Supreme Court Rules That Anti-Discrimination Law Applies To Public Schools And Public Universities
NMSC News:
SANTA FE — Public schools and universities may be sued for discriminatory conduct under the New Mexico Human Rights Act (NMHRA), the state Supreme Court ruled Jan. 23.
In a unanimous opinion, New Mexico’s highest court concluded that public schools and public universities are a place of “public accommodation” under terms of the state’s anti-discrimination law.
The ruling allows a lawsuit to move forward by a Native American student, McKenzie Johnson, who was allegedly called a “bloody Indian” by a high school teacher in Albuquerque during a class on Halloween in 2018. Johnson, Read More
Scam Awareness For Elders (S.A.F.E.) Kickoff Event At SALA
LARSO News:
The community is invited to attend the Scam Awareness For Elders (S.A.F.E) Kickoff Event 1-4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29 at SALA Event Center. There will be a screening of Thelma, plus a special presentation from the FBI on scam prevention after the show! This event is FREE, reserve a seat today at https://sala.losalamos.com/events/s-a-f-e-kickoff-event/.
The S.A.F.E. initiative is a community response to the increasing prevalence of scams targeting the elderly population and the need for proactive measures to protect vulnerable individuals. The advisory group consists Read More
NM Governor Delivers 2025 State Of The State Address
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at the podium, right of center, delivers her seventh annual State of the State Address Tuesday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at the podium, center, delivers her seventh annual State of the State Address Tuesday at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Those on the House floor and in the balcony react as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham begins to deliver her seventh annual State of the State Address Tuesday at the Roundhouse. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL Read More
NM Supreme Court Rules APS Accountable To Anti-Discrimination Laws After Teacher Disrespects Student
ACLU News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) must adhere to state anti-discrimination laws, ruled the New Mexico Supreme Court Jan. 23.
The ruling comes after a Cibola High School teacher, in front of the entire class, cut one Native American student’s braid without consent and called another student a “bloody Indian” on Halloween of 2018.
The decision upholds the June 2023 ruling of the New Mexico Appeals Court and finds that public schools are subject to the anti-discrimination protections in the New Mexico Human Rights Act.
Further, this case, McKenzie Johnson v. Board of Read More
Military Posts Along Santa Fe Trail Presented In Friends Of NM History Museum Lecture Feb. 5
Fort Union, New Mexico. Courtesy/Ben Woodbury
NMHM News:
Join educator and author Leo E. Oliva, Ph.D., for an online lecture about military posts and the network of conquest along the Santa Fe Trail, as part of the Friends of History monthly lecture series 12-1 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5.
This month’s Friends of History First Wednesday Lecture Series features the presentation, “Network of Conquest: Military Posts and the Santa Fe Trail” by Leo E. Oliva, Ph.D. The presentation will provide an overview of military posts along the Santa Fe Trail, from St. Louis to Santa Fe, and the history of when and Read More
See Sandhill Cranes And Read With A Ranger Feb. 2
NMHS News:
Los Luceros offers extended hours from sunrise to sunset on the first Sunday of each month. This is a great time of year for visitors to see wintering birds including sandhill cranes, bald eagles, magpies, red-tailed hawks, mourning doves, ravens, crows, juncos, and various species of finches. Guests can also explore the visitor center, capilla (chapel), Victorian cottage, guesthouse, and farmyard. Trails meander around the landscape and to the Rio Grande.
The site will offer “Read with a Ranger” at 11 a.m., Sunday Feb. 2 at Los Luceros Historic Site. Join Ranger Kara for a story Read More
LAHS Senior Uxue Sansinena Selected As USSYP Delegate
Uxue Sansinena
LAPS News:
Los Alamos High School senior Uxue Sansinena has been selected as one of only two outstanding young leaders to represent New Mexico as a delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) this spring.
She will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship. Uxue was recognized by the LAPS School Board during their meeting last Tuesday.
“Politics have always fascinated me,” Uxue said. “Over the years, by involving myself in speech and debate, working on the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, and interning with the New Mexico Legislature, I have Read More
Community Invited To Celebrate Engineers Week With Public Lecture By Pramod Khargonekar Of UC Irvine Feb. 19
Pramod Khargonekar
The community is invited to celebrate Engineers Week with a public lecture by Pramod Khargonekar of the University of California, Irvine, 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos.
Khargonekar, the vice chancellor for research and professor of electrical engineering and computer science, will present “Future of Work and Workers in the AI Era”. As automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies continue their remarkably rapid development, it is expected that many facets of work and lives of workers will be impacted. In this Read More
Life After 50: Back To Basics
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions
A new calendar year is often an exciting time to get back to basics. At a time of such divisiveness and strife in the country, we may feel a loss of control over things. We hope to educate about one handy tool you can implement on your own and often in your own home, neighborhood, or school community, however you define it.
About 18 years ago, I was sitting in the Duane Smith Auditorium when I was filling out a simple survey about something called “40 Developmental Assets”. It dawned on me that I received many of these assets from Read More
High School Sports Fans: Simmer Down Or Sit Down
By Dr. Karissa L. Niehoff
NFHS Chief Executive Officer
If you’re a fan of high school sports, we need to talk.
When you’re at the game, do you lose control? If so, everyone sees it—the teachers, the officials, the other fans, the parents, and most importantly, the student-athletes. They see you at your worst. And it leaves an impression—not just of you and the school but all high school athletics.
Research consistently underscores that kids look to adults as inspiration for who they want to be and how they want to live. That’s because adults set the tone. Adults show what behaviors are acceptable Read More
LAPS Schools Designated Spotlight Schools By NM Vistas
LAPS News:
We are proud to announce that all seven Los Alamos Public Schools were designated as Spotlight schools by NM Vistas.
This is the highest ranking in the state. We will review current data and gather feedback on ways we can continue to improve and ensure that 100% of our students are successful academically, socially, and emotionally.
NM Vistas, developed by PED, is a public data reporting website that showcases school performance based on state accountability and other required criteria from the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), as mandated by the U.S. Department of Education. The Read More
New Mexico Families Celebrate All Learning Options During School Choice Week Jan. 26 – Feb. 1
NSCAF News:
Families and schools across New Mexico will highlight how school choice creates better opportunities for students during National School Choice Week 2025.
Running Jan. 26 – Feb. 1, the state’s 258 events will join over 27,000 nationwide in celebrating this milestone 15th anniversary.
Since 2022, 24 states have implemented or are preparing to implement new school choice expansions. This significant growth in K–12 learning options is changing the lives of millions of children and reflects the growing demand from parents for more personalized and flexible education possibilities. Read More
UNM-LA Offers Free Early Childhood Education Certificate
Courtesy photo
UNM-LA News:
For a limited time, UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) is waiving tuition fees for the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Certificate program. The next 14-week online module starts Feb. 10.
Guided by the core values of intellectual inquiry, inclusion and social justice, the ECE Certificate program is committed to preparing educators who can effectively teach and support young children across diverse contexts of pre-schools, elementary schools and community centers.
The program shapes future teachers and educational leaders to develop curriculum, pedagogy and institutional Read More
STEM Pathways For Girls Monthly Workshop Feb. 8
STEM News:
Ignite your passion for STEM at our upcoming STEM Pathway for Girls Monthly Workshops 9:30–11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at Santa Fe Community College. Join us for fun hands-on workshops, and incredible insights from women leading the way in science, technology, engineering, and math.
About the Workshop: We’re excited to announce our Polymers, Plastics, and Sustainability Workshop as part of the STEM Pathways for Girls Monthly Workshops!
This hands-on workshop is perfect for 5th-8th grade students who identify as female, nonbinary, or non-gender-conforming and are Read More
NHCC Visual Art Museum Closed Until Further Notice
NHCC News:
The National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Visual Art Museum will remain closed to the public until further notice, as construction crews repair damage caused by a water leak in the building last week.
No artwork in the building was damaged, and the closure will not impact programs and events taking place in other buildings at the Center.
More information will be published when available on the Center’s social media channels and nhccnm.org. Read More
LAPS Teachers Complete National Board Certifications
Stephanie Abney
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools is pleased to announce that four teachers recently obtained their National Board Certification. Stephanie Abney, Bethany Scott, Julia Sheppard, and Esther Smidt completed the requirements to be recognized as National Board Certified Teachers. In addition, Christine Engelbrecht, Kris Martinez, Lynn Ovaska and Carolyn Torres renewed their certification as NBCTs.
They are among 111 New Mexico teachers who received their National Board Certification and 84 teachers who are recertified.
LAPS has 357 NBCTs on staff and is in the top five Read More
ENMU Welcomes South Fork Natural History Museum Shark Research And Education Program
Courtesy/South Fork Natural History Museum
ENMU News:
PORTALES — Eastern New Mexico University welcomes Dr. Bradley Peterson (School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University), Dr. Tobey Curtis (NOAA Marine Fisheries Service), and Mr. Greg Metzel from the South Fork Natural History Museum Shark Research and Education program to the University campus Jan. 21-24.
Dr. Peterson, Dr. Curtis, and Mr. Metzger will share their ground-breaking research on shark biology, tagging, and conservation efforts. The work of this research team has helped shape the understanding of Read More
UNM-LA To Delay Opening Tuesday Due To Frigid Temps
The UNM-Los Alamos campus at 4000 University Drive. Courtesy/UNM-LA
UNM-LA News:
Due to cold temperatures, the UNM-Los Alamos campus will delay its opening until 10 a.m. for Tuesday, Jan. 21.
About UNM-LA
UNM-Los Alamos is an innovative, rigorous and affordable comprehensive branch community college that provides foundations for transfer, leading-edge career programs and lifelong learning opportunities. More information about UNM-Los Alamos is available at losalamos.unm.edu. Read More
Think New Mexico: House Bill 94 Introduced To Cap Size Of Kindergarten Through Third Grade Classes At 20 Students
Mandi J. Torrez
Education Reform Director
Think New Mexico’s
From Think New Mexico:
House Bill 94 sponsored by House Majority Caucus Chair Raymundo Lara (D-Las Cruces) has been introduced to phase in a cap of 20 students per class in grades K-3. The bill was drafted by the nonpartisan statewide think tank Think New Mexico, which recommended this reform in a 2022 policy report, A Roadmap for Rethinking Public Education in New Mexico.
Current state law caps kindergarten classes at 20 students and sets “average” class sizes of 22 for grades 1-3 and 24 for grades 4-6. Yet, when Think New Mexico examined Read More
PAC 8 Community Media Center: Jan. 24-30, 2025
PAC 8 News:
PAC 8 Community Media Center is available for recording events, transferring of old media, shooting and editing, live streaming and drone photography and videography.
For information, email pac8@losalamos.com, call 505.662.7228 or visit pac8cmc.com.
PAC 8 Television schedule for Jan. 24-30, 2025:
Friday, Jan. 24, 2025
- 6 a.m. — Democracy Now! – Live
- 10 a.m. — The Thom Hartmann Program
- 11 a.m. — County Council Meeting Replay 1-14–25
- 3 p.m. — Democracy Now!
- 5 p.m. — PAC PAGES – Los Alamos County News Updates
- 6 p.m. — Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast – Los Alamos County
