Public Safety

La Cueva Road Closed For Emergency Repairs

Starting immediately, La Cueva will be closed for a period of two days to conduct emergency repairs to a sanitary sewer line. Courtesy/DPU

COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has contracted with Paul Parker Construction to conduct emergency repairs to a sanitary sewer line that crosses La Cueva Street just north of Barranca Road. 

Starting immediately, La Cueva will be closed for a period of two days at the section of road where excavation is underway. Local traffic will be rerouted on Cascabel Street to access La Cueva properties north of the closure.

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Brenner Attorney Alleges Abuse, Slander, First Amendment Issues In IPRA Case

Attorney Blair Dunn, who is representing former Los Alamos resident Patrick Brenner in a suit against Los Alamos County Council and the County Custodian of Records is alleging behaviors ‘antithetical to Liberty’ in a response to a brief filed by Councilor Susan O’Leary in the case. Photo by Maire O’Neill/ladailypost.com

 

By MAIRE O’NEILL

Los Alamos Daily Post

maire@ladailypost.com

 

Patrick Brenner’s attorney, A. Blair Dunn, has responded to a brief filed Feb. 23 by Los Alamos County Councilor Susan O’Leary’s personal attorney, Kate Ferlic, First Read More

State Supreme Court Provides Guidance For Enforcing Public Access To Judicial Records

SUPREME COURT News:
 
SANTA FE  The New Mexico Supreme Court issued a precedential opinion on Monday providing guidance for enforcing provisions of New Mexico’s Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) in cases involving access to district court records.
 
Clarification had been sought by the Attorney General’s Office in a case in which counsel for Valley Meat Company had sought judicial records relating to a separate lawsuit in the First Judicial District Court in Santa Fe brought by the Attorney General to stop the Roswell company from commercially
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Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District East Rowe Mesa Prescribed Burn Now March 7

SFNF News:
 
SANTA FE  Due to conditions, to include fuel moisture levels, air quality and weather forecasts, fire managers on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) delayed the start of the East Rowe Mesa area prescribed burn to Wednesday, March 7. 
 
The treatment is designed to improve wildlife habitat and promote forest health. As weather conditions permit, the East Rowe Mesa prescribed burn could continue into April.
 
Up to 5,000 acres of the 22,000-acre project area are expected to be treated in the East Rowe Mesa
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Consumer Protection Week FACTS: ‘F’ Is For Finances

Attorney General Hector Balderas
 
AG News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE  During National Consumer Protection Week, Attorney General Hector Balderas urges New Mexico consumers to get the FACTS about their finances.
 
The New Mexico Office of Attorney General receives frequent complaints of finance-related problems—that is, problems with debt collectors, banks and credit unions, and also the payment of loans, including student loans and mortgages.
 
Attorney General Balderas advises, “Educating yourself on your own financial strengths and weaknesses is the first step
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Kirtland Fire Contained, Crews Mopping Up

KAFB News:
 
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE  The fire on an eastern range in a remote area of the base has been contained and is under control.
 
The fire is no longer burning, but crews remain on the scene to monitor potential hotspots to ensure they don’t reignite.
 
Firefighters were busy clearing brush and assessing the area Monday. The area affected was assessed via aerial surveillance at about 100 acres. 
 
Fire crews were assisted overnight by winds turning in a favorable direction, helping to contain the fire.
 
The fire began Sunday just
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FBI Chaplains: Bringing Light To Darkest Hours

The FBI has deployed chaplains to crime scenes since 1991 to provide support to employees. An FBI special agent, left, speaks to two FBI chaplains at Ground Zero in New York in 2001. Courtesy/FEMA
 
FBI News:
 
FBI special agents and other Bureau professionals who respond to the bloody, chaotic scenes of mass casualties do so to help and to find answers: Who did it? How? Why?
 
And there are times when they can’t help but ask another question, one that does not have an easy answer.
 
“Sometimes the common question when facing such scenes is, ‘Why, God?’”, said Gary Morefield, pastor
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Governor Signs Two Bills To Protect Sick And Vulnerable

STATE News:
 
SANTA FE  Feb. 28, two bills with bipartisan support from the House and Senate were signed by Governor Martinez and will now become law.
 
Senate Bill 11 will improve “step therapy” – the practice used by insurance companies to cut costs by requiring patients to try more affordable treatment options before more expensive ones. The bill was sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson (D-Albuquerque), Sen. Gay G. Kernan (R-Hobbs), Sen. Elizabeth “Liz” Stefanics (D-Cerrillos), and Rep. Monica Youngblood (R-Albuquerque).
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Jesse Denver Hanes Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Conviction On Federal Firearms And Carjacking Charges Arising Out Of Shooting Of Hatch Police Officer

FBI News:
 
ALBUQUERQUE  U.S. Attorney John C. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge Terry Wade of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division and Chief James Gimler of the Hatch Police Department announced that Jesse Denver Hanes, who shot and killed Hatch Police Officer Jose Chavez Aug. 12, 2016, was sentenced today to a lifetime of imprisonment for his conviction on federal firearms and carjacking charges arising out of his efforts to evade arrest following the shooting.  
 
Hanes was also ordered to pay a total of $38,553.02 in restitution to the victims of his crimes. Hanes,
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Fire Officials Report Status Of Fire On Kirtland

KAFB News:
 
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE  Officials have assessed the status of the brush fire burning in a remote area in the eastern training ranges.
 
Overnight winds turned in a favorable direction, helping to contain the fire. Firefighters were then able to address the fire from the west.
 
Current estimate is less than 200 acres.
 
Crews will be augmented today by the U.S. Forest Service, including helicopter support. A well water source is located near the fire’s main staging point.
 
The fire began just before 4 p.m. Sunday.
 
No injuries have been
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