Rickman: Can We Please Just Say ‘Enough Already’ To Personal Fireworks?
By JAMES RICKMAN
Los Alamos
A week has passed since the Fourth of July, and yet our evening skies continue to boom and glow with errant aerial fireworks displays launched from residential areas without a second thought about our tinder-dry landscape beneath. Oh, sure, I get it: Fireworks are all about ‘Merica! and the freedom to do whatever the hell we damned well please whenever we get the urge to bust a patriotic nut; it’s what Our Founders wanted us to do, right?
I wrote that last sentence with only the tiniest bit of facetiousness, because I really do understand where that sentiment comes from. Read More
Robinson: Remembering The Nation’s First Female County Extension Agent
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
It’s not every day that an old friend becomes a museum exhibit.
The New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces recently opened an exhibit, “Beyond the Farm: Groundbreaking Agriculture,” to honor seven people. One was the late Jessie Fitzgerald, the nation’s first female county extension agent.
When I met Jessie, I was a rookie reporter in Grants, and we were part of a circle of women friends, all with challenging jobs. Not until much later did I learn Jessie came from a historic family and had herself made history.
Jessie Read More
Skolnik: Open Letter To LAPS School Board On Its July 11, 2023 Meeting
RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock
During the last school year, the LAPS faced an exceptionally high rate of absenteeism, at least an important part of which appears to have been due to health issues, such as COVID, RSV, and a range of other viruses.
In addition, COVID is not over, much of the US population has waning immunity to COVID, and the latest studies make clear that children are major spreaders of COVID and can suffer both short-run and long-run consequences from it.
Moreover, Los Alamos seems to be in the grip of a fentanyl epidemic, which has led to the tragic deaths of a number of young people.
In Read More
Dannemann: It’s Our Meat And Our Safety
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
Is it better to have meat inspections conducted by a state agency or a federal agency? What do you think?
Some New Mexicans who understand the economics of cattle growing and meat processing want to reinstate the state program. Legislation has been introduced a few times, most recently in this year’s legislative session. The previous program was terminated in 2007 after negative reports by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Federal law requires that meat sold to the public must be inspected by a government inspector to Read More
Fr. Glenn: Blessed Are The Meek
By Fr. Glenn Jones:
Wealth and prestige tend to be the favorite things of most people; after all, wealth brings, if not happiness, at least (apparent) security and comfort. And prestige brings influence and admiration. Of course, many go way overboard in seeking these things—often criminally, whether the actions are legal or not. One might remember the Gospel parable (Luke 16) of poor Lazarus, in which the rich man apparently just stepped over the starving and ailing Lazarus who was laying at his gate. If not legally criminal, that’s certainly morally criminal.
Now, in the Sunday Catholic Mass Read More
Bourque: North Mesa Roundabout Hazard
By ROBERT BOURQUE
Los Alamos
On May 24 I struck a boy on a bicycle at the roundabout in North Mesa. He was coming from Barranca. He received minor scrapes and is OK.
It was not possible to see this boy despite a witness claiming he had entered the intersection first. I first saw him only when he was darting in front of me, even though I had looked to the left more than once.
The reason is that my view of him was blocked by the roundabout itself. It has overgrown vegetation, large boulders, a mountain lion statue, and two evergreen trees whose branches reach the ground.
I have attached a photo, taken from my car Read More
McQuiston: Am I Covered If In Hit-And-Run Accident?
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1973
A hit-and-run is a car accident in which a driver leaves the scene after hitting a pedestrian, another car or an object. If you’re hit by another driver who leaves the scene and the responsible party cannot be found, their liability coverage won’t be available to cover your damages.
Your auto policy may help cover the damages if you are a victim of a hit-and-run accident.
Car Insurance Coverage That May Cover a Hit-and-Run
A typical auto insurance policy includes coverages that may apply in the event of a hit-and-run accident. Read More
