Public Safety

RTD 255 Mountain Trail Route In Service July 4 Weekend

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

NCRTD News:

The North Central Regional Transit District’s RTD 255 Mountain Trail Route into the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will be in service Friday, July 3 and throughout the July 4 weekend.

The route is operating on a reservation-only system. Face coverings are required to ride, and seating is limited to four passengers due to social distancing measures and the state order restricting groups to five or less.

For more information or to make a reservation, call toll-free 1.866.206.0754, Ext. 2.

Stage 2 fire restrictions remain in place in the SFNF, which include a ban on campfires. Fireworks

Gov. Lujan Grisham Makes Four Judicial Appointments

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

From the Office of the Governor:

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today appointed four New Mexicans to fill new judicial positions created by the Legislature.

The governor signed legislation in March creating five new state District Court judgeships in the four judicial districts with the highest need. She has yet to fill the fifth new judgeship serving the 12th Judicial District, made up of Lincoln and Otero Counties.

Appointees:

Kathleen McGarry Ellenwood to the First Judicial District Court serving Los Alamos, Rio Arriba and Santa Fe counties;
Lucy Boyadjian Solimon to the Second

Tags:
State Courts Politics

New Mexico COVID-19 Cases Now At 12,520 With 3 More Deaths And 5,627 Patients Recovered

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

STATE News:

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials have announced this afternoon 248 additional positive tests for COVID-19.

Los Alamos County remains at 8 cases that have tested positive for COVID-19.

Today’s update announces 3 additional deaths reported in New Mexico related to COVID-19.

The New Mexico Department of Health reported today the most recent cases:

97 new cases in Bernalillo County
5 new cases in Chaves County
2 new cases in Cibola County
1 new case in Colfax County
19 new cases in Curry County
42 new cases in Doña Ana County
2 new cases in Eddy County
1 new case in Grant County
5

Tags:
County State Public Safety Politics Healthcare

Chart 110: COVID-19 In New Mexico July 2

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Shown is the number of diagnoses by town in Rio Arriba County. Towns with zero diagnoses are not displayed. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-Naim

Tags:
State Public Safety Politics Healthcare

Silver Lining Emerges Despite Pandemic Canceling 75th Anniversary Season Of Los Alamos Concert Association

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

LACA Artistic Director Ann McLaughlin in front of the Smith Auditorium Tuesday discussing how 75th anniversary plans were sadly dashed due to the pandemic and her appreciation for community support. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

Plans for celebrating the 75th year of the Los Alamos Concert Association (LACA) were dashed with the outbreak of the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic.

But out of disappointment has emerged a sense of gratitude for the generous show of support from the community.

LACA Artistic Director Ann McLaughlin

Tags:
Arts Entertainment Music Community Public Safety Business Healthcare

Local Suicide Deaths Spike In 2020

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com

With confirmation from the Office of the Medical Investigator pending on a couple of cases, suicide deaths have tripled in the last six months over annual numbers in the last decade.

“We have averaged two suicides per year for the last 10 years but this year we’ve responded to six suicide deaths between January and the beginning of June,” Los Alamos Police Cmdr. Oliver Morris said in an interview with the Los Alamos Daily Post. “Five of the six were male … the female died of self asphyxiation and each of the males died of self-inflicted

Tags:
Community County State Public Safety Police Healthcare

FBI: Eighteen Years After Laverda Sorrell Disappeared, FBI, Navajo Nation And Family Appeal To Public For Answers

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Laverda Sorrell

FBI News:

The FBI and Navajo Nation Division of Public Safety are marking the 18th anniversary of the disappearance of a Native American woman by distributing a poster on her case in the Navajo language and reminding the public of a reward of up to $10,000.

Laverda Sorrell of Navajo, N.M., was last seen by her husband, according to a statement he provided to authorities. He said he dropped her off at 11:30 p.m. July 4, 2002, at the Window Rock School District #8 in Fort Defiance, Ariz., where she worked.

A family member reported her missing July 8, 2002 to the Navajo Police Department.

Tags:
State Public Safety

COVID-19: An Opportunity For Enhancing School Health

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

By RACHEL LIGHT
Los Alamos

COVID-19 brings up many negative feelings for people, such as fear, uncertainty, and social isolation. For many, the days repeat themselves like a scene from the movie Groundhog Day and it’s hard to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

Yet, COVID-19 provides us with the perfect opportunity to put sustainable public health measures in schools, such as regular handwashing, that could yield benefits way beyond the current pandemic.

Implementing regular handwashing at key times in school has many benefits for reducing illness beyond COVID-19. This includes the potential

Tags:
Education State Nation World Public Safety Columns Healthcare

New Mexico Emergency Public Health Order Extended

July 1, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham explaining today that she is extending the state’s emergency public health order through July 15 due to rising COVID-19 case count. She mentioned noticing today around Santa Fe that only about 30 percent of people are complying with the order to wear masks and social distance. Screenshot/LADP

From the Office of the Governor:

Gov. issues severe warning about rising cases, transmission rate; New Mexico at risk of re-enacting public health restrictions

SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today extended the state’s emergency public health order through July 15

Tags:
State Public Safety Politics Healthcare

FBI: Roswell Teen Charged Federally For Online Threats

July 1, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

FBI News:

Matthew Lee Herbert, 18, of Roswell has been charged federally in connection with online threats that prompted the lockdown of Roswell High School last November.

Herbert is charged with interstate communications containing a threat to injure the person of another (18 U.S. Code § 875).

Herbert is accused of posting a message on Snapchat with what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon and the caption, “b ready rhs I ain’t playin nomo”.

Another message containing the original post had the caption, “Oof, y’all watch out”.

The high school went into lockdown Nov. 12, 2019, when

Tags:
Education State Public Safety Courts