Snow Enhances Beauty Of Nativity Scene In White Rock
Snow clings to a nativity scene, enhancing its beauty this morning in front of a home on Aster Street in White Rock. Photo by VaLynn Purvis Read More
Hot Tip: Ashes To Ashes
State of New Mexico News:
New Mexicans know: There’s nothing quite like coming home to cozy up in front of the fire. Whether wood stove or kiva fireplace, whether for a one-night flame or cooking dinner every evening, fires are winter tradition from Cloudcroft to Cimarron.
This winter has brought record-breaking early season warmth, but cold days are coming, meaning it’s time to crank up the heat at home.
Fire doesn’t end when flames die down:
- You have to dispose of wood ash safely, too. Tossing ash over the porch railing won’t cut it — even “cold” ashes retain enough heat to ignite flammable materials.
Los Alamos Public Schools On Two-Hour Delay
From Superintendent Jennifer Guy:
Los Alamos Public Schools will be on a 2-hour delay today, Jan. 9, due to winter weather conditions.
This delay will give our crews time to make sure parking lots and sidewalks are clear and safe for staff and students.
Buses will arrive at their usual stops 2 hours late. School will begin 2 hours late. Please be safe in your travels and watch for possible ice on roadways and sidewalks.
Two-hour Delayed Start:
- Buses will arrive at bus stops two hours later than the usual pickup time.
School start times during a 2-hour delay:
- Elementary schools – 10:10 a.m.
County Manager Announces 10 AM Start For Non-essential County Government Services And Facilities
COUNTY News:
Due to inclement weather and icy conditions, Los Alamos County Manager Anne Laurent has ordered a 10 a.m. start for all nonessential county government services and facilities today, Jan. 9.
Some exceptions and additional information are as follows:
- Atomic City Transit: All services (fixed routes, ACT assist & ACT MyRide) will begin at approximately 7 a.m. For specific route information, visit www.atomiccitytransit.com, or check the ACTracker.
- Environmental Services: There will be no disruption to Friday’s refuse and recycle pickup routes. The crew will complete
Snowy Scene Looking East From White Rock Residence
The snowy scene this morning from a residence in White Rock. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
UNM-LA Delays Opening Until 10 AM Today
UNM-LA News:
Due to winter weather conditions, the UNM-Los Alamos campus will delay its opening until 10 a.m. today, Jan. 9. Read More
Daily Postcard: Mountain Bluebird Visiting Overlook Park
Daily Postcard: Mountain Bluebird visiting Overlook Park Thursday. Photo by Richard Skolnik Read More
Pile Burns Begin Friday In Valles Caldera National Preserve
Pile burns in December 2025 on San Antonio Mountain. Photo by Jason Thivener/NPS
VCNP News:
With the recent snowfall, the National Park Service will ignite burn piles starting Friday, Jan. 9, on the Cerro Pinon Unit of Valles Caldera National Preserve. Smoke will be visible from the unit, located on the north side of Valle Grande.
Burning activities will continue throughout the winter months as weather and fuel conditions allow, and ignitions will occur only when adequate snow cover or moisture is present to ensure safe and effective operations.
These prescribed pile burns are designed to Read More
Travel: Bears And Volcanoes Take Centerstage At Katmai National Park
Journey to Katmai NP via a float plane for a memorable journey. Photo by Debbie Stone
Give him space! Photo by Debbie Stone
By DEBBIE STONE
Santa Fe
For the Los Alamos Daily Post
Standing on the platform at Brooks Falls in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, I wanted to warn the salmon and tell them, “Look before you leap!” I lost count as to how many of the fish ended up in the mouth of the ginormous brown bear perched at the edge of the falls. While the other bears stood in the water and actually had to work for their food, this guy just planted himself in the perfect spot, ready to catch salmon after salmon in his Read More
PEEC Launches Monthly Climate Café Series, Facilitating Emotional Discussion
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is introducing a new Climate Café series, offering a welcoming, facilitator-guided space for community dialogue and reflection on our emotional responses to a changing climate.
The first session will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, at Los Alamos Nature Center.
The Climate Café series provides an open, supportive environment where participants can share experiences, explore practices that support mental wellness, and build climate resilience. Each gathering invites attendees to discuss and Read More
Northern Flicker Spotted At RC Raceway In Overlook Park
One of several Northern Flickers spotted congregating around the RC Raceway on Saturday at Overlook Park in White Rock. Photo by Richard SkolnikDaily Postcard: The Crack Of Dawn Over Los Alamos
Daily Postcard: The colorful view at the crack of dawn on Tuesday, with Central Avenue at lower center right in Los Alamos. Photo by DW Decker Read More
Learn A Living Tradition – Make Traditional New Mexican Straw Appliqué Art At Los Luceros Historic Site
Los Luceros Historic Site News:
Create one of Northern New Mexico’s most enchanting arts, straw appliqué, with Northern Río Grande National Heritage Area (NRGNHA) at Los Luceros Historic Site this month.
What: Learn how to make straw appliqué art using wheat straw to decorate wooden decorative items. The workshop begins with participants carefully selecting wheat straw and preparing it by splitting, flattening, and burnishing it to enhance its natural golden sheen.
Participants will arrange the prepared straw into intricate designs such as flowers, vines, stars, sacred symbols, and Read More
Panoramic View From Top Of Guaje Mountain
Panoramic view on Tuesday taken from the top of Guaje Mountain at 7,626 feet. Photo by Tyler Marr Read More
State Game Commissioner Sharon Salazar Hickey Resigns
NMWF News:
Sharon Salazar Hickey, vice-chair of the New Mexico State Game Commission, has resigned effective Dec. 31.
Salazar Hickey, of Santa Fe, has served on the commission since January 2020. She recently retired after working for decades at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a staff attorney, group leader and program manager.
Salazar Hickey said Tuesday that she resigned from the commission in order to go on an extended boating trip with her husband, retired Santa Fe lawyer John Hickey. She said she originally had considered remaining on the commission while traveling, but ultimately Read More
Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office In Mora Reopens After Power Outage Closure
CLAIMS OFFICE News:
SANTA FE — The Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Claims Office reopened Tuesday after closing Monday because of an area-wide power outage.
Power was restored Monday afternoon after being out most of the day in Pecos and much of Mora and San Miguel counties.
The helpline is open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, Monday through Thursday. The public is encouraged to leave a voice message on the helpline any time at 505.995.7133 and the calls will be returned during regular business hours.
The Claims Offices’ regular hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. MT, Monday through Thursday and for appointments only Read More
Daily Postcard: Cloud Formation Decorates Early Evening Sky
Daily Postcard: Cloud formation decorates the sky viewed at sunset Jan. 3 from Velarde. Photo by Johnnie Martinez Read More
New Documents Added To Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room
LANL News:
New documents have been added to the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract Electronic Public Reading Room.
All legacy cleanup documents required to be posted after April 30, 2018, are available on the site linked above.
For legacy cleanup documents that were posted prior to April 30, 2018, please visit the LANL electronic public reading room.
- Notification of Return to Original Permitted Location of Four Los Alamos National Laboratory Hazardous Waste Facility Permit Storage Sheds (144, 145, 146, and 177)
https://ext.em-la.doe.gov/GovFTPFiles/api/GetFiles/GetFile?fileName=EMID-704101_N3B-2025-0434_Notif_Return_of_4_Permit_Units_122225.pdf
Pajarito Environmental Education Center Celebrates 11 Year Milestone As Nationally Certified Community Wildlife Habitat
The certification process for Los Alamos began with an email PEEC’s Selvi Viswanathan, right, sent to Luisa Grant of the National Wildlife Federation. More emails followed and a local Community Wildlife Habitat Team was formed that included Viswanathan, her son Hari Viswanathan, Michele Altherr, Hedy Dunn, Laura Loy, Yvonne Keller and Bob Walker. Other community members as well as students pitched in to work toward obtaining the certification. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
This month, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is celebrating an exciting milestone: Los Alamos has Read More
Santa Fe Snowshoe Classic In-Person & Virtual Jan. 2026
SF STRIDERS News:
The annual Santa Fe Snowshoe Classic is back! Register at runsignup.com/snowshoeclassic to receive great swag, win prizes, and support Skyline Search and Rescue. The registration fee is $35 (increasing to $40 on January 7th), and proceeds will go to Skyline Search and Rescue. In addition to volunteering at the Snowshoe Classic, Skyline Search and Rescue provides trained teams to participate in wilderness searches for people who are missing, injured, or lost.
In-person event
Gather at the Big Tesuque Campground off of Hyde Park Road before 9 a.m., Jan. 31, 2026. The Read More
