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TALES OF OUR TIMES: Round Stories Glisten Anew

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015 - 5:20 pm

Tales of Our Times
By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens
for Clean Air & Water

Round Stories Glisten Anew

A special joy at Christmastime is to bring out the family’s old ornaments and enjoy each tale again, as we choose ones to place carefully on this year’s tree.

For this happy season, I choose three rich classics from my boxes full of air pollution hearings and hang the bright memories in this evergreen piece. Look for a chuckle, a twinkle and a glow. Enjoy.

■ A chuckle: As was often the case, we clean-air buffs got our testimony together only at the 11th hour. We had the usual last-minute

Congressional Delegation Secures Pledge From DHS On Delay Of REAL ID Enforcement

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015 - 5:17 pm

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed them that the state of New Mexico can still get an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement if Gov. Susana Martinez and the leadership of the N.M. House and Senate can verify to DHS that they agree on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance.

Seeking answers on behalf of New Mexicans about the standards and procedures

Rep. Nate Gentry Pre-Files Legislation To Keep New Mexicans Safer From Violent Repeat Criminals

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015 - 5:13 pm

Rep. Nate Gentry

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Rep. Nate Gentry pre-filed “Jaydon’s Law,” legislation to ensure judges have access to the full criminal histories of violent offenders.

Current law prohibits judges from considering the juvenile record of an adult offender during bond and sentencing decisions. Jaydon’s Law would change the Criminal Procedure Act to allow judges to review an adult defendant’s prior record as a youth offender.

It will also give judges access to other information, such as evidence presented during past hearings

AFTNM And NEANM Reacts To Court Decision On Motion To Combine Hearings

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015 - 5:11 pm

AFT News:

SANTA FE ― American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly and National Education Association New Mexico President Betty Patterson released the following joint statement:

“We agree with Judge Mathew’s ruling against the most recent motion by the Public Education Department, which was to combine our organizations’ unique lawsuits against the educator evaluation policies of Secretary Skandera and Governor Martinez.

“We believe that each of our cases have merit and that the continued attempts of the PED to stall this process

Airport Security Checks Tightened

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015 - 4:38 pm

Full body scanner. Courtesy/wkipedia

HSNW News:

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Wednesday changes to traveler security screening at airports, allowing TSA personnel to require travelers to go through body scanners even if the passenger prefers a full-body pat-down instead.

The TSA said that the new system would be “warranted by security considerations in order to safeguard transportation security.”

CNN reports that currently, passengers may choose full-body pat-downs by TSA agents instead of going through Advanced Imaging Technologies, Read More

Musician Dan Nebel Returns To Perform In Los Alamos

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015 - 4:06 pm

Airman First Class Daniel Nebel

MUSIC News:

Airman First Class Daniel Nebel, a 2004 graduate of Los Alamos High School, is serving as a bandsman with the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West stationed at Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

He will present a free classical concert of solo horn and piano music at noon Thursday, Dec. 31 at Fuller Lodge. The public is invited to come to the free event and, if desired, bring a sack lunch.

Growing up in Los Alamos, Nebel began his musical studies on piano with Marilyn LaForge in third grade and

‘Christmas Eve Asteroid’ 2003 SD220 Sleighs By Earth

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015 - 3:58 pm

Resembling a sweet potato, which is quite appropriate for the holiday season, a Delay-Doppler image of asteroid 2003 SD220, the ‘Christmas Eve asteroid’ as observed Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 14-15 from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico using the NASA-funded planetary radar system. The asteroid will be 28 times farther away than our moon, measures more than 1.25 miles long and rotates very slowly, taking more than 11 days to complete one full rotation. Courtesy/Arecibo Observatory

The largest and most sensitive single dish radio telescope in the world is at the Arecibo Observatory Read More

County Customer Care Center Closes At 3 p.m.

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015 - 3:56 pm

The annual holiday tree brightens the lobby today at the Los Alamos County Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave. The Customer Care Center inside the building is open until 3 p.m. today, closed Friday for Christmas and reopens at 8 a.m. Monday. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More

Obituary: Lila Valerie Levi-Cooper May 7, 1935 – Dec. 21, 2015

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015 - 3:09 pm

LILA VALERIE LEVI-COOPER May 7, 1935 – Dec. 21, 2015

Lila Valerie Levi-Cooper shuffled off this mortal coil at 11:45 pm December 21, 2015. She was a resident of Los Alamos, New Mexico since 1979. She was born May 7, 1935 in San Francisco, California. Her body will be cremated at Rivera Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Espanola, New Mexico.

Val, as she was known to family and friends, was an enthusiastic skier, hiker, backpacker, and gardener. She was also an accomplished cook, as evidenced by her extensive collection of cookbooks. She leaves behind a number of scrapbooks with photographs, menus, Read More

Los Alamos Police Blotter: Dec. 16 To Dec. 22, 2015

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2015 - 9:47 pm

LAPD News:

The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.

Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.

Dec. 16 at 7:24 p.m. / Police responded to the unattended death of a 57-year-old Los Alamos man on Seminole. Foul play is not suspected.

Dec. 16 at 9:50 p.m. / a 33-year-old Los Alamos man reported property damage on Trinity Drive. The estimated damage is unknown.

Dec. 17 at 9:09 a.m. / a 56-year-old Los Alamos man reported that someone burglarized his home on Maple Drive. The estimated Read More

LANL’s Top 10 Science Stories Of The Year

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2015 - 8:13 pm

Scientists Aditya Mohite, left, and Wanyi Nie are perfecting a crystal production technique to improve perovskite crystal production for solar cells at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Looking back on 2015 … Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Top 10 Science Stories of the Year. From supercomputers and climate modeling, to cybersecurity and cancer treatments, Los Alamos National Laboratory worked hard in 2015 to advance science that helps address many of the most pressing challenges.

“Our commitment to delivering science and technology for the public good Read More

LANL Study Forecasts Disappearance Of Conifers

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 5:53 pm

Los Alamos scientist Nate McDowell discusses how climate change is killing trees with PBS NewsHour reporter Miles O’Brien. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

A new study, led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, suggests that widespread loss of a major forest type, the pine-juniper woodlands of the Southwestern U.S., could be wiped out by the end of this century due to climate change, and that conifers throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere may be on a similar trajectory.

New results, reported in a paper released today in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests

Letter To The Editor: Thoughts On Conservatism…

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 3:12 pm

By ROY M. MOORE

Los Alamos

As an independent conservative, I think I have a right to challenge others who call themselves conservative.

I assume the root word of conservative is conserve, so the first question to ask of anyone of that persuasion, is “What things do you think are important to conserve?”

The human beings on this planet are by far the most important resource, so I think they should be conserved first. In my view, that would mean enough food and medicine for life, a free education, a good job of their choice, and an opportunity to retire with dignity when their work is

Los Alamos Big Band Performs Saturday At IHM

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 3:03 pm

The Los Alamos Big Band. Courtesy photo

LABB News:

The Los Alamos Big Band’s Annual Holiday Dance 7:30-10:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 26, is open to the public at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Hall in Los Alamos.

The dance raises funds for the IHM church youth group and provides the local community a fun evening for all ages.

The Los Alamos Big Band, or LABB, is a 16-instrument 1940s Glenn Miller-style swing band. The current band has been playing at dances and other events throughout Northern New Mexico since

LAHS: Score Results From Saturday’s Swim Meet

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 2:58 pm

SPORTS News:

Results from Saturdays West Mesa High School Swim Meet:

APS Mini-Invite at West Mesa

Girls 200 Medley Relay: Los Alamos 1:57.24 (SQT) (Sara Shiina, Jessica Moore, Isabelle Runde, Jillian Bennett0, Cleveland 2:01.67 (SQT), Los Alamos B 2:02.01 (SQT) (Kaitlin Bennett, Beth Short, Sophie Schmidt, Niamh Short)

200 Freestyle: Kaitlin Bennett LAHS 2:03.51 (SQT), Meghan Beaudet VOLC 2:06.74 (SQT), Mikelle O’Donnell ELDO 2:06.98 (SQT), also: 5) Niamh Short LAHS 2:12.51, 6) Sophie Schmidt LAHS 2:12.55, 13) Caemlyn

FEMA Awards $63.6 Million To New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 2:53 pm

FEMA News:

DENTON, TX — The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently awarded more than $63.6 million to the state of New Mexico for road repairs and hazard mitigation as a result of severe storms and flooding in September 2014.

A federal disaster declaration (DR-4199-NM) designated eight counties eligible for Public Assistance grants.

This award provides $63,602,780 in federal funding to Eddy County for permanent repairs and hazard mitigation to 24 aggregate, asphalt, and chip-and-seal roadways.

A total of 111 miles of county roads sustained base

IRS Opens 2016 Tax Season Jan. 19 – More Than 923,000 New Mexicans Expected To File

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 2:52 pm

IRS News:

PHOENIX ― Following a review of the tax extenders legislation signed into law last week, the Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will begin as scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.

The IRS will begin accepting individual electronic returns that day. The IRS expects to receive more than 150 million individual returns in 2016, with more than four out of five being prepared using tax return preparation software and e-filed.

The IRS will begin processing paper tax returns at the same time. There is no advantage to people filing tax returns

NMDVS Completes Its Rural Veterans Coordination Program Team To Assist Rural-Area Veterans

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 2:47 pm

NMDVS News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services announced that it has opened several rural offices in the state to help rural-area veterans on a variety of issues, including assistance with disability compensation, pension claims, health care, and dependent/survivor benefits.

The regional offices are the result of a federal grant. In addition, rural veterans also may call a new toll-free hotline to get their questions answered.

“We are excited to help more veterans and their families take advantage of our services,” NMDVS Secretary

Community Assets Awards Deadline Extended

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 2:32 pm

COMMUNITY News:

Assets In Action and the Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation would like to highlight good deeds done throughout the community, state or world, with the 7th annual Assets In Action Community Asset Awards. The deadline for entries is extended to Dec. 24.

Select a category:

Individual
Senior Citizen
Youth
Business
Couple
Other (specify)

Select the Asset category:

Support
Boundaries & Expectations
Positive Identity
Constructive Use of Time
Commitment to Learning
Positive Values
Empowerment
Social Competencies

Secretary Moniz Announces Dr. Phil Sharp As 2015 Recipient Of Schlesinger Medal For Energy Security

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015 - 2:24 pm

Dr. Phil Sharp

DOE News:

WASHINGTON ― U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz has announced Dr. Phil Sharp as the second recipient of the James R. Schlesinger Medal for Energy Security.

Dr. Sharp is president of Resources for the Future and a former U.S. Congressman from Indiana. Dr. Sharp will receive the medal at a ceremony at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the Department of Energy headquarters (1000 Independence Ave. Washington, D.C. 20585).

“Phil Sharp has been a fixture in energy security and clean energy progress in every possible