LANL: New Mars Rover Findings Revealed at American Geophysical Union Conference
View from Marias Pass in Gale crater, Mars, where scientists found high concentrations of silica in the light toned bedrock seen in the lower half of the image. The Buckskin drill hole where the mineral tridymite was detected is visible in the lower left part of the image. Mount Sharp (Aolis Mons), the mountain in the center of Gale Crater is seen in the background, and the right front wheel of the Curiosity rover is seen to the right in the image. The image is made up of a number of smaller images by Curiosity’s arm-mounted camera. Courtesy/NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
LANL News:
- Much higher concentrations
LAPS Winter Break And Safety Announcement
By LAPS Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus:
This is a quick note to wish everyone a wonderful and safe winter break — a well-deserved vacation for all! If you need assistance from the Central Office or Facilities during the break, we will be open with limited staff every day except Dec. 24 and 25, 2015 and Jan 1, 2016.
For many, the meaning of winter break is very simple – it’s a time to join with family and friends and give thanks for all that we enjoy together. We are fortunate to have students who are motivated and enthusiastic as well as teachers and staff who are experts in their profession Read More
DOE: Largest Energy-Saving Standard In History
DOE News:
- Commercial Air Conditioner and Furnace Standards Will Save Businesses $167 Billion and Cut Carbon Emissions by 885 Million Metric Tons
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy today announced historic new efficiency standards for commercial air conditioners and furnaces. Developed with industry, utilities, and environmental groups, these standards will save more energy than any other standard issued by the Department to date.
Over the lifetime of the products, businesses will save $167 billion on their utility bills and carbon pollution will be reduced by 885 million Read More
LANL’s New Model More Accurately Tracks Gases For Underground Nuclear Explosion Detection
This model sequentially couples a hydrodynamic rock damage code to a gas transport simulator via a translation between damage results and hydrogeologic parameters and stochastic sampling for uncertain hydrogeologic parameters. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new, more thorough method for detecting underground nuclear explosions (UNEs) by coupling two fundamental elements—seismic models with gas-flow models—to create a more complete picture of how an explosion’s evidence (radionuclide gases) seep to the surface.
Their Read More
Los Alamos Chiropractors Host Annual Gathering
Los Alamos chiropractors held their annual holiday lunch Wednesday at Blue Window Bistro. From left, Dr. Nancy Savoia of Los Alamos Chiropractic, Dr. Gary Storkan of Storkan Chiropractic and Dr. Merry McIntyre of Reunion Chiropractic & Wellness extend to the Los Alamos and White Rock community their wishes for a happy and safe holiday season, vibrant health and peace and goodwill to all. Courtesy photo Read More
Streetlights Go Dark To Enhance Farolito Viewing
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Traffic & Streets Division will be turning off the power to various streetlights to enhance the viewing of holiday farolitos.
The streetlights will be turned off Thursday, Dec. 24 and will be restored Monday, Dec. 28.
For safety purposes, the Traffic & Streets Division requests that all vehicles and trailers be moved to off street parking during the full period that lights will be off. If this is not possible, it is recommended that the vehicles and trailers be silhouetted by farolitos. Due to the limited sight visibility during the viewing, drivers Read More
Tammy Lu Olinger Is 2015 Realtor® Of The Year
Los Alamos Nature Center Wins Regional Architecture Awards
The Los Alamos Nature Center. Photo by Patrick Coulie
PEEC News:
The Los Alamos Nature Center building and design team were recently given three prestigious regional awards.
In November ENR-Southwest named the Nature Center its Small Project of the Year (under $10 million) and its Project of the Year (overall). The Nature Center beat out award winning buildings in every category to win this last designation.
More recently, the Nature Center stood out above more than 60 projects from around the state to win one of nine Eagle Awards from the NAIOP, an organization for commercial real estate Read More
Udall: End-of-Year Legislation Includes Hard-Fought Wins Supporting NM Jobs, Environment
U.S. Sen. Tom Udall
U.S. SENATE News:
- As lead Democrat on Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Udall blocked harmful anti-environment policy riders
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies, released the following statement Wednesday on the finalized appropriations and tax bills released late last night, which will fund the government for the next year and extend a number of tax provisions.
The U.S. House of Representatives will vote first on the bills — Read More
Prescribed Burn On Santa Fe National Forest
SANTA FE – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest are planning a prescribed pile burn on the Cuba Ranger District.
The La Jara prescribed pile burn, a total of 77 acres located just northeast of the community of La Jara, may be conducted Jan. 1 through March 30, 2016, only on favorable days as conditions allow. Small blocks may be treated each day to decrease the daily smoke volume.
Prescribed fires are one of the most effective tools available to resource managers for restoring fire-adapted ecosystems. These fires mimic natural fires by reducing forest fuels, recycling nutrients Read More
Heinrich Secures Delay Of Cadillac Tax
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., worked to secure a two-year delay of a provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) known as the “Cadillac Tax,” which would tax high-cost health insurance plans and impact health benefits for thousands of New Mexicans workers.
The provision to delay the tax was included in the “omnibus” spending bill that was announced last night by Democratic and Republican leaders that Congress will soon vote on.
“Delaying this excise tax is a victory for the middle Read More
Letter To The Editor: Science Or Hokum?
By DAREN SAVAGEIn his letter to the editor (Los Alamos Carbon Neutrality Goal) here, Mr. Fox notes that the cost of fossil fuels will rise in the long term as the reason Los Alamos should adopt Carbon Neutrality.
I would point him to two stories appearing in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal that indicates the price of natural gas “plunged to a 14-year low” and the cost of Oil “recently rose 53 cents”, a rise after multi-year lows.
Natural Gas Sinks to 14-Year Low
https:////www.wsj.com/articles/natural-gas-sinks-to-lowest-level-since-2002-1450103930 Read More
Casa Mesita Holiday Closing Dec. 20-Jan. 2
CASA MESITA News:
The Casa Mesita Thrift Shop front section will close Dec. 20 to Jan. 2.
Look for special sales Saturday Dec. 19.
Look for postings at the Shop regarding the back section. Read More
Top 10 Most Wanted DWI Fugitive Captured
Adam Gutierrez
SANTA FE — Gov. Susana Martinez announced that Adam Gutierrez, one of New Mexico’s most wanted DWI fugitives, has been captured.
His arrest comes just days after the Governor announced that the state would ramp-up efforts to locate and capture repeat DWI offenders – including those who have killed or seriously injured families on the road – who have skipped out on parole or probation and are now hiding from the law.
“Criminals like Adam Gutierrez have no place out on our streets where they put our families in danger,” Martinez said. “I’m proud of our State Police and Corrections Department Read More
Santa Fe National Forest Holiday Office Hours
SFNF News:
SANTA FE – The Santa Fe National Forest’s office hours over the holidays are as follows:
- Open 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24
- Closed Friday, Dec. 25
- Closed Friday, Jan. 1
For additional information about the Santa Fe National Forest’s holiday hours, contact a local Ranger District or the Forest Headquarters at 505.438.5300. Read More
Chromium Project (DOE/EA-2005) Update
DOE News:
- Final Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact and Floodplain Assessment Statement of Findings
The Department of Energy Environmental Management Los Alamos Field Office has prepared a Final Environmental Assessment for the Chromium Plume Control Interim Measure and Plume-Center Characterization at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (DOE/EA-2005).
This document describes the potential environmental impacts associated with the planned interim actions in Mortandad Canyon. The objectives of the planned actions are to control migration of the chromium Read More
Holiday Greetings From UNM-Los Alamos
Los Alamos Police Blotter: Dec. 9 To Dec. 15, 2015
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. 9 at 10:40 a.m. / Police arrested a 17-year-old Los Alamos boy at 947 Quartz St., on an outstanding Magistrate Court warrant. Police booking photo is unavailable.
VINCENT VIGIL
Dec. 9 at 1:30 p.m. / Police arrested Vincent Vigil, 43, of Los Lunas at 6 Laredo and charged him with driving on a suspended or revoked license.
Dec. 9 at 3 p.m. / Police arrested Barbara Montoya, 53, of Chimayo Read More
Ponderosa Montessori Helps Aspen Ridge
Ponderosa Montessori Elementary helps Aspen Ridge and Sombrillo fill luminaria bags for their lighting event this evening. Photo by Sharon Seitz Read More
Filmmakers Community Outreach Event: A Celtic Christmas At Historic Scottish Rite Temple In Santa Fe
The Anslover Family Band. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Celebrate Christmas Celtic style Saturday, Dec. 19 at the historic Scottish Rite Temple at 463 Paseo de Peralta in Santa Fe.
Enjoy Celtic food, lively music and exciting dance at this family-friendly afternoon event surrounded by the grandeur and beauty of Santa Fe’s beloved Scottish Rite Temple, a community treasure.
Doors open at 2:30 p.m. with a taste of Celtic savories and snacks for General Admission and Preferred Orchestra ticket holders, followed by the 3 p.m. concert. Performers scheduled to appear include the Santa Read More