New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Requests Budget Increase To Boost Services For Seniors & Disabled Adults
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is requesting $77.2 million in general funds for Fiscal Year 2026—an investment aimed at expanding direct services, enhancing care, and ensuring that New Mexico’s aging population and adults with disabilities receive the support they need.
“This budget proposal is a commitment to elevating the quality of life for older adults and individuals with disabilities across New Mexico,” ALTSD Cabinet Secretary Designate Emily Kaltenbach said. “With the legislature’s support, we can implement impactful Read More
2024 New Mexico Top HAT Awards Honor Oppenheimer Festival, Pajarito Mountain And Summer Concert Series
From left, Lynn and Tom Long of Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, Mia Casados of Los Alamos County Community Services Department and Patricia Burnside, Allan Saenz and Magaly Veleta of SALA Event Center. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County has announced that the “Oppenheimer Festival” held at SALA Event Center was named the 2024 New Mexico Top HAT (Hospitality and Tourism) Award winner for Best New Experience.
In addition, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area and the Los Alamos County Summer Concert Series were honored as finalists.
The annual awards ceremony, presented by the New Mexico Hospitality Read More
NNM Toy Drive 2024: Spreading Joy One Gift At A Time!
EXIT Realty News:
The holiday spirit is alive and thriving as the Northern New Mexico Toy Drive presented by EXIT Realty Advantage NM kicks off its 2024 season!
This beloved annual event is dedicated to bringing joy and cheer to even more children and families in need throughout the region.
This year’s toy drive is bigger than ever, with a goal of collecting 7,000 toys to ensure that children in more than 35 children’s organization across Northern New Mexico experience the magic of the holiday season.
The community-wide effort includes partnerships with Los Alamos National Laboratory, The City Read More
Council Moves Forward On Broadband And Tables Purchase Of Diamond Drive Properties To Tuesday Dec. 3 Meeting
Los Alamos County Council members from left, Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull, Council Chair Denise Derkacs, Keith Lepsch, Melanee Hand, Randall Ryti, Suzie Havemann and David Reagor. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
There were two items with big price tags on Tuesday’s Los Alamos County Council meeting agenda. After five-and-a-half hours, one was approved and the decision for the second postponed until the next council meeting.
The first item in question was the $35 million contract to design and construct the community broadband network Read More
Los Alamos County Council Approves Climate Action Plan
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The world is getting hotter, the weather angrier and the fresh water scarcer. How to respond to this is daunting. Where to even begin? Locally, Los Alamos County Council decided its first step would be to adopt a plan.
The Climate Action Plan was approved 5-2 with Councilors Melanee Hand and David Reagor opposed, during the regular meeting Nov. 12.
Work on the plan started in the summer of 2023 with the objective of providing a roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing climate resilience. However, the community Read More
New Hotel Opens In Former Comfort Inn Location On Trinity
The Wingate hotel is open for business in the former Comfort Inn location at 2455 Trinity Dr. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The Patel family is engrained in the hospitality business. Sunny Patel opened his first hotel in the 1970s and now the Patels operate hotels in Arizona, Colorado, and then in 2019, Los Alamos. Patel’s son, Sheetal, now heads the business, and he decided to purchase the former Comfort Inn at 2455 Trinity Dr., now named Wyngate and part of the Wyndham brand.
Patel explained that, besides the hospitality Read More
Op-Ed: The Best Way To Predict The Future Is To Shape It
By SUZIE HAVEMANN
Los Alamos County Councilor
My friend Sharon Stover, who is a former and esteemed County Councilor, used to say, “There is always more to the story”. And I used to add “There are almost always two sides to every story”.
I thought about these sentiments during Tuesday night’s Council meeting as we heard presentations, questions, public comment, and staff’s answers on two important topics: community wide broadband and the purchase of real property on Diamond Drive, across from the high school. The former ultimately passed on a 6-0 vote and while we must do better in giving reasonable Read More
NM History Museum Hosts ‘Holidays At The Palace’ Dec. 13
Palace of the Governors at 105 W Palace Ave. in Santa Fe. Photo by Dick Lyon
NMHM News:
New Mexico History Museum (NMHM) is hosting “Holidays at the Palace” 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13. This free annual heartwarming celebration includes live music, craft activities and a visit from Santa.
NMHM hosts its annual “Holidays at the Palace” event, a beloved tradition that brings families and friends together to enjoy the magic of the season. The Palace, an iconic landmark dating back to 1610, will be adorned with festive decorations and twinkling farolitos, welcoming visitors to explore the exhibitions Read More
You Can Walk Or Run For Hunger This Sunday Nov. 24
By CYNTHIA BIDDLECOMB
Los Alamos CROP Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot
This Sunday, Nov. 24 is the Annual Los Alamos CROP Hunger Walk and Turkey Trot!
Folks who want to run or walk in it are invited to come to the Los Alamos Middle School Cafeteria (North Mesa) at 1:30 p.m., register and sign the waiver, make a monetary (non-food) donation to the cause, grab a new t-shirt while they last, get some instructions, use the facilities and warm up for the course.
The starting gun goes off at 2 p.m. at the far end of the parking lot. From the starting line, participants run or walk down the mesa, past or through the stables, Read More
Pets Of The Week: Meet Mia The Meatball And Frida
Mia the Meatball’s idea of rodent control is watching a mouse from the couch and hoping it trips. Mia is a particularly plump purrbaby … her jelly belly muffin top actually dragged on the ground when she arrived at Española Humane, but with careful calorie restriction and a high fiber diet, she is slowly starting to shrink the chunk trunk. While her feline fanny-pack doesn’t touch the floor anymore, she’s still having a hard time grooming herself, which is upsetting for fastidious floofs, and her weight loss journey will need to continue, one paw in front of the other. ‘Progress’ we tell Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich Issues Statement On Senate Vote To Block Select Offensive Weapons Transfers To Israel
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement Wednesday night after voting to block the transfers of mortars, tank rounds and Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) to Israel.
“To finally put an end to the bloodshed and achieve lasting peace for both Israelis and Palestinians, we must prioritize de-escalating this conflict. That cannot happen if we look the other way when it comes to how specific weapons are used and their extraordinary toll.
“I strongly Read More
Council Proclaims Nov. 30 ‘Small Business Saturday’
At Tuesday’s meeting Los Alamos County Councilor Suzie Havemann, far right, presents a Small Business Saturday proclamation to, from left, Mesa Top Games and Toys/LA Bootery owner Carolyn Cowan, Los Alamos Family Eye Care owner Lisa Shin, Los Alamos MainStreet & Creative District Executive Director Jacquelyn Connolly and Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Director Sandy Jones. Courtesy/LACNew Mexico Secretary Of Health Patrick Allen Steps Down
Patrick M. Allen
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Wednesday that Patrick M. Allen, secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health would step down from his position at the end of the day. Allen has served in the administration for approximately two years.
“Pat has been a dedicated public servant, and I’m grateful for his contributions as secretary for the Department of Health. I wish him well in his next endeavor,” Lujan Grisham said
Gina DeBlassie, the governor’s health policy advisor, will serve as interim cabinet secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health. Read More
Daily Postcard: Good Morning From Velarde
Daily Postcard: Good morning from Velarde … a change in weather is coming as spotted across the sky in late October. Photo by Johnnie Martinez Read More
Get Ready For Small Business Saturday! Local Small Businesses Invited To Sign Up Now To Participate!
By SANDY JONES
Director
Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce
The holiday shopping season is always critical to our local small businesses. This year’s Small Business Saturday is Nov. 30 and will bring much-needed focus to our local small businesses.
Below are some of the activities happening around Los Alamos for Small Business Saturday:
Blue Bucks Promotion – Thanks to Enterprise Bank & Trust, our Blue Bucks Sponsor, we are able to offer this award-winning Blue Bucks Promotion, which will run from Friday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 14. Shopping or eating at participating businesses will Read More
Luján Speaks At MADD Candlelight Vigil, Urges NHTSA To Implement Life-Saving Traffic Safety Provisions
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving for a candlelight vigil Tuesday on the National Mall to honor the lives of victims of drunk driving. Courtesy photo
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, joined Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for a candlelight vigil on the National Mall to honor the lives of victims of drunk driving.
Luján, who survived a head-on collision with a drunk driver 30 years ago, gave remarks at the vigil to reaffirm Read More
Office Of State Engineer And Interstate Stream Commission Call On Lawmakers To Approve $114 Million Budget To Secure New Mexico’s Water Future
STATE News:
SANTA FE – The Office of the State Engineer and Interstate Stream Commission are calling on lawmakers to approve their $114 million budget request to fund operations and special appropriations for Fiscal Year 2026.
This funding will support the agency’s efforts to implement Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s 50-Year Water Action Plan and efficiently manage New Mexico’s water resources, proactively responding to predictions that New Mexico’s water supplies are expected to decrease by 25 percent as a result of climate change over the next 50 years.
“This budget request is centered Read More
UbiQD’s Quantum Dot Technology Awarded Technical Assistance From Los Alamos National Laboratory Through New Mexico’s TRGR Initiative
Scientist at work in onsite lab. Courtesy/UbiQD
Quantum dots glowing with various colors in vials. Courtesy/UbiQD
UbiQD News:
- Technology Readiness Gross Receipts Initiative Provides Funding for Los Alamos National Lab to Help Companies like UbiQD Accelerate Deployment of Licensed Technology
UbiQD, Inc., the New Mexico-based leader in quantum dot (QD) technology and manufacturing, announced today a new technology assistance award with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) under the Technology Readiness Gross Receipts (TRGR) Initiative. This collaboration focuses on leveraging Read More
New Mexico Supreme Court Rules District Courts Have Authority To Independently Raise Evidence Issues About Warrantless Searches
NMSC News:
SANTA FE — District courts on their own can order hearings to determine whether evidence obtained through a warrantless search by law enforcement will be allowed in a criminal prosecution, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.
In a split decision, the Court concluded that a judge in northern New Mexico had the constitutional authority to raise the evidentiary issue by ordering suppression hearings “sua sponte,” meaning on the court’s own initiative without a motion being made by an attorney for the defense or other party.
“For more than one hundred years this Court has recognized Read More
