Los Alamos County Council Okays $377 Million FY25 Budget
Los Alamos County Council from left, Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull, Chair Denise Derkcas, Councilor Keith Lepsch, Councilor Melanee Hand, Councilor Randall Ryti, Councilor Suzie Havemann and Councilor David Reagor. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
After three days of hearings and discussions, the Los Alamos County’s budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 is approved.
Tuesday night, County Council approved 6-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed, a budget that totals $377,473,225. In addition, council approved the following: the long-range Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich: Farm Bill Is ‘Opportunity To Build Stronger Future For New Mexico’s Farmers & Producers’
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, released the following statement after the framework of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act was released:
“Rural America deserves our attention and investment. Our kids deserve to have the food they need to succeed in school and life. And our farmers deserve the tools to be resilient in a changing climate. This legislation is an opportunity Read More
LAPS Notice Of Possible Quorum: Navy/LAHS Senior Signing & Swearing-in May 4
LAPS News:
Members of the Los Alamos School Board may attend the Navy/LAHS Senior Signing & Swearing-in Ceremony at 11:15 a.m. Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Los Alamos High School.
A quorum may be present; however no action will be taken. Read More
Op-Ed: Here We Go Again
By ALBERT M. SPUNGEN
Los Alamos
I just finished teaching my high school students about the 1960s and the youth movements of the time. Although the events going on today on college campuses and on some high school campuses resemble those days, they are not at all similar other than youth involvement. The 1960s rebellions, whether you agreed with them or not, were directed against all the ills of the time. They involved opposing a war America was fighting with boys caught in a clearly unfair draft system. They involved forcing the government and society into granting long overdue civil rights to Read More
County Council To Relocate Meetings During Early Voting
COUNTY News:
Due to early voting activities, the Los Alamos County Council will temporarily relocate its upcoming council meetings to White Rock Fire Station 3 at 129 N.M. State Road 4 until after the primary election on June 4.
The affected meeting dates are May 7, May 21 and May 28. Meetings are held at 6 p.m., and a Zoom option is offered for remote participation (Zoom Link). Agendas are available 72 hours before the scheduled meeting and can be found via the online Legistar Calendar.
Starting June 11, council regular sessions will resume in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building, 1000 Read More
LA Federated Republican Women Celebrate 70th Anniversary
Los Alamos Federated Republican Women (LAFRW) Officers with performer VanAnn Moore, from left, Mary Wilhoit (Chaplain), Dianne Coanne (President), Moore, Trish Granich (Secretary), Cheryl Stead (Treasurer) and Linda Bullock (Vice President) with the silver elephants that the club received as part of the Diamond Achievement Award received from the National Federated Republican Women for the 2022-2023 year. Courtesy/LAFRW
VanAnn Moore performs ‘Dolley Madison’ during the 70th Anniversary Celebration of the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women. Courtesy/LAFRW
LAFRW News:
The Read More
Robinson: Historians Look At Oñate
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services
In history we find things that make us feel uncomfortable, said Jon Ghahate, a Laguna and Zuni pueblo educator. “Sometimes it’s very challenging. For New Mexico it’s embedded in everything we do.”
Ghahate spoke on a panel about Don Juan de Oñate, the Colonizer of New Mexico. In 1598, Oñate led soldiers and settlers up the Rio Grande, opening the Spanish presence in the region.
The panel was the brainchild of Carol Sullivan, vice president of the Historical Society of New Mexico. In planning the society’s annual conference, which just Read More
New Mexico Election Study Completed By UNM Professors Reveals Key Insights On Voting Patterns
From the Secretary of State Office:
‘New Mexico does elections well.’ –NMES
ALBUQUERQUE — The 2022 New Mexico Election Administration, Voter Security and Election Reform Report (NMES) was released Monday and provides the public with detailed data about how voters experienced the 2022 General Election.
The report “represents a systematic examination of voter attitudes and experiences with the election, concerns about election security, and preferences for election reforms” (p. 10).
The 2022 NMES, completed by University of New Mexico (UNM) Professor Emeritus Lonna Atkeson, now director Read More
Council Tentatively Approves DPU’s FY 2025 Budget
Department of Public Utilities Manager Philo Shelton presents his department’s FY2025 to Los Alamos County Council Monday night. Council unanimously voted to tentatively approve the department’s $99,371,582 as well as a $1,304,000 budget option for a joint project with the Public Works Department for road improvements to Bathtub Row, Peach Street and Nectar Street. Screenshot/LADP Read More
LAFSE Issues Statement Of Support For New Mexico School Districts’ Lawsuit Over 180-Day NMPED Rule
LAFSE News:
The Los Alamos Federation of School Employees, (LAFSE) today issued the following statement:
NMPED (New Mexico Public Education Department) continues to overreach through rule changes telling school districts, urban, rural, and everything in between, to abide by a one size fits all.
The Los Alamos Federation of School Employees supports New Mexico school districts in their lawsuit over the 180-day PED rule. Read More
Swastika Painted On White Rock Rock
A reader submitted this photo today of a swastika painted on the White Rock rock at the corner of N.M. 4 and Rover Boulevard. The reader said they did not know who painted it but the sight of it was making them feel sick and they wanted the community to be aware what someone had done. Courtesy photo Read More
Wernicke: Parks & Recreation Board April 2024 Update
Los Alamos Parks and Recreation Board Chair James Wernicke. Courtesy photo
By JAMES WERNICKE
Chair
Los Alamos Parks and Recreation Board
At the April Parks and Recreation Board (PRB) meeting, we finalized our 2024 Work Plan. This annual task, mandated by the County Council, requires us to provide a detailed outline of tasks, activities, timelines, and resources needed to achieve our shared goals. Section 8 of the County Code outlines each standing board’s purpose, duties, and responsibilities and serves as the primary guiding document for each board’s work plan. PRB is defined in Chapter Read More
County Council Approves $377.4 Million FY 2025 Budget
Mead: Thoughts On The ‘Greening’ Of America (And Los Alamos)
By WILLIAM C. MEAD
Los Alamos
I read the Op/Ed by Steve Tobin of the BPU with interest. I am glad to see the BPU and DPW thinking about issues and costs of green energy production. I have some observations and questions about specifics and about general societal attempts to reduce CO2 emissions.
I’ll offer a few observations and some questions about Mr. Tobin’s discussion. At face value, Mr. Tobin seems to be calling for a radical change in direction for 1) “green” (solar) electrical production and 2) related personal investments. I will deal separately with these two recommendations.
I certainly Read More
Canceled: Tonight’s County Council FY25 Budget Hearing
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Council FY25 Budget Hearing scheduled for this evening, April 30, 2024, has been canceled.
The hearing was canceled because the FY25 budget was approved at the Council’s April 29, 2024 Budget Hearing.
The cancellation notice has been published as is available online here. Read More
Historic Preservation Advisory Board Meets May 1
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County Historic Preservation Advisory Board will meet 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Room 110 at the Municipal Building, 1000 Central Ave.
The meeting is open to the public.
The agenda can be viewed online here. Read More
LAPS Seeks Applicants For School Board Vacancy
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board is in search of a person to fill the vacancy left on the board with the departure of current member Antonio Jaurigue who represents School Board District 2.
President Jaurigue cited personal reasons for his resignation from the School Board, saying that “stepping down from the school board is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.” However, state law mandates his wife, who has been pursuing her certification in special education, may not be hired by the district while he is an acting board member. “I wish to resign before she applies for any position,” Read More
Op/Ed: Utility Scale Solar – Why So Vital For Decarbonization
By STEVE TOBIN
Member
Board of Public Utilities
Hello Los Alamos Community Members,
As a note of introduction, I joined the Board of Public Utility (BPU) in 2019. My largest motivation was a desire to learn and be a part of an effort to meet the BPU’s Net Carbon Neutral by 2040 Goal for electric generation. I appreciate the engagement of many community members in discussing our utility rules; our exchange of views is an essential part of being a community owned utility.
My purpose in this email is to provide some context that I have not heard expressed in the discussions with regards to changes under Read More
Governor Appoints Melanie A. Kenderdine As Cabinet Secretary Of New Mexico Energy, Minerals And Natural Resources Department
Melanie A. Kenderdine
STATE News:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed Melanie A. Kenderdine as Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department.
Kenderdine currently serves as the co-founder, Principal and Executive Vice President of the Energy Futures Initiative, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to harnessing the power of technology and policy innovation to accelerate the clean energy transition. She will commence her service as EMNRD Secretary-Designate on May 8, 2024.
“Melanie has proven herself to be a strategic Read More
League Of Women Voters To Host Candidate Forum May 9
LWVLA News:
The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos (LWVLA) will host a candidate forum on Thursday, May 9 at Fuller Lodge. The forum begins at 7 p.m., but all are invited to enjoy refreshments and socialize with the candidates at 6:30 p.m.
Participating in the forum are:
- Christine Chandler (Dem.) and Chris Luchini (Lib.) running for NM District 43;
- Mary Carmack-Altwies (Dem.) and Marco Serna (Dem.) running for District Attorney in the First Judicial District;
- Beverly Neal-Clinton (Dem.), Denise Derkacs (Dem.), Ryn Herrmann (Dem.), James Wernicke (Lib.), and David Reagor (Rep.) running
