Council Action At Tuesday Night’s Meeting
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Operating food trucks in Los Alamos got a boost after Los Alamos County unanimously approved an ordinance to include mobile food vending in the County’s code during its regular meeting Tuesday evening.
According to the staff report, the ordinance addresses mobile food vending on private land, public land and public right-of-way within Los Alamos County.
It was further stated in the report that the ordinance was created in response to the increase demand and interest from local business owners to obtain a business license for Read More
Los Alamos County Seeks Personnel Board Members
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County is still accepting applications for eligible candidates to be appointed immediately to complete the terms of three vacant seats on the Personnel Board.
Interested Los Alamos residents who do not hold public office and who are not employed by the county government may submit an online application by visiting the County’s Boards and Commissions webpage and selecting Personnel and then selecting “apply”.
Applications will be accepted now until the vacancies are filled.
The Personnel Board, comprising five members, serves in an appellate and advisory capacity Read More
U.S. Rep. Leger Fernández Hosts Discussion With DOE Secretary Granholm On National Laboratory Technology Transfer And Commercialization In New Mexico
From the Office of U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández:
SANTA FE – Today U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM-03) hosted a roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Energy (DOE) Jennifer Granholm to discuss the future of local innovation and technology commercialization through the Department of Energy in New Mexico.
Roundtable participants included the Secretary, the Governor of Pueblo of Santa Ana, Joseph Sanchez, representatives from Los Alamos and Sandia National laboratories, and several stakeholders from the private and public sectors.
During the roundtable, Leger Fernández Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham On Cause Of Calf Canyon Fire: ‘Pain And Suffering … Is Unfathomable’
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a statement following the announcement by the U.S. Forest Service that a federal pile burn holdover ignited the Calf Canyon Fire, which merged with the Hermits Peak Fire to become the largest fire in New Mexico history:
“The pain and suffering of New Mexicans caused by the actions of the U.S. Forest Service – an agency that is intended to be a steward of our lands – is unfathomable.
“This is a first step toward the federal government taking full responsibility for the largest wildfire in state history, which has destroyed Read More
Chart 647: COVID-19 Diagnoses 7-Day Average Spikes
This chart shows the seven-day average number of COVID-19 diagnoses in Los Alamos versus date. On a scale of 0 to 100, the diagnoses index quantifies the current level of diagnoses by using a comparison with daily levels since the start of the pandemic (the higher the index, the more severe the current state of the pandemic is). The current number of diagnoses is higher than 94 percent of preceding days. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimHeinrich, Luján Introduce Legislation To Help New Mexico Respond And Recover From Wildfires
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) to introduce two bills to support efforts in New Mexico and across the country to put fires out faster and better protect communities from post-fire flooding.
The Fire Suppression Improvement Act would help ease the burden on state and local governments who are shouldering the weight of increasingly devastating wildfires by expanding FEMA’s Federal Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) to better support the pre-deployment of assets Read More
Chart 646: Los Alamos Among Six New Mexico Counties Moving From Green To Yellow On CDC Map
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released today its weekly update to the COVID-19 community level map. The CDC framework designates community level based on diagnoses and hospitalization levels (link). Masks are recommended for at-risk (for example, immunocompromised) individuals in counties with the intermediate, yellow, risk level. A majority of New Mexicans live in counties currently yellow on the CDC map. Source: CDC. Map: mapchart.net. Created by Eli Ben-Naim Read More
Ungerleider: Worth Fighting For
By DAN UNGERLEIDERPublic Meeting June 1 On North Mesa Shared-Use Gym
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Public Works Department together with Los Alamos Public Schools will hold a public meeting to seek input and discuss planning efforts for a proposed shared-use gymnasium project at North Mesa.
The project proposes development of a shared-use gymnasium located at the Los Alamos Middle School that will support County recreation programs and allow Los Alamos Public Schools’ programmatic use during school hours.
The project is in the Pre‑Design and Programming or “Planning” Phase to determine the facility location, size, and related budgetary needs for Read More
Heinrich, Luján Join 80 Senators In Bipartisan Letter Requesting Biden Admin Swiftly Advance NATO Applications For Sweden & Finland
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined a bipartisan group of 80 senators in a letter to President Biden urging him to expedite the Executive Branch’s process to advance Sweden and Finland’s applications for NATO membership and pledging to work with the Administration to ensure swift ratification of the Washington Treaty.
The letter is led by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation and co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, and U.S. Read More
Heinrich, Stansbury Drought And Water Security Package Gains Momentum During Key Committee Hearing
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) to address drought and water security in New Mexico and across the United States is gaining momentum after it was considered during today’s hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Water & Power Subcommittee.
U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) leads the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
During the hearing, Sen. Heinrich laid out that the Water Data and Security Act will:
- Address immediate and long-term water security needs of the Rio
Chart 645: Los Alamos Only New Mexico County With More COVID-19 Diagnoses In 2022 Than 2020-2021 Combined
This scatter plot shows the number of COVID-19 diagnoses per 10 people in 2022 compared with the corresponding number for the years 2020 and 2021 (combined) for each county in New Mexico. Statewide and countywide numbers are highlighted in red. Statewide, the number of diagnoses in 2022 is about half that of 2020-2021. In Los Alamos County, the number of diagnoses in 2022 is about double that of 2020-2021. Los Alamos is the only New Mexico county displaying such a pattern. Also shown in purple is the trendline. Source: New Mexico Department of Health. Created by Eli Ben-NaimCouncil Proclaims Second Week Of June Pride Week
Los Alamos County Council Chair Randall Ryti, center, presents a signed proclamation to Fortis Brown recognizing the second week of June as the annual LGBTQ+ Pride Week. They are joined by the Los Alamos Teen Director George Marsden, New Mexico State Sen. Leo Jaramillo, Los Alamos County Councilor Melanee Hand and Friends of Los Alamos Pride supporters. Photo by Vinton Miller/LAC Read More
COVID Update #15 – Another ‘Wave’ is Upon Us
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
Los Alamos
Status of the Pandemic
Los Alamos, as well as many other areas in the US, is going through another “wave” of infections. In fact, our present rate of infections is higher than the rate of infection on 92% of the days since the pandemic began. (With thanks to Eli Ben-Naim). It is also higher than at any time other than January 2021 and during the Omicron surge. Moreover, the LAPS on May 23 alone reported 9 cases, 7 of which were at the high school.
In addition, the number of new cases is universally regarded as an undercount of the real number, since some people test at home and Read More
Democratic Party Of New Mexico Hires Daniel Garcia As Communications Director For 2022 Election Cycle
DPNM Communications Director Daniel Garcia
DPNM News:
The Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM) announced today the hiring of Daniel Garcia as communications director for the 2022 election cycle.
In this role, Garcia will lead DPNM’s communications program and provide support for Democratic candidates across New Mexico.
“I’m passionate about uplifting the positive work of New Mexico Democrats, up and down the ballot,” Garcia said. “I’m looking forward to helping the voters get to know our candidates and all they do for everyday New Mexicans.”
A graduate of the University of New Mexico, Read More
Los Alamos School Board Meets Thursday May 26
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Board meets 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26 in person in the School Board Room at 2101 Trinity Dr., Suite V and virtually on Zoom.
This meeting is open to the public.
Find the agenda to this meeting here: May 26, 2022 School Board Agenda
Find the link to this meeting here.
Meeting ID: 505 663 2222 Read More
SOS: Primary Election Voting Details For Fire Evacuees
From the Office of the Secretary of State:
Voters affected by the fires may cast an absentee ballot if they are unable to vote in person in their county during Early Voting or on Election Day.
For some displaced voters, voting by mail with an absentee ballot may be your only way to participate in the 2022 Primary Election.
Multiple ways to obtain and cast an absentee ballot:
- Visit NMVOTE.ORG to request an absentee ballot and have it sent to wherever you are residing, even if you are currently at an evacuation center or in another state.
- Contact your County Clerk to request an absentee ballot.
- Dropping
Common Cause New Mexico And ACLU Team Up To Run Primary Election Integrity Program
CCNM News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Common Cause New Mexico is teaming up with the ACLU of New Mexico to run a nonpartisan voter protection program this year to assist voters who encounter problems in voting either by mail or in person.
The organizations will operate teams on the ground to field questions and staff a hotline for voters to report problems. The hotline number is 866-OUR-VOTE (866.687.8683) or, for Spanish speakers, 888-VEY-VOTA.
“With wildfires and several important changes in voting procedures, this year‘s primary presents challenges for voters who want to exercise their right to vote,” Read More
New Mexico Governor Signs Executive Order Directing 25 Percent Cut In Administrative Education Paperwork
STATE News:
SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Monday signed an executive order directing the New Mexico Public Education Department to reduce burdensome reporting requirements by 25 percent, enabling school leaders to spend more time educating students and less time on paperwork.
“Our kids should be the focus of everything we do at New Mexico schools, and teachers and administrators did not choose these professions to spend their days filling out paperwork,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “While we need robust data reporting and collection to track our students’ progress, we have a responsibility Read More
Los Alamos COVID Impact: Week Ending May 23, 2022
COVID-19 statistics for the week ending May 23, 2022 impacting Los Alamos County:
-
424 tests
- 52 diagnoses (38 in Los Alamos, 14 in White Rock)
- 0 deaths
Source: New Mexico Department of Health. By Eli Ben-Naim.
