Robinson: False Complaint To Ethics Commission Goes Public
By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
It’s one of those calls no elected official wants to get.
Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, was out of state when a reporter called to ask her about an ethics complaint.
“What ethics complaint?” she asked.
The state Ethics Commission received, investigated and dismissed the complaint in April and notified Lundstrom by legislative email, which Lundstrom and many other lawmakers don’t use outside of sessions. Unaware of the complaint, she didn’t respond, but the commission dismissed the complaint on a technicality – namely that Read More
Amateur Naturalist: Two Weeks Of Flowering Beauty
A lawn with a field of dandelions at their peak. Yellow flowers are the front while balls of the white seed are toward the back. Photo by Bob Dryja
A closer view of dandelion flowers and their balls of seed. Photo by Bob Dryja
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
The green lawns of spring time are perfect for the growth of dandelions. A well-kept lawn has fertile soil just inches below the grass. The lawn also may be well-watered and the grass mowed so as to be too tall. Dandelion seeds emerge in the early spring. They float easily in the air and then settle between grass blades to grow. What is a good setting for grass Read More
McQuiston: Is Your Home Insured To Its Replacement Cost?
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963
If you lost your home in a fire, how much would it cost to rebuild it? The answer may be different than you think. And if your home isn’t insured to its full replacement cost, your homeowners policy may not cover the full cost for you to rebuild it in the event of a covered loss.
Rebuilding costs could differ from what you paid for your home and be more than its current market value – what it would sell for today – especially in areas where the value of real estate has changed. A replacement estimate includes costs to rebuild your home Read More
Community Services Corner: Social Services Division
By CORY STYRON
Director
Community Services Department
In May, I provided a brief introduction to the Community Services Department (CSD), offering an overview of the structure of the Department, introductions to each Division’s managers, and a rundown of the wide variety of programs, services, and facilities for your enjoyment across the County. We also touched on how the CSD team collaborates with other service providers in the community to support and enrich individuals’ lives through the arts, history, cultural pursuits, and referral resources.
This month’s editorial is to offer Read More
Dolesji: County Transportation Board June ’23 Update
By MICHAEL DOLESJITransportation Board
Recent Transportation Board meetings have included presentations on current and upcoming road improvement projects, bicycling use discussion, and information on electrical vehicle possibilities for the future of the county.
Catch Of The Week: Deep Fake Sextortion Scams
By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
At this point we’ve probably all heard of or seen A.I. generated images… Weird Al Yankovic eating froyo on Mars, Extreme Viking cheese eating festivals, Hot magma bathing competitions, etc. Pretty silly, right? But did you know that A.I. can be used to produce x-rated images of you and your loved ones, and then used against you in sextortion schemes? It’s true, and the FBI is warning Americans to watch out in an alert published this week, here.
What is sextortion? Sextortion is a form of online blackmail where bad actors threaten their targets with explicit images Read More
Denish: The Truth Is Out … Ice Cream Is Good For You
By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2023 New Mexico News Services
May brought lots of good news for President Biden.
First things first: He delivered on his promise of making government work again. After months of hand wringing and foot stomping with demands from both sides, the House passed a compromise bill by a whopping 314 to 117 to raise the debt limit. The Senate passed the same bill, unamended, 63 to 36. Who said bipartisanship was dead?
The bill gave the Republicans some of what they wanted – and the extreme right none of what they demanded. The president and Democrats made few concessions and Read More
