McQuiston: Heavy Rain And Flooding … Why Homeowners Insurance Doesn’t Always Cover It
By ALLEN MCQUISTONJemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963
Daily Postcard: Sunrise Silhouettes Blooming Century Plant
Daily Postcard: The sunrise Friday silhouettes a Century Plant blooming at a residence in White Rock. The common name ‘century plant’ stems from its monocarpic nature of flowering only once at the end of its long life. After flowering, the plant dies but produces adventitious shoots from the base, allowing its growth to continue. Although it is called the century plant, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years. It spreads 6-10 feet, with gray-green leaves 3-5 feet in length, each with a prickly margin and a heavy spike at the tip that can pierce deeply. At the end of its life, the plant produces a tall, Read More
Los Alamos National Laboratory: Launch Helps Ensure Nation’s Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Readiness
A UP Aerospace Spyder rocket. Courtesy/UP Aerospace
LANL News:
- Experimental payload allows Los Alamos National Laboratory to test prototypes
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has launched a rocket carrying a full-size experimental payload that was designed, built and tested in just three years. The non-nuclear payload launched from White Sands Missile Range on June 13 and will help ensure the responsiveness of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile in accordance with the federal government’s mandate for a stockpile responsiveness program (SRP).
“The Laboratory’s mission is Read More
NM Veterans Get Free Day Use, Camping At State Parks
EMNRD News:
SANTA FE — Starting July 1, New Mexico resident veterans are eligible for a lifetime pass for day-use and camping access to all New Mexico State Parks. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed House Bill 161 to provide recreational opportunities for New Mexico veterans in the last legislative session. The New Mexico State Parks Division (NMSP) partnered with the Department of Veterans’ Services (NMDVS) to quickly implement this new benefit.
“New Mexico’s veterans have served our country with honor, and they deserve tangible support that matches their sacrifice,” Gov. Lujan Read More
Daily Postcard: Sleepy Young Buck Naps In Tall Grass
Daily Postcard: A sleepy young buck is spotted napping in the tall, cool grass on Wednesday afternoon in North Community. Photo by Marc BaileyTwin Cabins Wildfire Update For June 26
Forest Service:
Firefighters have knocked down the Twin Cabins Wildfire to approximately 40 acres in the Jemez Ranger District, near the northwest boundary between Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Santa Fe National Forest, adjacent to Forest Road 144 and Twin Cabins Canyon.
Start Date: June 23, 2025, at 1 p.m.
Containment: 10%
Cause: Under investigation
Vegetation: Burning in oak brush, Ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir.
Resources: 40 personnel
Overview: Fire crews are actively managing the 40-acre wildfire using full suppression tactics. Currently, the wildfire does not pose Read More
DPU Releases FY2025 Third Quarter Performance Report
DPU News:
The Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has released its Quarterly Performance Report for the third quarter of FY2025.
The report is available to read here: https://ladpu.com/FY25Q3. Read More
Students Name Mexican Gray Wolf Pups Slated For Release
LS News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Mexican gray wolf puppies born in captivity at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge received names this week from student submissions via an online contest. The five puppies– Kachina, Aspen, Sage, Kai, and Aala– and their parents Asha and Arcadia are slated to be released in New Mexico.
Asha made headlines in 2023 when she twice ventured north of Interstate 40, the arbitrary boundary beyond which Mexican wolves are banned. After her second capture near the Valles Caldera National Preserve, she was paired in captivity with a male named Arcadia, and officials pledged to Read More
New Mexico State Parks Welcomes Ranger Oran Hurst To Navajo Lake State Park
Ranger Oran Hurst delivering his valedictory address. Courtesy photo
NMSP News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico State Parks welcomes a new law enforcement officer to Navajo Lake State Park and to its dedicated team of State Park Rangers. Park Ranger Oran Hurst received certification from the San Juan County Criminal Justice Training Authority-Basic Police Academy on June 13, in Farmington, New Mexico. Hurst was named valedictorian of his academy class, recording the highest academic score and delivering the valedictorian address during the graduation ceremony.
New Mexico’s State Park Rangers Read More
Twin Cabins Wildfire Update June 25
Twin Cabins Wildfire in the Jemez Ranger District. Courtesy photo
JRD News:
Location: The wildfire is in the Jemez Ranger District, near the northwest boundary between the Valles Caldera National Preserve and the Santa Fe National Forest, adjacent to Forest Road 144 and Twin Cabins Canyon.
Start Date: June 23, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
Size: 40 acres
Containment: 10%
Cause: Under investigation
Vegetation: Burning in oak brush, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir.
Resources: 40 personnel
Overview: Fire crews are actively managing the 40-acre wildfire using full suppression tactics. Currently, the Read More
Daily Postcard: Flourishing 4-O’Clock In Pajarito Acres
A volunteer 4-O’clock in Pajarito Acres flourishes after recent rains. Photo by Bob Reedy Read More
Watch Out For This Tree Eating Bug … Don’t Touch It!
Douglas-fir tussock caterpillar on a tree branch. Courtesy/SFNF
Douglas-fir tussock caterpillar. Courtesy/SFNF
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — If you see brownish-yellow or red discoloration of trees while exploring the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF), it may be the result of defoliation from the Douglas-fir tussock moth (DFTM).
Do not pick up this cute – and potentially dangerous – caterpillar. These caterpillars have thousands of tiny hairs covering their bodies. The female moths, egg masses, and cocoons also have hairs, which can cause tussockosis, an allergic reaction from direct skin contact Read More
Daily Postcard: Canyon Towhees At Home On Barranca Mesa
Daily Postcard: A Canyon Towhee chick in a nest on Barranca Mesa. This photo was taken very carefully so as not to disturb the chick or nest. Photo by Cooper Holder
Canyon Towhees stack two nests in a honeysuckle vine on Barranca Mesa. Photo by Cooper Holder Read More
Commissioner Garcia Richard On Legislative Finance Committee Report Highlighting Need To Plug Thousands Of Inactive Oil & Gas Wells
From the New Mexico State Land Office:
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- State Land Office leading efforts by securing 700 oil & gas wells plugged under its Accountability and Enforcement Program at industry’s expenses; saving taxpayers at least $114 million
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SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Land Office’s efforts to hold oil and gas operators accountable have resulted in the plugging of 700 abandoned oil and gas wells on New Mexico state lands as of this moment, Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced today. Meanwhile, a new report released today by the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) Read More
Op-Ed: About Monday’s ‘We Love Public Lands Rally’
By C&R FRES
Los Alamos
Ref: ‘We Love Public Lands Rally’ To Protest Proposed Public Land Sales & National Monument Reductions Monday, June 23.
And yet, last year when the BLM proposed transferring (via a lopsided trade arrangement) nearly 2,000 acres of BLM land to Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, practically no one made a peep.
If that transfer is completed, there will be nearly 2,000 acres of once publicly accessible land in northern NM that will be FOREVER cut off from public access. Unless, maybe, just maybe, you are allowed by the Pueblo to pay to access it as part of a Pueblo resort, golf course, Read More
View Heading East At Sunset Along Truck Route
The view driving east Monday evening along the Truck Route. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com Read More
Deep Burgundy Hollyhocks Bloom In White Rock Garden
Deep burgundy hollyhocks are spotted blooming in a garden recently on Ridgecrest Avenue in White Rock. Photo by Annette Maes-Livermore Read More
Daily Postcard: Magnified Spanish Broom Flowers Illuminated In Setting Sun
Daily Postcard: Magnified Spanish broom flowers illuminated in setting sun on Richard Court in White Rock. Photo by Richard Skolnik Read More
Vibrant Purple Flowers Brighten Garden In White Rock
Daily Postcard: Pretty flowers bloom Friday on Louise Avenue in White Rock. Photo by Annette Maes-Livermore Read More
‘We Love Public Lands Rally’ To Protest Proposed Public Land Sales & National Monument Reductions June 23
NMW News:
SANTA FE — At 3:30 p.m., Monday, June 23, New Mexico Wild and its partners are inviting members of the public to join its peaceful Public Lands Rally and March through downtown Santa Fe, New Mexico. The rally will send a loud message to elected officials and key members of the Trump administration that New Mexicans value public lands and national monuments and oppose any attempts to sell off public lands and reduce national monument boundaries.
The rally will be held at De Vargas Park (302 W De Vargas St) followed by a march to the El Dorado Hotel (309 W San Francisco St.) where Interior Secretary Read More
