Cone Zone Update As Construction Activity Slows For Winter Months
COUNTY News:
Construction activity has slowed for the winter months, so most Cone Zone projects have wrapped up for the season; however, a few remain active.
View current updates and traffic impacts for road construction projects and special events below. Click live links for mapped locations and detailed project information. Active projects will be updated as needed.
Essential services—including mail delivery, trash and recycling collection, and emergency response—will continue throughout each project. Residents and businesses may still experience large equipment and construction Read More
Signs Of Christmas On Display At Smith’s
Christmas on display with pajama sets for the entire family this weekend at Smith’s. Photo by Annmarie Thomas Read More
NMED And NMDOH Report Increased Levels Of Metals In Mora County’s Groundwater
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) are urging Mora County residents to test their private wells after high levels of metals were found in the county’s groundwater.
Three metals — antimony, arsenic and uranium — exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) safe drinking water limits. The independent geologic study focused on Mora County also found elevated levels of manganese over EPA guidelines.
Seven other metals — barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, thallium and vanadium — were also found Read More
DALA To Present ‘Sugar Plum On The Hill’ Dec. 5-7
DALA News:
Dance Arts Los Alamos (DALA) will present “Sugar Plum on ‘The Hill’: Part 3, The Mysterious March” Dec. 5-7 at the Duane Smith Auditorium. This original ballet is the final installment of DALA Artistic Director Jonathan Guise’s Nutcracker on “The Hill” trilogy, the only narrative trilogy of full-length ballets in western ballet repertoire.
The story combines the traditional Nutcracker ballet with the unique history and character of Los Alamos, based on Guise’s thorough research of the Manhattan Project and close collaboration with the Los Alamos Read More
Los Alamos CodeRED System Limited Due To Security Event … Be Aware Of County Alert Alternatives
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Office of Emergency Management (LAC-OEM) was informed by OnSolve CodeRED, the County’s emergency alert system at 5:52 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, of a detection of potential vulnerabilities in the platform.
The company immediately suspended platform access for a comprehensive review of any unauthorized access. Access has since been restored; however, capabilities will be limited temporarily as the system is coming back online.
LAC-OEM always encourages the community to plan for potential emergencies to ensure the safety and security of every individual, Read More
LAHS Gridiron Booster Club Paints Rock With Team Spirit
LAHS Gridiron Booster Club members paint the rock in White Rock with team spirit ahead of today’s Quarterfinals State Tournament between the Toppers and Gadsden, 11 a.m. at Sullivan Field. Go Toppers! Courtesy photo
LAHS Gridiron Booster Club paints the rock in White Rock with team spirit ahead of today’s Quarterfinals State Tournament between the Toppers and Gadsden, 11 a.m. at Sullivan Field. Courtesy photo
LAHS Gridiron Booster Club paints the rock in White Rock with team spirit ahead of today’s Quarterfinals State Tournament between the Toppers and Gadsden, 11 a.m. at Sullivan Field. Read More
LAPS To Resume Regular Bus Route Services Nov. 17
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Transportation Department has announced that beginning Monday, Nov. 17, all regular school bus route services will resume.
LAPS has been able to hire additional bus drivers who have completed all the training and licensing requirements to drive a school bus. Therefore, the district is now able to cover all routes, including those with service for high school students living on Barranca Mesa and North Mesa.
“We are excited to have more drivers on staff to help meet the transportation needs of our students and families,” LAPS Transportation Director Read More
Northern Lights Viewed From PEEC’s Nature Center
A spectacular sighting of the Northern Lights seen Wednesday evening at PEEC. Photo by Hari Viswanathan Read More
Public Education Department Announces Nineteen New Mexico Schools Show Major Academic Improvement
NMPED News:
SANTA FE — Nineteen New Mexico schools have dramatically improved student achievement, with two reaching the state’s highest performance tier after previously ranking among the lowest-performing schools in the state.
The encouraging findings are contained in the New Mexico Public Education Department’s (NMPPED) new school designations for the 2024–25 school year, highlighting schools that have exited Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI) designation—the state’s category for schools identified as lowest-performing.
“These 19 schools prove that with Read More
Little Joe II Rocket Restoration Project Launches At New Mexico Museum Of Space History In Alamogodo
NMMSH News:
ALAMOGORDO — The New Mexico Museum of Space History (NMMSH) is refurbishing the shining star of its Rocket Park, Little Joe II. This restoration will bring it back to its original glory. During this time, the Rocket Park at New Mexico Museum of Space History at 3198 N.M. 200 in Alamogordo and the nearby playground will be temporarily closed to the public to ensure the safety of everyone. However, this also presents a unique opportunity for our visitors to witness the meticulous restoration process, a privilege not many get to experience.
Received by the museum in 1985, Little Joe II Read More
Republicans Implement Audit Of New Mexico SNAP Program, Make Recommendations To Eliminate Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Republican Legislators News:
SANTA FE — This week, Republican legislators were successful in their attempt to incorporate an in-depth audit of New Mexico’s administration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
This was accomplished by amending House Bill 1 in the 2nd special legislative session to include the funding and directives to the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) to investigate waste, fraud, and abuse of the program.
Furthermore, House and Senate Republican Leadership issued guidance and recommendations to strengthen LFC’s audit in the form of Read More
SFCC Announces New Student Orientation Dates: Dec. 10, Jan. 9, Jan. 13
A springtime view of the Santa Fe Community College Campus. Courtesy/SFCC
SFCC News:
SANTA FE — Santa Fe Community College announces New Student Orientation (NSO) dates for the Spring 2026 semester. New or prospective students should pre-register here.
The three NSO sessions are scheduled for:
- December
- 12-4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 10
- January
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 9
- 12-4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13
“New Student Orientation is a great way for students to get comfortable on campus before classes start,” said Michelle Aragon, Welcome and Support Coordinator. “They get to meet other students, Read More
Obituary: Ward L. Hawkins May 1, 1951 – Nov. 8, 2025
WARD L. HAWKINS May 1, 1951 – Nov. 8, 2025
Ward L. Hawkins, 74, a native Nevadan of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away peacefully Nov. 8, 2025.
Ward was born May 1, 1951, in Reno, Nevada, to Ralston Oliver and Romietta Ward Hawkins. He grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, alongside his three brothers. It was also in Las Vegas that he met his lovely wife, Karen Cooper, with whom he shared a lifetime of love and adventure.
Ward graduated from St. Anne Grade School, Bishop Gorman High School, and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology.
His work took him and his family to Los Read More
United Church Celebrates Custodian Cesar Ojeda And Youth Pastor Keith Lewis On 20 Years Of Employment
Youth Pastor Keith Lewis and Custodian Cesar Ojeda at The United Church of Los Alamos. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Twenty years ago, the United Church of Los Alamos hired custodian Cesar Ojeda to help take care of not just the buildings, but the entire 4-acre property of native woodland and lawn areas. Ojeda has more than fulfilled his duties of keeping the physical plant and grounds in beautiful shape. He, often assisted by his wife Ana Maria, can be found cleaning floors, helping to set up and clean up for the many events and programs at the church, as well as assisting in the Thrift Shop throughout Read More
Los Alamos County Council To Consider Ordinance For Up To $40 Million In GRT Revenue Bonds
County Administrative Services Director Helen Perraglio
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council will hold a public hearing on Ordinance No. 750 as part of its Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave.
The ordinance, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of up to $40 million in Gross Receipts Tax (GRT) Improvement Revenue Bonds to help fund the Community Broadband Network and other public facility improvements.
The bonds would be repaid entirely from existing gross receipts tax revenues already distributed to the County. No new tax would be Read More
Daily Postcard: Northern Lights Color Star-Filled Sky
Daily Postcard: The Northern Lights color a star-filled sky Wednesday over Velarde. Photo by Johnnie MartinezMcQuiston: Why You’re In A Wildfire Area … Even If You Don’t Have A Single Tree On Your Property … A Common Misunderstanding
By ALLEN MCQUISTONJemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963
When a wildfire burns—even miles away—it throws off burning embers that can travel up to
New Mexico Environment Department Announces That Chromium Plume From Los Alamos National Laboratory Migrates Onto Pueblo De San Ildefonso Land
NMED News:
A toxic chromium plume from Los Alamos National Laboratory has spread beyond lab boundaries onto Pueblo de San Ildefonso land for the first time, with contamination levels exceeding state groundwater standards, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today.
Recent groundwater sampling conducted by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) found hexavalent chromium, a toxic and carcinogenic substance, at levels ranging from 53 to 72.9 micrograms per liter (ug/l), depending on the depth sampled. The ground water Read More
NM Higher Education Dept.: Student Debt Relief Granted To Nearly 400 Teachers Working In New Mexico Classrooms
New Mexico Higher Education Department News:
SANTA FE – Nearly 400 teachers will be receiving student loan forgiveness this year through the state’s Teacher Loan Repayment Program, part of New Mexico’s ongoing effort to build and strengthen the teacher pipeline.
The agency awarded funding to 387 new teachers, adding to the 529 teachers who were already receiving benefits through the loan forgiveness program. The program launched in 2013 as an effort to draw more teachers to New Mexico’s classrooms.
The program offers licensed New Mexico teachers up to $6,000 a year in student loan repayment Read More
NM Junior Foodie’s Review: Beef & Leaf Cafe
Anasazi bean chili and fried artichokes appetizer. Courtesy/NM Junior Foodie
Chef Laura Crucet and NM Junior Foodie. Courtesy/NM Junior Foodie
By BECKY RUTHERFORD
On behalf of NM Junior Foodie
Have you been to Beef and Leaf Cafe lately? They have an all-new menu for fall, and also a great fundraiser going on right now. Menus can be viewed here.
My foodie son and I decided to split some dishes. We started with the Anasazi Bean Chili; slow- cooked anasazi beans, braised beef short rib, in a rich, savory red chile garlic broth. This was a really great chili, classic but with a nice twist from the richness Read More