Los Alamos Daily Post Marks 13th Anniversary
The Los Alamos Daily Post marks 13 years in business at its world headquarters, 1247 Central Ave. The news team takes this opportunity to thank our readers throughout the community, state, nation and world … it is a privilege to bring you the news each and every day! Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
Hitting that launch button 13 years ago was exhilarating and scary. Newspapers were closing down across the country. Starting one in a small town with an established paper in place for more than 50 years was daunting … to say Read More
County Considers Artificial Turf For Athletic Fields
Los Alamos County is considering following Sullivan Field’s footsteps and installing artificial turf at up to five of its athletic fields. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Could the use of grass on athletic fields dry up and die? Los Alamos County’s Community Services Department is pondering this idea through a series of public listening sessions aimed at collecting thoughts from residents and field users about replacing sod with artificial turf on up to five athletic fields around the County.
According to the project’s Read More
Day Of Nationwide Protests Against Trump, Project 2025 Draws Hundreds To New Mexico Capitol
Chris Scott, center, of Santa Fe leads a march around the Capitol during a demonstration Wednesday against the the Trump administration. Photo by Jim Weber/The New Mexican
By Nicholas Gilmore
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Asked what brought them out to protest the Trump administration, Debrianna Mansini and Lisa Lucas began naming what they see as crises:
Executive orders attacking the rights of transgender people and immigrants.
Effects on the right to reproductive care.
Nongovernment employees led by billionaire Elon Musk reportedly gaining access to databases in the U.S. Department of the Read More
Legislative Roundup: 45 Days Left In Session
State Sen. Crystal Brantley, R-Elephant Butte, dusts off her own blue Future Farmers of America jacket from 1995 to introduce FFA members from her district, including her two daughters, at the state Capital Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. Photo by Jim Weber/The New Mexican
The Santa Fe New Mexican:
Out for blood … testing: A bill designed to aid in prosecuting DWI cases made it out of the House Health and Human Services Committee on its second try Wednesday.
House Bill 106, sponsored by Rep. Andrea Reeb, R-Clovis, passed 8-2.
Reeb, a former prosecutor, said law enforcement used to be able to choose Read More
Taos Airport Terminal Groundbreaking Ceremony Feb. 19
View of the Taos mountains from Taos Regional Airport runway with JSX air service. Courtesy photo
Rendering of what will be the Taos Regional Airport passenger waiting lounge with a central service counter. Courtesy photo
TAOS News:
The Town of Taos has announced the upcoming construction of a new multipurpose terminal facility at the Taos Regional Airport (SKX) in El Prado, 8 miles northwest of the Taos central business district (24662 Highway US-64).
The 7,500-square-foot terminal will serve as a modern hub for general aviation, recreational and business travelers, seasonal charter Read More
Senator Proposes Semiautomatic Weapons Ban
Craig Stumpf, director of sales at Calibers Shooting Range in Albuquerque and an instructor for first-time shooters, fires at a target with a Glock 19 Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. State Sens. Debbie O’Malley and Heather Berghmans, both of Albuquerque, have introduced a proposed Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By Daniel J. Chacón
The Santa Fe New Mexican
State Sen. Debbie O’Malley and her husband, Michael, were both sound asleep early one morning in December 2022 when a piercing noise outside their Albuquerque home Read More
Trio Of Behavioral Health Bills Pass First Committee
New Mexico Legislature News:
SANTA FE — Monday, the second and third of a trio of behavioral health bills advanced in the senate after receiving bipartisan support and do-pass votes (both passed 8-1) in the Senate Health & Public Affairs Committee.
Together this suite of legislation represents a critical component of the legislature’s ongoing commitment to addressing the behavioral health and public safety crisis facing the state.
Senate Bill 1 sets to establish a billion-dollar trust fund for behavioral health initiatives throughout New Mexico. The Health Care Authority would then Read More
Heinrich, Daines Resolution Designating National Tribal Colleges And Universities Week Passes U.S. Senate
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) announced that their bipartisan legislation designating this week, beginning Feb. 3, 2025, as “National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week” passed the U.S. Senate.
This week is dedicated to the recognition and support for the achievements of students pursuing postsecondary educational opportunities in Tribal Colleges and Universities.
“I’m pleased the Senate passed my resolution designating this week as National Tribal Colleges and Universities Week. This resolution recognizes Read More
New Mexico Aging Dept. Seeks $74.3 Million To Boost Services For Seniors, Adults With Disabilities, Caregivers
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — This week, the New Mexico Aging & Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) will present its budget priorities before the House Appropriations and Finance Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.
“New Mexico seniors and adults deserve the highest quality of care and support,” Emily Kaltenbach, ALTSD Cabinet Secretary Designate said. “This budget reaffirms our commitment to older and disabled adults, as well as their caregivers, by ensuring they have access to the resources they need to live with dignity and independence.”
ALTSD’s budget within the executive Read More
Op-Ed: Be A Warrior For Democracy!
By GEORGE CHANDLER
Los Alamos
On Saturday Feb. 22 at noon, Chair Andrea Determan will convene the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County at the Unitarian Church on North Sage Loop. First the three wards (North Townsite, South Townsite, and White Rock) will meet to elect ward officers and members of the Central Committee. Then the new Central Committee will meet to elect County officers (Chair, vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) and at-large members of the State Central Committee. Takes usually about two – three hours. You can attend, vote, and run for any of the positions if you are a registered Read More
Commentary: Rube And New Mexico Residents Should Be Confused By This Bad Bill
By BILL CHURCH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
The dynamics of a legislative body — especially one trying to find its identity — are similar to the junior year of high school. The 11th grade is cited as critical for social emotional learning, which is a fancy way of describing the art of playing well with others.
There are lawmakers who get noticed for their personal skills, work ethic and public service. Others who are more focused on getting attention. And others who are ignored.
Just like high school.
Who knows which cool-kids clique Rep. Kathleen Cates, a Democrat, wants to hang with at the Roundhouse, Read More
‘Constitutional Carry’ Bill Fails; Human Trafficking, Inappropriate Touching Bills Advance
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
The Santa Fe New Mexican:
‘Constitutional carry’ bill fails: An effort to eliminate the need for adults who can legally own a gun to obtain permits to carry concealed handguns failed to advance out of its first committee on Tuesday.
House Bill 83, sponsored by three House Republicans, was tabled on a 4-2 party-line vote in the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.
Sponsor Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, said requiring New Mexicans to obtain permits for concealed carry was unconstitutional and imposes “unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles on Read More
Bill Banning New Oil And Gas Facilities Near Schools Clears House Committee
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Post file photo
By RICHARD MARK GLOVER
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Bilton Werito — a member of the Counselor Chapter of the Navajo Nation, a combat veteran and a former oil field worker — stood in the high-desert sun, gazing at the sky as if hope might tumble down. He is the father of two boys. They are both sick.
“We moved to Counselor two years ago after my wife died. Since then, my sixth grader has developed headaches two or three times a week, nausea, itchiness in his throat and a skin rash around his mouth. My youngest just coughs all the time,” Werito said on a recent day.
Less than Read More
Sen. Martin Heinrich Announces Appropriations Committee Assignments For 119th Congress
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Feb. 4, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) announced his assignments on the Senate Appropriations Committee for the 119th Congress. Heinrich’s positions on the Appropriations Committee allow him to directly advocate for and deliver investments that improve New Mexicans’ safety, well-being, and quality of life.
“As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I have delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in investments to New Mexico, helping to lower costs for working families, grow local economies, and create jobs Read More
Luján Joins Letter To HHS Officials Demanding Answers And Action On Disruption To Head Start Programs
SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and a group of their colleagues in issuing a letter to Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy A. Fink, M.D. and Acting Director of the Office of Head Start Captain Tala Hooban expressing concern about the acute financial impacts and lingering uncertainty faced by Head Start programs across the country as a result of the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) memo that imposed a government-wide hiring freeze. Sen. Luján is a Head Start alumnus and has long advocated to fund and protect Read More
Luján Statement On Voting Against RFK Jr. To Serve As Nation’s Top Health Official
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“Despite Mr. Kennedy’s troubling track record of peddling misinformation and conspiracy theories, Senate Republicans have chosen to advance his nomination to the Senate Floor. Mr. Kennedy is not only a dangerous nominee that will undermine public health, but he also has no real plan to lower costs or Read More
Legislative Roundup: 46 Days Left In Session
The Santa Fe New Mexican:
Competing budget recommendations: Members of Senate Finance Committee received a crash course in billions of dollars of proposed special, supplemental and deficiency appropriations, as well as recommendations for the Government Results and Opportunity Fund.
The report included the governor’s budget recommendations and those from the Legislative Finance Committee.
“There’s a lot of different moving pieces between the two recommendations,” Legislative Finance Committee analyst Joseph Simon told lawmakers. He presented the Read More
Democratic Party Of Los Alamos County Issues Official Call
DPLAC News:
Dear Democrats of Los Alamos County,
Pursuant to the official CALL for the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) Spring 2025 State Central Committee (SCC) meeting, to be held on April 26, 2025, I am writing to provide you with the CALL to the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County Central Committee (CCC) meeting.
We are required by DPNM Rules to hold a County Central Committee meeting and elections in the spring of odd-numbered years for the purpose of electing county party officers and DPNM SCC members to represent our county.
As part of this year’s CCC meeting and elections, we will elect Read More
Ringside Seat: Fresh Hope For New Mexicans Without Representation
By MILAN SIMONICH
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Maybe one of the bigger messes in state government can be cleaned up without Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham again having to summon the residency police.
The McKinley County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously nominated 78-year-old Martha Garcia to fill the vacant seat in District 6 of the state House of Representatives.
She lists her hometown as Pinehill in Cibola County. Barring any doubt about her residency, Garcia looks like the new front-runner to belatedly take office in District 6.
An appointment can’t come soon enough. The district’s 30,000 Read More
AG, Legislative Leaders Unveil Higher Education Reform Package In Wake Of WNMU Scandal
Attorney General Raúl Torrez answers questions from journalists following a news conference Monday at the state Capitol regarding proposals designed to enhance oversight and accountability of administrator contracts at public colleges and universities. Photo by Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Attorney General Raúl Torrez and leaders of both chambers of the New Mexico Legislature unveiled proposals Monday designed to enhance oversight and accountability of administrator contracts at public colleges and universities.
The push for more Read More
