State

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

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County State Public Safety Politics Healthcare

Luján Applauds Passage Of Moving Forward Act

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

From the Office of U.S. Rep Ben Luján:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) applauded the passage Wednesday of the Moving Forward Act, which includes key provisions secured by the congressman to bolster broadband access, create economic opportunities, and safeguard the health and well being of New Mexicans.

“COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to our economy as well as our health. Now is not the moment to take our foot off the gas when it comes to supporting struggling workers and families,” Luján said. “The Moving Forward Act makes strong investments to modernize America’s

Tags:
State Nation Politics Environment

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

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State Public Safety Politics Healthcare

Rep. Christine Chandler Briefs Council On Special Session

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Despite having to reduce the state’s FY 2021 budget, Dist. 43 Rep. Christine Chandler of Los Alamos reported to Los Alamos County Council that she felt the work to get the New Mexico budget adopted was “relatively successful”.

Chandler updated the council on the recent special legislative session Tuesday night during its regular meeting.

“I feel pretty good to very good in terms of the substance of what we were able accomplish,” she said. “If you think in terms of how many days we had and how many bills

Tags:
County State Politics

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

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Community County State Public Safety Police Healthcare

LANL: Newer Variant Of COVID-19–Causing Virus Dominates Global Infections

July 2, 2020 by Submitted by Carol A. Clark

This chart tells the essential story of how the pandemic has shifted over time from orange (the original D type of the virus) to blue (the now-widespread G form, D614G). Courtesy/LANL

Chart: ARS-CoV-2 Spike. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Virus with D614G change in Spike out-competes original strain, but may not make patients sicker

Research out today in the journal Cell shows that a specific change in the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus virus genome, previously associated with increased viral transmission and the spread of COVID-19, is more infectious in cell culture.

The variant in question, D614G,

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State Nation World National Laboratory Environment Healthcare Science

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

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Education State Nation World Public Safety Columns Healthcare