Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 1, 2025
By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post
Early predictions for the upcoming winter are for a weak La Nina pattern. La Nina usually means lower precipitation and warmer than average temperatures.
However, the Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a cold and wet winter for New Mexico. Let’s hope they are right.
One river that seems to still be holding up well is the Pecos River. Streamflows throughout the drainage are near, at or above normal.
On weekends, flows on the Chama River below El Vado Dam are increased dramatically to accommodate recreational rafting. They Read More
Valles Caldera Summer Hours End Sept. 1
The pedestrian access at Valles Caldera’s main entrance, overlooking Valle Grande. Courtesy/NPS
NPS News:
Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, Valles Caldera will return to its regular hours of 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
As a reminder, the park is open to pedestrian and bicycle/e-bike traffic from dawn to dusk every day of the year. We invite you to experience the absolute magic of Valles Caldera before or after hours.
Pedestrian gates are available at:
- Sulphur Creek Trailhead,
- Redondo Creek Trailhead,
- Banco Bonito Trailhead,
- the main entrance,
- Rincon Trailhead,
- Rabbit Mountain Trailhead, and
Dannemann: The Price Of Punitive Damages In Malpractice
By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2025 by Merilee Dannemann
The doctor is thinking seriously about leaving New Mexico. He is not willing to risk losing his home, his life savings, or everything else he owns.
He is an emergency room doctor. His wife is a family practice doctor.
He was talking about punitive damages in medical malpractice. Punitive damages are not routinely covered by malpractice insurance. In most cases the physician is personally liable. In other words, if a jury awards punitive damages, the physician could lose his house. This is not widely known by the public.
This Read More
County Fair Grand Champion Quilt Entered In State Fair
Roxanne Webster with the Carnival Flower quilt. Courtesy photo
By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Champions of Youth Ambitions
Roxanne Webster is known by the community as a nurse at Los Alamos Middle School. Now retired, she has always been interested in quilting and has more spare time to dedicate to a hobby many find to be a life passion. This year, time and dedication has garnered Webster her second Grand Champion win in the Los Alamos County Fair. Her entry along with daughter Jenny, Carnival Flower.
“My dad’s mom was a quilter, so all the beds in her house and my parent’s house had hand quilted quilts,” Read More
Tourism Department Eclipses 71 Grant Partners For Litter Cleanup Program
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD) is awarding over $1 million in grant funding for beautification and litter reduction initiatives to a record 71 partners for fiscal year 2026.
Roughly 67 percent of grant funding in FY26 is dedicated towards the program goals of reducing waste, beautifying communities and eliminating litter. The remaining grant funding will be directed towards youth empowerment initiatives and increasing local program capacity.
“Observing the number of communities participating in this program continue to grow demonstrates there is Read More
C’YA Looking For ISU Alumni Ahead Of UNM, ISU Game
Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY News:
Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) generally hosts a College & Military Day, the first Friday of September. You simply wear and share your school colors. This year we’re on the lookout for graduates of Idaho State University ahead of homecoming. Yesterday, the Bengals held their back-to-school tradition of a community parade with a game against Utah State.
This weekend ISU will play UNM in Albuquerque. Coach Eck of UNM was a former Coach for the University of Idaho, a rival of ISU. According to Senior Associate Athletic Director of Development and External Read More
Agenda Available For BPU Work Session Sept. 3
COUNTY News:
The Board of Public Utilities will hold a work session at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Council Chambers.
Members of the public may view proceedings online or attend and provide public comment in person or via Zoom –https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84348385574.
The complete packet is available online. You may also watch BPU Meetings at ladpu.com/BPULiveProceedings. Read More
Heinrich, Luján, Colleagues Reintroduce Child Care For Working Families Act
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), one of only two Head Start graduates to serve in the Senate, joined U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to reintroduce the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to ensure families can find and afford the high-quality child care they need.
President Trump has withheld Head Start funding and fired early child hood education workers in New Mexico, gutted oversight of and support Read More
DOE Awards Basic Ordering Agreements For Nationwide Low-Level And Mixed Low-Level Waste Treatment Services
DOE News:
CINCINNATI — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) announced Thursday it awarded five basic ordering agreements (BOAs) to conduct nationwide low-level and mixed low-level commercial waste treatment services at commercial waste treatment facilities of DOE contractors throughout the United States. Authorized users of these BOAs include all DOE offices, such as EM, the National Nuclear Security Administration, DOE laboratories and project offices. Authorized users will also continue to include any DOE prime contractor and subcontractor Read More
UNM-Los Alamos Releases Comprehensive Fall Schedule For Adult Learning Center
UNMLA News:
The UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) Adult Learning Center is now enrolling students for its fall session. Classes begin Monday, Sept. 8, and run through Friday, Dec. 12, offering opportunities for adult learners to advance their education and language skills.
This fall’s courses include:
- High School Equivalency (HSE)
- English as a Second Language (ESL) – Beginning, intermediate and advanced levels
Whether you’re working toward a high school equivalency certificate or looking to improve your English proficiency, UNM-LA provides a supportive learning environment tailored Read More
Health Care Authority Recognizes SNAP’s 61st Anniversary
NMHCA News:
SANTA FE — On the 61st anniversary of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reaffirmed New Mexico’s commitment to protecting families despite deep cuts to the program under the Republican reconciliation law.
“For sixty-one years, the SNAP program has been one of the most effective tools we have to fight hunger and poverty,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “It keeps children nourished so they can learn, helps older adults stay healthy and allows working families to focus on getting ahead instead of worrying about their next meal.
“Sadly, Read More
Daily Postcard: Scene Of 101st Burning Of Zozobra Aug. 29
Daily Postcard: Scene from the 101st annual burning of Zozobra, ‘Old Man Gloom’, Friday night in Santa Fe – a high-tech festival of lights, lasers, drones, fireworks, music, dancers, and a roaring crowd of people who symbolically washed their souls clean of a year’s worth of worries, stress, anxiety, and troubles … ‘Que Viva La Fiesta!’ Photo by Johnnie Martinez Read More
Legislative Education Study Committee To Meet Sept. 3-5
LESC News:
GALLUP — The Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) will meet in Gallup at the Gallup-McKinley School District (GMCS) Central Office Sept. 3-5.
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, Public Education Department (PED) Secretary, Mariana Padilla, will present the department’s public school support request (PSSR) for the upcoming legislative session. PED staff will also present the rollout of a statewide student information system.
GMCS will facilitate a community welcome, and LESC will host superintendents from the region in a Q&A panel. The committee will also hear an update on Read More
Scenes From Los Alamos County Procurement Meet & Greet
Los Alamos County Chief Purchasing Officer Annalisa Miranda, far right, walks local business owners through the County’s procurement process during a meet & greet event Monday night in the Municipal Building. The process includes identifying a business need, determining specifications and requirements, setting a budget, sourcing and researching vendors, making the purchase, and finally paying the invoice. Miranda explained that to make the process more accessible and to help notify businesses when the County is issuing a request for bids or proposals, a new e-procurement program Read More
Kindred Spirits Founder Issues Heartfelt Thanks For Support
By ULLA PEDERSEN, RN
Founder and Director
Dear Kindred Spirits Family,
Our Aug. 23 Art Show Fundraiser was a great success! Thanks to all of you who came from near and far, some even flew in from Texas to support our senior animals!
We had many first-time visitors who toured the sanctuary, met all the animals and left with a bundle of art and a smile on their face.
It was a great event thanks to our generous supporters, volunteers and staff.
We are grateful to our donors for such loyal support and the many dedicated volunteers who make it all possible. Your contributions allow us to offer Wellness Read More
Los Alamos Master Gardeners Club Invites Community To Celebrate 3 Decades Of Stewardship Of Garden Sept. 4
The Demonstration Garden at the southeast corner of Oppenheimer and Central, near the Justice Center. Courtesy/LAMGC
By JANINE FALES
President
LAMGA
The Los Alamos Master Gardeners Club (LAMGC) invites the community to help celebrate its 3 decades of stewardship of the garden, with a bit of food and to appreciate this County gem, 5:30-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4 at the Demonstration Garden.
When the Los Alamos Master Gardeners Club formed in the summer of 1994, no one could have predicted the breadth or length of service to the community. Coming together as newly minted graduates of the NMSU Read More
Art In Public Places Advisory Board Summer 2025 Update
By STEPHANIE HAASER
Chair
Art in Public Places Advisory Board
Art in public places helps to create beautiful public spaces and the Art in Public Places Advisory Board values community input.
Ongoing work being pursued by the Board:
- Senior Center Security Gate: After obtaining permission to use the Zia symbol, the Board voted to recommend to County Council the purchase of “Los Alamos Heritage Gate” by Jonathan Watson to be installed at the Betty Ehart Center. This item will be on County Council Sept. 9, 2025 agenda.
- Nature Center Art Proposal: The Board voted to recommend to County Council the
RPLA Announces September 2025 Events
By LISA SHIN
Chair
Republican Party of Los Alamos
Dear Friends:
It is hard to believe that summer break is over and school is in full swing! White Rock Republicans are invited for a Ward B cookout on Friday, Sept. 5, at 6 p.m. at 700 Meadow Lane. All food and drinks will be provided. Families are welcome. Meet our school board candidates! Please RSVP to Jennifer McKerley, jmckerley@comcast.net.
The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women will host a meeting on Thursday Sept. 18, 6 p.m. at Open Door Bible Church. They have invited the Republican Party of New Mexico (RPNM) Chairwoman, Amy Barela, as Read More
Spaceport America To Host Open House Sunday Sept. 21
Spaceport America open house event 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21. Courtesy photo
STATE News:
LAS CRUCES — Spaceport America is hosting a free open house event, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at County Road A021 in Truth or Consequences.
Attendees of all ages are welcome to visit the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport to learn about the site, its tenants, and its operations.
Vendors (food and non-food), static aircraft displays, exhibitors, STEM-related activities, and guest presenters, including NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, longtime NASA employee Michelle Lucas, Read More
Tales Of Our Times: Rivals Play Up NEPA Slogans To Scuttle Discussion Of NEPA
By JOHN BARTLIT
New Mexico Citizens
for Clean Air & Water
Last month’s column delved into the vast contrasts between the “free speech” heard on the street or the news versus the speech usable in courtrooms that is screened for relevance by the Rules of Evidence. Take one example: On the street, “Nazi” phrases fill the air for millions of people. Yet, the use of “Nazi” in court would rarely, if ever, pass muster in any current case. So, the familiar term has little use before any judge.
This month’s column aims to help fill a growing void. Read More
