting is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave. and via Zoom for those unable to attend in person.
The County encourages feedback from the community to help shape the future of local transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure across the county.
The Fleet Conversion Plan outlines how the Read More
Catch Of The Week: Cloudflare Outage
Cloudflare meme. Courtesy image
By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
For the Los Alamos Daily Post
What happened?
On Nov. 18, 2025, Cloudflare — a firm that helps power and protect a big chunk of the internet — had a major outage. Websites and services you use like ChatGPT, X, Spotify and more were either unavailable or showing error messages. Ruh roh raggy!
- Cloudflare uses a “feature file” that helps its system spot bots and protect websites.
- A change was made to a database system, which caused that feature file to double in size, beyond what the system expected or could handle.
- Because the file was
EMNRD Budget Aims To Strengthen Wildfire Protection
EMNRD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department is requesting $49.3 million in general fund for fiscal year 2027, representing a 9.1% increase from the previous year.
“This budget reflects the growing need to protect New Mexico’s communities from the potential dangers of wildfires that are resulting from drought and warmer temperatures we are experiencing due to climate change,” EMNRD Sec. Melanie Kenderdine said.
The FY27 budget request focuses on the following priorities:
- $50 million for Wildfire Prepared Program grants and contracts. This program,
LAFC Competitive Girls Soccer Teams Excel At Tournament In Albuquerque
LAFC 2013/2014 girls’ competitive soccer team. Courtesy/LAFC
SPORTS News:
The LAFC 2013/2014 girls’ competitive soccer team capped off a fun fall season with smiles and an excellent third-place finish at the Gaylord Sheppard Tournament, the largest soccer tournament in New Mexico and an event that draws teams to Albuquerque from across the Southwest.
During its regular season this fall, the team competed in the Duke City Soccer League, the state’s premier youth league, where it posted a winning record, outscored its opponents by nearly a two-to-one margin, recorded shutouts in Read More
Obituary: Jessica Leeann Martinez April 30, 1990 – Nov. 10, 2025
JESSICA LEEANN MARTINEZ April 30, 1990 – Nov. 10, 2025
Jessica Leeann Joyce Juanita Martinez (Chef Jessica), 35, was born and raised in Española, NM, and attended high school at Española Valley High and went on to attend Santa Fe Community College and studied Culinary Arts and Hotel and Restaurant Management.
As a teenager, Jessica was in 4-H and a member of the Hillbillies Club, where she entered character cakes, jams and pies at the County Fair and went on to compete at the NM State Fair and won a savings bond. She created so many special shaped cakes, her talent was amazing.
Jessica loved the outdoors Read More
New Study Shows How Connecting Conservation Efforts Can Save North America’s Migratory Birds
CORNELL News:
NEW YORK, NY — Every spring, the familiar songs of Wood Thrushes and warblers return to the parks and backyards of eastern North America. But their journey begins far to the south—in the lush, remote forests of Central America that sustain them throughout most of the year.
A new study from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (Cornell Lab), published in Biological Conservation, reveals that the Five Great Forests of Central America—which stretch from southern Mexico to northern Colombia—are indispensable lifelines for dozens of migratory Read More
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze To Launch Laureateship With Inaugural Reading, Translation Programs
ARTS News:
U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze will open his tenure in December with a workshop and reading focused on poetry translation at Queens College of the City University of New York, in the borough where he grew up, followed by his inaugural reading at the Library of Congress on Dec. 11 (rescheduled from October) and two poetry translation workshops in Sze’s hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico, in early January.
Sze plans to engage with students and the public in a series of readings and workshops focused on translating poetry originally written in other languages during his laureateship. Translation Read More
Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus Endorses Public Lands In Public Hands Act
NATIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID), announced its official endorsement of the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act to safeguard America’s public lands and ensure they remain open and accessible for all. This is the first bill endorsed by the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, which was founded by Rep. Vasquez and Rep. Zinke in May 2025.
Rooted in the belief that public lands are “for the benefit and enjoyment of the Read More
NMHCA Seeks Help Delivering $1.2 Million In Child Support Payments To Rightful Recipients
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Health Care Authority’s (NMHCA) Child Support Services Division is seeking help from the public to connect approximately $1.2 million in undelivered child support payments to their rightful recipients.
“It could be that we have an outdated address and the payment is undeliverable, an uncashed check that has passed its expiration date, or payments made through a money order or check with no identifiable information that can be tied to a child support case,” said Betina Gonzales McCracken, Child Support director. “There is nothing that would make us happier Read More
Los Alamos Schools Credit Union COO To Speak At UNM-LA Career Series Today Nov. 20
UNM-LA News:
The final UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) “A Day in the Life Of …” speaker is Josh Stringer from Los Alamos Schools Credit Union. The talk will take place from 2-3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 20, on the UNM-LA campus in room 203 as well as via Zoom.
Community members are welcome to attend. Los Alamos High School students are encouraged to participate during their WIN time via Zoom.
Born in California and raised in New Mexico, Stringer earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from New Mexico State University with a focus in marketing. He started his career in media with MTV and Read More
N.M. College Enrollment Increases For 4th Consecutive Year
NMHED News:
SANTA FE — College enrollment has increased in New Mexico for the fourth consecutive year, the New Mexico Higher Education Department announced today, according to preliminary fall enrollment data from universities throughout the state.
There are 4,016 new students pursuing a degree in the fall 2025 semester, up 3.6% from the fall 2024 semester, bringing the total number of degree-seeking students in New Mexico to 113,991.
College enrollment in New Mexico has increased each year since the fall 2021 semester and 13.6% total over that four-year timeframe, representing 13,727 Read More
UP Aerospace Carries LANL Payloads To Suborbital Space At Spaceport America
UP Aerospace’s SpaceLoft-XL 18 rocket lifts off from Spaceport America in the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 19. Photo by William Gutman
SPACEPORT News:
LAS CRUCES — UP Aerospace completed its 23rd suborbital space flight at Spaceport America, carrying a Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) payload to an apogee of roughly 72 miles, at 7 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 19.
“We extend our congratulations to UP Aerospace on its latest successful launch from New Mexico,” said Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority. “Our two organizations have a history dating Read More