McQuiston: Why Multiple Small Claims Can Hurt More Than A Single Large One
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963
Most people assume insurance works like a scoreboard. One big claim feels like a major strike, while a few small claims feel harmless—almost expected. After all, why have insurance if you can’t use it for the little stuff?
That assumption is understandable. It’s also wrong.
In practice, multiple small claims often cause more long-term damage than a single large one. And the reason has less to do with dollars and more to do with patterns.
Insurance Doesn’t Just Measure Cost. It Measures Behavior.
From the outside, a claim Read More
Workers Repairing Water Line Break At Meadow & Lejano
Los Alamos County workers are on the job this morning repairing a water line break at Meadow Lane and Lejano Drive in White Rock. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen
Water flowing from the water line break to the sewer near the entrance to Overlook Park this morning in White Rock. Photo by Bernadette Lauritzen Read More
Shelly A. Wiemann Named To 2026 Executive Council II
Shelly A. Wiemann
WIEMANN WEALTH News:
Shelly A. Wiemann, CFP®, Investment Management Consultant, Financial Advisor and Registered Principal at Wiemann Wealth, 2101 Trinity Drive, Ste T, has been named a member of the 2026 Executive Council II. This membership recognizes top advisors.
Wiemann affiliated with Raymond James Financial Services in 2020 and has 13 years of experience in financial services and represents the client-first values that the practice “proudly applies to every part of its business”.
Wiemann Wealth is an independent branch office that provides Investment Management Read More
Bull Elk Strolls Across Yard In Western Area
A tall bull elk strolls across the front yard of a home Wednesday night in Western Area. According to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, only male elk have antlers. They shed and grow a new set every year, which is covered in fuzzy skin called velvet. The antlers harden by late summer, and the velvet peels away. By September, the antlers are solid bone and on a mature bull can weigh up to 40 pounds. Bull elk can weigh 700 pounds and measure 5 feet at the shoulder and 8 feet from nose to tail. Photo by Steve Bublitz Read More
New Mexico Public Health Offices To Close For MLK Day
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — State public health offices and administrative offices will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
All New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) offices will reopen as regularly scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
The NMDOH Helpline, 1-833-SWNURSE (1.833.796.8773) will be available during regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.
The Helpline is staffed by nurses for health questions, health care connections and provider support. Read More
NMHED: New Mexico Workforce Development Programs See Rapid Growth In FY25
NMHED News:
- Integrated Education And Training Program Enrollment Grew Nearly 50 Percent In FY25
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s workforce development programs for adults grew significantly statewide in the most recent fiscal year, according to data from the Adult Education Division of the New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED).
In Fiscal Year 2025, statewide enrollment in the Integrated Education and (IET) system increased by almost 50 percent over the previous year, with a total of 787 enrollees. Those students earned 487 industry-recognized certificates in high-demand Read More
Senior Research Scientist Dr. Shari Kelley To Speak At Los Alamos Geological Society Meeting Saturday Jan. 24
Dr. Shari Kelley
LAGS News:
Los Alamos Geological Society (LAGS) will host its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Los Alamos Christian Church at 92 East Road.
The guest speaker for the evening is Dr. Shari Kelley, presenting her talk: “Geothermal Development in New Mexico: an Update”.
Kelley is a senior research scientist at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, a research division of New Mexico Tech. She served as an expert witness at committee meetings during the New Mexico Legislative session in 2023 and 2024 that led to the passing of House Bill 91, which established Read More
NMDOT Unveils 2026 ‘Name A Snowplow’ Contest Winners
Courtesy/NMDOT
NMDOT News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is excited to announce the 2026 “Name a Snowplow” contest winners. Drumroll please…
…and the winners are:
- District 1: Chilly Changa, DuckDuckOrangeTruck.
- District 2: Snowtorious, B.I.G. Scoop there it is ♪ ♪ ♪.
- District 3: Cinder-ella, Clarence.
- District 4: A La cinders, Down wit da slikness.
- District 5: Snowbi Wan Kenobi, Nope. School’s On.
- District 6: Saltimus Prime, Betty Whiteout.
“Thank you, New Mexico for another year of the most unique, fun, and New Mexico-inspired names for Read More
Valles Caldera National Preserve’s Dave Krueger Named Public Information Officer At Los Alamos County
Dave Krueger
COUNTY News:
Dave Krueger has accepted the Public Information Officer (PIO) position with Los Alamos County and will officially join the County on Feb. 2.
“I am excited to have Dave join our team,” County Manager Anne Laurent said. “His experience in communication and public engagement will be a great asset as we continue to strengthen how we share information with our community.”
Krueger will replace retiring PIO Julie Williams-Hill, whose last day is Feb. 13. Williams-Hill held this position for four years and has been with the County for 24 years.
Krueger most recently served Read More
Daily Postcard: Wildlife Spotted In Downtown Los Alamos
Daily Postcard: A deer spotted early in the evening this week in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Ryn Herrmann
A buck also spotted early in the evening this week in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Ryn Herrmann Read More
County Accepting Applications For Personnel Board
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County is now accepting applications for eligible candidates for appointment for two vacant seats on the Personnel Board. The vacancies are a three-year term, expiring on March 31, 2029.
Interested Los Alamos County residents who do not hold public office and are not employed by the County may submit an online application by visiting the County’s Boards and Commissions webpage and selecting “apply.” Applications will be accepted until the vacancy is filled.
The Personnel Board, comprising five members, serves in an appellate and advisory capacity in the administration Read More
PEEC: ‘Strange New Worlds—NASA’s Exploration Of The Solar System’ Jan. 23
Courtesy photo
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) invites community members, space enthusiasts, and curious minds of all ages to embark on a journey across our cosmic neighborhood at Strange New Worlds: NASA’s Exploration of the Solar System, a special planetarium presentation from 7-8 p.m. MT, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026.
From the icy shadows of Mercury’s poles to the dynamic, slushy terrain of Pluto, NASA’s robotic explorers have transformed our understanding of the solar system over the past decade. This engaging program will highlight some of the most remarkable Read More
Las Cruces School Fair To Spotlight Local K–12 Education Options
NSCAF News:
LAS CRUCES — Parents across New Mexico can learn about all of the different schools available for their kids Saturday, Jan. 31–all in one room. The Las Cruces School fair starts at 11 a.m. at the Mesilla Valley Mall. Representatives from public charter schools, private schools, traditional and magnet schools, and homeschooling resources will be available to talk with families about their school options.
The event, organized by Public Charter Schools of New Mexico in collaboration with the nonprofit National School Choice Awareness Foundation, is timed to coincide with National Read More
Mountain Elementary Celebrates 75 Year Anniversary With Afternoon Tea Party March 7
Traversing The Mexican Border With Morgan Smith Jan. 22
Morgan Smith
SFWAF News:
For decades the US has attracted migrants from around the world, but especially numerous are those who have crossed, or attempted to cross, the southern border from Mexico.
US immigration policies have fluctuated but as migration increased, laws and their enforcement have tightened making it more difficult for asylum seekers and economic migrants to immigrate to the US through Mexico. Who are these migrants? Where do they come from? Why? Has the migrant flow been stemmed by the Trump administration policies? What are the implications in the US and elsewhere? How does Read More
Rethinking Hewett: Revisiting The Vision And Complicated Legacy Of A New Mexico Icon
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
NMHM News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico History Museum (NMHM) and the School for Advanced Research (SAR) invite the public to take a fresh look at one of New Mexico’s most influential and controversial figures from our shared history.
This spring, the two Santa Fe institutions launch Rethinking Hewett, a four-part series exploring the life and legacy of Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett, the archaeologist and educator who helped shape the state’s contemporary cultural identity. Lectures begin Jan. 27, 2026, and continue monthly through April 21, 2026, with hybrid events held at Read More
New Leadership Coming To Northern NM Historic Sites
John Anthony Perrotto
NMHS News:
SANTA FE — New talent is coming to New Mexico Historic Sites’ northern region at Los Luceros in Alcalde, Coronado in Bernalillo, and Jemez in Jemez Springs. John Anthony Perrotto joins Los Luceros Historic Site as site manager on January 20, and Jaimie Adams joins Coronado and Jemez Historic Sites as regional site manager Feb. 2, 2026.
With a passion for archaeology and a drive for exploration, John Anthony Perrotto brings archaeological field experience and leadership to Los Luceros. He joins the site as major restoration of the historic Hacienda is nearing Read More
FBI: Taos Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Brutal 2019 Double Homicide
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A Taos man was sentenced to life in prison for the June 2019 killings of two members of the Taos Pueblo.
There is no parole in the federal system.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Joshua Gonzales, 39, a non-Indian, murdered John Doe 1 and his father, John Doe 2, both enrolled members of the Taos Pueblo, inside John Doe 1’s residence.
The evidence established that Gonzales repeatedly bludgeoned both victims with a wooden table leg, causing catastrophic head injuries and multiple skull fractures. After killing the men, Gonzales dragged their Read More
Military Order Of The World Wars Meeting Jan. 20
MOWW News:
This month’s meeting will be Tuesday Jan. 20. This month’s speaker will be Robert Hull.
Surveilling the Sea Below: The Cold War’s Hunt for Red October, and the hunt for adversary submarines.
The U.S. regularly tracks submarines that operate near our territorial waters or near military exercises with NATO. Using specially designed anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft, fixed and mobile underwater sensor arrays, satellites, submarines, and other submersible watercraft, we look, and we listen for any evidence of their presence. Recent surveillance examples include the Russian Read More
We Are HAMming It Up At New Mexico Museum Of Space History In Alamogordo
Courtesy/NASA
NMMSH News:
ALAMOGORDO — America’s Astro chimp, HAM, and his fellow primate pilots are being remembered for their contributions to the US Space Race during Science Saturday, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Jan. 31, 2026, at the NM Museum of Space History (NMMSH).
HAM was launched 157 miles into space Jan. 31, 1961, paving the way for American Alan Shepard’s flight May 5, 1961, as well as Yuri Gagarin’s flight one month earlier.
To commemorate the accomplishment, NMMSH is partnering with the Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce for HAM Day at the New Horizons Dome Theater & Planetarium. Read More
