McQuiston: Why Cars Get ‘Totaled’ Even When They Look Fine
By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963
If you’ve ever seen a car declared a “total loss” after what seemed like a minor fender bender, you probably wondered: How can it be totaled if it still looks fine? The answer isn’t just about the dents you see—it’s about the math, the hidden damage, and the economics behind auto repairs.
It’s Not About How It Looks, It’s About the Numbers
Insurance companies don’t “total” a car based on how banged up it appears. They do it when the cost to repair the damage gets too close to (or even exceeds) the car’s actual cash value—the amount Read More
Meet & Greet With CDD Director Eli Isaacson 4 PM Today
NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka Briefs County Council On Local Operations
NNSA-LA Field Office Manager Ted Wyka
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
Operations are moving steadily along at the NNSA Los Alamos Field Office, Manager Ted Wyka told County Council during a Sept. 16 work session.
In his presentation, Wyka touched on several areas including the laboratory’s budget, the electric coordination agreement between the Department of Energy (DOE) and County’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the Rendija Canyon land transfer and the efforts to improve driving behaviors on laboratory property.
Regarding laboratory funding, Read More
Self Help Seeks Local Time Travelers
Courtesy/Self Help, Inc.
SELF HELP News:
Self Help, Inc., a local nonprofit that assists northern New Mexicans in “getting back on their feet” when they face short-term crises, has strong roots in Los Alamos and the Española Valley. Self Help was founded in 1969 with the inspiring goal of tackling poverty in Northern New Mexico and empowering people to help themselves.
However, the organization has now encountered a hurdle as volunteer Ruth Williamson pieces together its extensive and rich history, hoping that local history enthusiasts or time travelers can help fill in the gaps.
Have you Read More
Fuselier: Who Is It That We Hate? Part 2
By BOB FUSELIER
Los Alamos
Last week I ended my column with the suggestion that it would be foolish to ignore when science and faith come to a similar conclusion. Below is one such example.
I begin with what might be called a bit of faith, a couple of teachings attributed to Jesus, a historical figure seen by some as a son of God, others as a prophet, and others as a wise teacher who lived a couple of thousand years ago. The two teachings come from what is commonly known as his Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, Read More
LAHS Grad Jonathon Ebanks Opens Digital Media Company
LAHS 2003 graduate Jonathon Ebanks, the owner of Invisible Hand Entertainment, LLC. Courtesy photo
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
It was during the pandemic in 2020 that Jonathon Ebanks got an idea for a business. With everyone homebound, he said he wanted to help companies with their online presence. As a result, Invisible Hand Entertainment, LLC was born.
Although the business was created in 2020, it stagnated for a few years due to Ebanks working at Los Alamos National Laboratory’s IT department. This year, however, he decided to start the digital media Read More
Limited Seats Left For Trinity Site Tour On Oct. 18
COMMUNITY News:
Seats are nearly sold out for the Trinity Site Tour on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. This rare annual tour takes attendees to the site of the first atomic bomb detonation on July 16, 1945.
Walk around Ground Zero, where it detonated, and visit the McDonald Ranch House, where the plutonium core was assembled.
The tour departs from Alamogordo on comfortable motor coaches, where you will learn the fascinating history from expert guides along the way.
Guests will enjoy breakfast snacks, a boxed lunch, bottled water, and same-day admission to the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
When Read More
Hillstompers To Celebrate 25th Anniversary With Pub Crawl As Smith’s Marketplace & Opening For Igor And The Red Elvises Friday At The Tub
A scene from a previous performance at Smith’s Marketplace. The popular community band will be back at the grocery store at 5 p.m. Friday as part of its 25th anniversary pub crawl. Post file photo
COMMUNITY News:
The Hillstompers are celebrating their 25th anniversary and will host a pub crawl starting at 5 p.m. Friday, at Smith’s Marketplace, before heading over to Bathtub Row Brewing at 6:30 p.m. to open for Igor and the Red Elvises. Afterward, the HIllstompers will hit the streets to continue to provide live music.
In honor of the anniversary, one of the members wrote the following poem:
Anniversary Read More
Santa Fe National Forest Seeks Input On Hermit’s Peak & Calf Canyon Fires Recovery Project
SFNF News:
SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will begin accepting comments on Sept. 18, for the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fires Recovery Project, as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process.
This is an opportunity to share your concerns, ideas, and feedback on the EA prior to the final decision to help shape the future of post-fire recovery efforts.
The EA was developed in response to the 2022 Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fires and is designed to facilitate restoration and recovery work within approximately 167,840 acres of National Forest System lands and adjacent Read More
Safos Dance Theatre’s ‘Stories From Home’ Brings Southwest Soul To Duane Smith Auditorium
Scene from ‘Tecolote’ with performers Esteban Rosales, Ruby Morales, Zarina Orduño Mendoza and Lauren Jimenez, choreographed and narrated by Yvonne Montoya. Photo by Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
By MARLENE WILDEN
Los Alamos Daily Post
marlene@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos audiences will witness a rare convergence of personal history, regional memory and evocative dance in Safos Dance Theatre’s evening-length work, Stories from Home, premiering Friday, Oct. 3 at Duane Smith Auditorium.
Directed by founder and choreographer Yvonne Montoya, the Tucson-based company presents a layered Read More
Pages Of Our History: Charles ‘Rip’ Ripley
Charles ‘Rip’ Ripley Oct. 20, 1919 – Oct. 8, 2014
By SHARON SNYDER
Los Alamos
Charles “Rip” Ripley was born in October 1919 in Chicago, IL. When he was of age, he spent most of four years at the Los Alamos Ranch School as a student and at times on the staff.
He had attended New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill., before coming to LARS.
From his time in New Mexico, he became a member of the Class of 1942 at Yale University, but soon found himself a captain in the US Army Medical Corps in World War II.
After the war, Rip married, and he and Betsy settled in Downey, Calif., with two daughters. Rip had learned engineering Read More
New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya Unanimously Elected To Prestigious NAST Leadership Role
New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya, 9th from left, with members of the National Association of State Treasurers at the 2025 annual conference Sept. 14-17 in Denver, Colo. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico State Treasurer Laura M. Montoya was unanimously elected last week to serve as the Western Region Vice President of the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) at the 2025 NAST Conference during its 50th Anniversary, Sept. 14-17 in Denver, Colo.
Treasurer Montoya will succeed Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young, who chose not to seek reelection as he pursues Read More
Samantha Kao Joins RETA As Community Relations Director
Samantha Kao
RETA News:
SANTA FE – Samantha “Sammi” Kao has joined the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority (RETA) as Community Relations Director. In her new role, Kao is responsible for leading stakeholder relations, public information, and community engagement in the renewable energy sector.
“It is a pleasure to announce that Samantha Kao has joined the RETA staff to drive our community relations activities,” RETA Executive Director Lynn E. Mostoller said. “Sammi brings knowledge, experience and passion to this newly created position. With her excellent track record Read More
Coro de Cámara To Perform In Concert ‘Connections: Sharing Our Mental Health Stories’ Oct. 16, 18, 19
Coro de Cámara ensemble at Ashley Pond Park. Courtesy⁄Coro de Cámara
Coro de Cámara News:
With the goal of creating connections, raising mental health awareness, and fostering mental well-being, the Coro de Cámara chamber chorus offers three unique performances of “Connections: Sharing Our Mental Health Stories” Oct. 16, 18, 19 in Los Alamos and Santa Fe.
The program includes inspiring pop, Broadway, and choral music; dance, drama, and real-life stories; a Q&A with mental health professionals and free resources.
Coro Artistic Director Nylea Butler-Moore, who has long considered Read More
Luján, Tillis, Gillibrand, Mullin Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill For Schools Serving Students In Military, Tribal Communities
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) reintroduced the Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act.
This bipartisan legislation is to advance Impact Aid programs closer to full funding and increase funding for public school districts on federal land, which are tax-exempt and therefore have significantly less tax revenue to meet their schools’ and students’ needs.
The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act introduces a five-year plan to Read More
Hilltopper Volleyball Wins 3-2 Over Capital Jaguars
Topper Maya Graves spikes the ball over Raven Ryan in the first set of the match played Tuesday evening against the Capital Jaguars in the Capital High Gymnasium in Santa Fe. The teams were evenly matched. The Toppers got off to a slow start, dropping the first two sets to the Jaguars, but came back to win the match 3-2 in five sets. This was a big win for the Toppers over an old foe. Photo by John McHale⁄ladailypost.com
Erin Pompeo and Peyton Labonty block a spike attempt by Amaya Gomez in the first set. Photo by John McHale⁄ladailypost.com
Erin Pompeo sets the ball for a spike attempt by Lauren Evenhaus Read More
FBI: Albuquerque Man Indicted For Carjacking, Kidnapping, Fatal Shooting Faces Life In Prison Or Death Penalty
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A federal grand jury has charged Sheliky Sanchez with the Aug. 7, 2025, carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death – crimes that under federal law are eligible for the death penalty.
According to court documents, on Aug. 7, 2025, Sanchez, 18, carjacked and kidnapped the driver of a 2022 Ford Escape using a firearm, then intentionally killed the driver during and in relation to those crimes.
A federal grand jury indicted Sanchez for carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a violent crime and causing death by firing it, and kidnapping Read More
Colorful Mums Bloom In White Rock Garden
Colorful Mums are blooming recently in a garden in White Rock. Photo by Annette Maes-Livermore Read More
NMDOH: Plague Case Reported In Bernalillo County
NMDOH News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports a case of plague in a 77-year-old man from Bernalillo County, the second case of the year.
The man was hospitalized and has since been discharged. There have been no deaths from plague in 2025.
Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents and is generally transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas, but can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets.
“The bacterium that causes plague can be found in wild rodents and their fleas throughout New Mexico,” said Read More
Young Life Los Alamos To Host Annual ‘Fun’draiser Oct. 2
YLLA News:
Young Life Los Alamos (YLLA) is hosting its annual “fun”draiser at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at Crossroads Bible Church. Dove award-winning artist Brandon Heath will share his music as well as his own Young Life story. It is sure to be an amazing evening.
The community is invited to attend and be blessed by Christ’s story in Brandon’s life, eat some good desserts, hear about the vision of Young Life, and consider taking the opportunity to invest in this ministry during this very fun evening.
Young Life has been in Los Alamos for nearly 50 years, “introducing adolescents to Jesus and helping Read More
