Governor Secures Federal Resources For Ruidoso Disaster
From the Office of the Governor:
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- State works with federal partners for additional financial assistance
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SANTA FE – The state of New Mexico today received partial approval for a federal emergency declaration for flood-damaged communities, providing immediate federal personnel resources to support response and recovery efforts in Ruidoso while work continues to secure additional federal assistance.
“This federal declaration is a critical first step, but it’s not everything Ruidoso needs and deserves,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said. “We will continue working with the federal Read More
Alzheimer’s And Extreme Heat: Exercise Caution
HEALTH News:
As temperatures rise, extreme heat can have a significant impact on everyone’s safety, but these conditions can be especially stressful and confusing for individuals with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
“Alzheimer’s disease causes a number of changes in the brain and body that may affect the individual’s safety, including changes in sensitivity to temperatures,” Donald Smithburg said, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Association of New Mexico.
According to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people living with Alzheimer’s were 6% more likely to die Read More
Luján, Boozman Reintroduce Legislation To Prevent Physical Therapy Interruptions For Medicare Patients
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-Ark.) reintroduced the Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act to prevent the interruption of physical therapy services nationwide. For many senior Medicare patients, physical therapy services can help restore mobility and patient’s ability to function and live independently with a higher quality of life. But too often, services can be interrupted if a practitioner is not available leaving seniors without care.
The Prevent Interruptions in Physical Therapy Act builds on Read More
Senior Activity Centers Prepare To Navigate Unprecedented Challenges With Community Support
By JACCI GRUNUNGER
Executive Director
LARSO
Dear Members, Friends, and Valued Supporters,
It is with a profound sense of urgency and a heavy heart that I reach out to you today. Our beloved Senior Activity Centers, cornerstones of the Los Alamos community for so many years, are facing an unprecedented challenge.
We recently received news of significant funding cuts from federal and state government sources. This jeopardizes our ability to continue offering the full scope of programs and services essential to our older adults’ well-being.
Los Alamos residents are getting older, and the demand Read More
New Mexico Supreme Court Clarifies State Law Limiting Attorney Fees In Workers’ Compensation Cases
New Mexico Supreme Court News:
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled today that people hurt in a workplace accident may qualify for separate awards of attorney fees for subsequent injuries stemming from their initial injury.
In a unanimous opinion, the Court concluded that a state agency worker was entitled under the Workers’ Compensation Act to recover up to $22,500 in attorney fees – a cap imposed by the law – on other injuries suffered after a slip-and-fall at the workplace. Treatment for the initial injury resulted in multiple surgeries and a brain injury.
The justices ordered a Workers’ Read More
Project Heart Start CPR Training July 13 & 19
UNM News:
ESPAÑOLA, NM — Medical students from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine will offer a free community CPR course as part of the statewide Project Heart Start program.
The course will be from 1–2 p.m., July 13 & 19, at the Española Hospital Piñon Room. The class is free of charge and no registration is necessary.
Project Heart Start teaches four lifesaving skills in just one hour:
- How to perform compression-only CPR for sudden cardiac arrest.
- How to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
- How to recognize the warning signs of a heart attack.
- How to save a choking victim.
Think New Mexico: Why Is This Dark Money Group Fighting Healthcare Reform?
By FRED NATHAN JR.
Executive Director
Think New Mexico
Recently the New Mexico Ethics Commission sued a secretive, dark money group calling itself New Mexico Safety Over Profits (NMSOP) for violating state laws that require the disclosure of the source of funds used to influence legislation.
The lawsuit alleges that NMSOP spent tens of thousands of dollars on advertisements opposing medical malpractice reforms designed to center the needs of patients and bring down malpractice premiums for doctors, which are about twice as high in New Mexico as in our surrounding states.
Earlier this year, Read More
Aging Department Strengthens Services With New Division
ALTSD News:
SANTA FE — New Mexicans will now have access to more coordinated and comprehensive support for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers through the Long-Term Care Division.
The newly re-activated division will oversee a range of critical programs, including New MexiCare, the Veterans-Directed Care Program, the Office of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Care Transitions, and the Kinship Caregiver Pilot Program. Together, these programs form the foundation of the Department’s programmatic services, empowering New Mexicans to age with dignity, independence Read More
Canes & Canines To Meet July 9 At Violas
COMMUNITY News:
Canes & Canines, the support group for blind and low-vision people, will host its monthly meeting at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, at Viola’s Restaurant at 1360 Trinity Drive.
Everyone is invited to attend. Read More
David Zimmerman Comedy Shows At Senior Activity Centers
David Zimmermann
LALT News:
Regardless of what life throws at us, it usually feels better to laugh about it.
With that in mind, David Zimmerman will present what he calls “The Lighter Side of MS: A Comedic Take on Diminishing Capabilities” at 1 p.m. Thursday in the classroom at the Los Alamos Senior Activity Center.
He will also present the same show at 1 p.m. Friday in the studio at the White Rock Senior Activity Center.
Admittance is free. There will be a talk-back session after each performance.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the protective Read More
YMCA And Dr. Garimella Team Up To Battle Type II Diabetes
Los Alamos YMCA fitness instructor and personal trainer Raj Vaidya and Dr. Madhavi Garimella attend ScienceFest’s Discovery Day June 21 to show how exercise and diet can help control, manage and in some cases reverse the effects of diabetes. Courtesy photo
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Rajendra Vaidya (Raj) and Dr. Madhavi Garimella are joining forces to battle diabetes. Their strategy? Utilizing exercise, promoting a healthy diet and letting patients use continuous glucose monitoring (CGMs) so they can see the benefits in real time.
The fight Read More
LAHS Key Clubbers Selling Cotton Candy At Summer Concerts To Address ‘Youth Mental Health’ In Los Alamos
Los Alamos High School (LAHS ) Key Club members, from left, Gyasi Atta-Fynn, Angel Ming, and Emily Xu, and Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos President Tim Glasco at their Friday evening booth at the Summer Concert at Ashley Pond Park. Key Club is selling cotton candy at the weekly concerts to raise money to address ‘Youth Mental Health’ because they are very concerned about the mental health of their peers. Photo by Morrie Pongratz
LAHS Key Club member Rebecca Li, right, presents a $3,000 check in 2024 to local non-profit Los Alamos JJAB Executive Director Rachel Mohr-Richards to address ‘Fentanyl Harm Read More
Health Department, Navajo Nation Sign Historic Agreement
NMDOH News:
WINDOW ROCK, AZ – The Navajo Nation and the New Mexico Department of Health signed a Memorandum of Agreement to strengthen data sharing and public health coordination between the two entities.
Among other measures, the agreement allows the Navajo Nation to access and analyze health data related to Tribal members to use to seek ways to improve health outcomes for the community.
The milestone agreement was formally signed May 1 in a ceremony in Window Rock, AZ, attended by Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren and personnel from both the Navajo Department of Health (NDOH) and Read More
Dr. Anna Voltura Appointed Chair Of HER2 Foundation Board
HER2 News:
SANTA FE — The HER2 Foundation, a New Mexico-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing healing through art and supporting those affected by metastatic breast cancer, proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Anna Voltura as Chair of its Board of Directors.
Dr. Voltura is a fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist, educated at both Johns Hopkins University and the University of New Mexico. She practices in Santa Fe, where she has long combined compassionate care with a commitment to the emotional well-being of her patients.
When Dr. Voltura opened her office, artist and “artivist” Read More
New Mexico Supreme Court Clarifies How Insurers Must Offer Uninsured And Underinsured Motorist Coverage
State Supreme Court News:
SANTA FE — Insurance companies must offer uninsured motorist and underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) on a per-vehicle basis in New Mexico and disclose the premiums for each of a consumer’s vehicles, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled Monday.
UM/UIM coverage protects motorists when the other driver lacks enough insurance to pay for a person’s injuries and damages.
“By offering such coverage on a per-vehicle basis, customers will have the option of purchasing the coverage they can afford rather than purchasing UM/UIM coverage on all vehicles on a multi-vehicle Read More
New Mexico PFAS Claim Filed As Federal Bellwether Case
NMED News:
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal judge last week opened the door to New Mexico’s pursuit of its ongoing civil case against Cannon Air Force Base for environmental and public health damage near Clovis.
The judge’s statements pave the way for New Mexico’s July 2024 lawsuit to serve as a national bellwether case for PFAS claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, commonly referred to as the federal Superfund law.
With this filing, New Mexico moves to the front of the line among states seeking compensation for damages to their natural resources Read More
Skolnik: Dr. Shin – Please See The Whole Truth, Not Part Of It
By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
Healthcare providers have a special obligation to follow data, science, and evidence. Thus, I remain deeply disappointed at the content of Dr. Lisa Shin’s letters to the editor.
In her latest letter to the editor (link), Dr. Shin ignores the impact on the federal budget of the “Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has just estimated that the Senate Bill would add $3.9 trillion to the federal deficit from 2025 to 2034.
Dr. Shin should also note that the annual growth rate of GDP in the US since the late 1940s has been higher under Read More
State Boosts Small Business Health Insurance Savings
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico Healthcare Authority (NMHCA) has announced that more than 36,000 New Mexicans employed by small businesses will see bigger savings on health insurance starting this summer, as the state expands premium discounts that are already helping more than 4,100 small businesses provide affordable coverage.
Beginning July 1, New Mexico’s Small Business Premium Relief Initiative will offer 15 percent premium discounts for Gold and Platinum-level health plans, up from the current 10% discount. Bronze and Silver-level health insurance plans will continue to benefit Read More
Scenes From Los Alamos Airport Open House Saturday
The Los Alamos County Airport, in cooperation with Chapter 691 of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Los Alamos ScienceFest 2025, hosted an Open House Saturday morning that included aviation activities, exhibits, and fun with various experimental aircraft, many built in Los Alamos and the surrounding area. Photo by John McHale/ladailypost.com
Kevin Carpenter is seated in the EAA Hangar’s flight simulator to try his hand at flying the virtual over Los Alamos and the surrounding area as Instructor Skip Egdorf watches and helps him stay on course. Carpenter said he wants to become Read More
New Mexicans Can Compare Prescription Costs Online
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — New Mexicans can now use the public portal of the All Payer Claims Database (APCD) to compare costs on prescriptions statewide.
The portal, which went live in August 2024, was developed to expand healthcare pricing transparency in compliance with the Health Information Systems Act and the APCD rule. This public portal will empower New Mexicans to compare healthcare prices and access information on healthcare quality, helping them make informed choices to seek quality care.
As of June 2025, the portal now includes prescription costs and is accessible in Spanish Read More
