LAPS Students Earn Top Honors At New Mexico State Science & Engineering Fair

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 12, 2016 - 4:09 pm

Amaya Coblentz, LAMS

LAPS News:

This past weekend Los Alamos students competed against 350 students for top honors at the New Mexico State Science and Engineering Fair, held at New Mexico Tech in Socorro.

Los Alamos students had a tremendous showing and represented our school district with a large portion of the top honors. Of the best of the best “Grand Awards” LAPS brought home 4 of the 8 coveted spots.

Of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair Awards, Los Alamos High School brought home 3 of the 6 top spots. These 3 projects

AG Balderas To Feds: Shut Down Accreditor Of Predatory, For-Profit Schools

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 12, 2016 - 3:50 pm

NMAG News:

SANTA FE ― This week, Attorney General Hector Balderas, eleven other attorneys general and the Consumer Protection Commissioner of Hawaii sent a letter to Department of Education Secretary John King urging the federal government to cease recognition of Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accrediting body for post-secondary institutions.

ACICS accredits schools like Brown Mackie College, ITT Tech and many other schools that have failed students to an utterly indefensible degree.

The letter outlines

Study: Gender Wage Gap Costs New Mexico’s Women More Than $2.3 Billion Per Year

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 12, 2016 - 3:27 pm

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. ― On average, New Mexico women employed full time, year round are paid just 78 cents for every dollar paid to men – a yearly pay gap of $9,088.

That means, in total, women in New Mexico lose more than $2.3 billion every year, which is money that could strengthen the state economy and the financial security of New Mexico’s women and families, including the nearly 107,000 New Mexico households headed by women. These are some of the findings of a new analysis conducted by the National Partnership for Women & Families and released for Equal

Fire Chief Troy Hughes Withdraws From Nebraska Interviews, Announces He’s Staying In Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 12, 2016 - 5:36 am

LAFD Fire Chief Troy Hughes

COUNTY News:

LAFD Fire Chief Troy Hughes announced today that he has chosen to withdraw from the Lincoln, Neb., Fire Chief selection process and remain in Los Alamos.

Hughes said he had applied for a job opening in Lincoln earlier this month with the goal of being closer to his family, who primarily reside in Nebraska. He said the decision to pursue the job in Nebraska or stay in Los Alamos had been very difficult.

“I spent many restless nights pondering the decision to stay with LAFD or go back to Nebraska,” he said, emphasizing that the importance of spending time Read More

American Federation Of Teachers New Mexico Announces Early Endorsements For 2016 Candidates

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 12, 2016 - 5:11 am

AFTNM News:

Statewide, Legislative Candidates Champions for Educators and Working New Mexicans

ALBUQUERQUE – American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly and AFT NM Committee on Political Education Chair Sara Attleson released the following statements:

“We are proud to endorse these candidates for elected office in 2016. AFT NM’s Committee on Political Education held a series of interviews and asked candidates to complete questionnaires detailing their positions on public education and labor issues in New Mexico, and each of these candidates share our

Enchanted Circle Brewing Company In Angel Fire Hosts Grand Opening April 16

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 12, 2016 - 4:18 am

Preparations are underway for Saturday’s grand opening of Enchanted Circle Brewing Company in Angel Fire. Courtesy/Kyle Yonan and Lyna Waggoner

Inside the Enchanted Circle Brewing Company in Angel Fire. Courtesy/Kyle Yonan and Lyna Waggoner

BUSINESS News:

The Enchanted Circle Brewing Company at 20 Sage Lane in Angel Fire is hosting its grand opening Saturday.

Enchanted Circle Brewing is a 20-bbl production brewery with a 50-seat tasting room. The brewery will distribute to local restaurants and grocery stores, and use a mobile canning source as an early packaging

Corrosion Causes Pipe To Burst On Truck Route

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 11, 2016 - 8:18 pm

A geyser erupts high into the sky Sunday afternoon from a burst pipe along the truck route. A Department of Public Utilities spokesperson told the Los Alamos Daily Post that the eruption was caused by corrosion that led to a baseball sized blowout. Photo by Jordan Jaramillo

Corrosion leads to a pipe bursting Sunday afternoon along the truck route. Photo by Jordan Jaramillo Read More

Texas A&M Aggie Muster April 19

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 7:54 pm

AGGIE News:

On Thursday, April 21, Texas A&M Aggies around the world will gather for the annual Aggie Muster memorial service.

Los Alamos area Aggies will gather at 6 p.m. at the United Church of Los Alamos, 2525 Canyon Road, in Craig Hall, the building nearest the west parking lot.

The speaker will be James G. Ivey ‘73 of Houston. He is a founder, senior officer, and board member of Pintail Energy, a petroleum exploration and production company. Ivey served in the United States Army Reserve for 30 years and retired with the rank of Colonel.

Dinner will be BBQ with all the fixings. Suggested donation Read More

LANL: Space Scientist Tapped For French Knighthood

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 6:17 pm

Roger Wiens, right, leader of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s ChemCam project, received the honorary title of knight in France’s Academic Order of Palms. Christophe Lemoine, Consul General of France, presented him with the insignia. Courtesy/Consulate General of France

LANL News:

ChemCam leader honored for touching the lives of ‘ambitious earthlings’

Space scientist Roger Wiens was awarded the honorary title of chevalier (knight) in France’s Academic Order of Palms for his work in forging strong ties between the French and American scientific communities.

Wiens is the principal Read More

AAUW Observes Equal Pay Day With Gathering At UnQuarked Thursday

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 6:17 pm

AAUW News:

The Los Alamos branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will observe Equal Pay Day 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, with a gathering at UnQuarked Wine Bar in Central Park Square.

Equal Pay Day is the symbolic day when women’s earnings “catch up” to men’s earnings from the previous year. Los Alamos Branch STEM Liaison to AAUW New Mexico and AAUW New Mexico Co-President, Helena Whyte, will give a short talk to raise awareness about and organize action around the gender pay gap.

The public is welcome at this event and refreshments will be served.

The gender pay gap is a primary Read More

Second Half Of Property Taxes Due By May 11

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 6:00 pm

COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County would like to remind property owners that the second installment for 2015 property tax bills becomes delinquent after Wednesday, May 11.

Payment must either be made in person at the 311 Customer Care Center by 5 p.m., May 11 or postmarked by midnight that same day to avoid late payment penalty and interest charges.

The 311 Customer Care Center is in the Municipal Building lobby at 1000 Central Ave., and open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Payments should be mailed to P.O. Box 99, Los Alamos, NM 87544. Payments are also accepted through a property tax Read More

Drop-In Prayer Room Every Monday Evening

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 11, 2016 - 5:41 pm

Spring 2016 Lecture Series: ‘European Member Politics And Why We Should Be Interested’

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 11, 2016 - 5:32 pm

CIR News:

Santa Fe Council on International Relations’ Spring 2016 International Lecture Series will focus on The European Union Under Pressure.

The second of the four lectures will address European Member Politics and Why We Should Be Interested presented by Dr. Jeffrey Gedmin, Senior Fellow for the Future of Europe at 3 p.m., Saturday, April 30 at the Atlantic Council, Washington D.C. at The Forum, Santa Fe University of Art and Design in Santa Fe.

Beginning with the six founding members of the European

Scam Alert: IRS Scams Increasing Across New Mexico As Tax Day Approaches

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 5:31 pm

From The Attorney General’s Office:

Scammers are targeting New Mexicans with two different IRS scams

SANTA FE – Attorney General Hector Balderas announced today that the Office of the Attorney General is receiving increased reports of IRS impersonation scam calls to New Mexico consumers.

In these scams, callers claim to be from the IRS and threaten New Mexicans with legal action unless the consumers pay the alleged back taxes or owed taxes. The scammers then ask the consumer to send money by various means including prepaid debit cards or wire transfers.

New Mexicans are also experiencing Read More

GOP Women Meet Noon Thursday April 14

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 5:28 pm

LAFRW News:

The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women will meet at noon Thursday, April 14 in the Patio Room at 1001 Oppenheimer Dr.

Special guest speakers are Nora Espinoza, candidate for New Mexico Secretary of State and Yvonne Chicoine, candidate for First Judicial District Attorney,.

For further information, call Donna MacDonald 505.662.4001. Read More

LASG Boys State Meet Results

Submitted by Chris Clark on April 11, 2016 - 4:26 pm

Kyle Hatler – parallel bars. Courtesy photo

LASG News:

The boy’s competitive team from Los Alamos School of Gymnastics traveled to Rio Rancho during the weekend of March 12 to compete in the New Mexico State Championships. More than 100 gymnasts from eight teams competed in levels 4-10.

Kyle Hatler was the high finisher for Los Alamos taking the Bronze in the all around for the senior age division in level 5 with 60.20. Hatler also took gold on the parallel bars with 10.60 (earning bonus), and silver on high bar (10.70), pommel horse

Memorial Service May 14 For Louise W. White

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 4:21 pm

Louise W. White

A memorial service for long-time Los Alamos resident Louise W. White will be held at 4:30 p.m. on May 14 at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center in Los Alamos. Reception to follow.

Deedi Stokes New LAHS Head Girls Volleyball Coach

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 4:06 pm

SPORTS News:

The Los Alamos High School Athletic Department has hired Diana (Deedi) Stokes as Head Girls Volleyball Coach for the 2016-17 school year.

Stokes has coached for more than 20 years and previously spent a combined six years at the helm for the Toppers with an overall record of 87-33.

The Athletic Department announced that it is excited to welcome her as the new Head Volleyball Coach. Read More

Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone Honored With Patriotic Employer Award From ESGR

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 3:46 pm

Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone was honored last week with the ‘Patriotic Employer Award’ from the Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) Santa Fe Volunteer Committee. The award recognizes Chief Sgambellone and Los Alamos County for being a patriotic employer. He was nominated for the award by LAPD Emergency Manager Beverley Simpson. ANG Brigadier General Juan Griego presented Chief Sgambellone with the award during a special presentation at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building. Courtesy/LAC

Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone with the ‘Patriotic Read More

Sunday’s Run For Her Life Race Results

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on April 11, 2016 - 3:28 pm

Sunday’s Run For Her Life race winners, from left, Tammie Nelson, 5K female winner; Daniel Santistevan, 5K male winner; Erica Baron, 10K female winner and Mike Engelhardt, 10K male winner. Courtesy photo