Chappel: Recent County Utility And GRT Increases
Jason Chappel
JASON CHAPPEL
Candidate
Los Alamos County Council
My name is Jason Chappel, and I am currently running for Los Alamos County Council. Like many people in this community, I wear a lot of hats: employee, neighbor, problem solver, resident, and someone who genuinely cares about the future of Los Alamos.
One of the biggest reasons I decided to run for Los Alamos County Council is because I believe people deserve to feel heard before major decisions affecting their daily lives and finances are made.
Recent discussions surrounding proposed natural gas and water rate increases, along Read More
Hilltopper Girls Track & Field Finishes 2nd At Class 4A State Championship; Boys Finish 4th
The Class 4A State Runner-Up Hilltopper Girls Track & Field Team and coaches! Courtesy photo
Sarah Martis was State Champion in the discus, with a throw of 126′ 3″. Photo by Blake Wood
By BLAKE WOOD
Assistant Coach
LAHS Track and Field
Carried by many excellent individual and relay performances, the Hilltopper Girls Track & Field team finished in the runner-up position at the Class 4A State Championship at the UNM track on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16. The Girls competition was dominated by a strong Albuquerque Academy team which accumulated 127 points to the ‘Topper’s Read More
Heinrich, Luján Raise Concerns Of How USDA Restructuring Will Affect Farmers, Ranchers, & Rural Communities
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden raising concerns and demanding answers on how the restructuring of USDA’s Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area will affect scientific innovation and data that supports New Mexico farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
“The REE reorganization and restructuring announced this April…could result Read More
County’s Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board To Meet May 19
COUNTY News:
Los Alamos County’s Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for 12 p.m., Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 1000 Central Avenue, Boards and Commissions Conference Room 110.
The agenda has been published and is available online here. Printed copies are available at 1000 Central Avenue, Suite 150.
FBI Albuquerque Announces Successful Results Of Undercover Investigation Targeting Child Predators
FBI News:
FBI Albuquerque is announcing the successful results of an undercover online chat investigation targeting child predators. The operation led to the arrest of fifteen individuals; all charged with crimes including child solicitation via electronic devices. Each defendant had sought to engage in sexual activity with a minor.
FBI Albuquerque Child Exploitation & Human Traffick Task Force led this Operation with assistance from: NM Department of Justice, Albuquerque Police Department, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, Santa Fe Police Department, 2nd Judicial District Read More
Scenes Of Bear & Cubs Spotted Sunday On Big Rock Loop
A bear and her three cubs are spotted Sunday on Big Rock Loop. Photo by Paya Pavlikova/ladailypost.com
Another scene of a bear and her cubs Sunday on Big Rock Loop. Photo by Paya Pavlikova/ladailypost.com
Another scene of a bear and her cubs Sunday on Big Rock Loop. Photo by Paya Pavlikova/ladailypost.com
Another scene of a bear and her cubs Sunday on Big Rock Loop. Photo by Paya Pavlikova/ladailypost.com Read More
New Mexico Supreme Court Affirms Murder Conviction Of Man For Death Of His Wife In Roswell
COURT News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Supreme Court has upheld the convictions of a Chaves County man for the murder of his wife in 2017.
In a unanimous opinion written by Justice Michael E. Vigil, the Court rejected Castulo Aragon Jr.’s arguments that he should receive a new trial. The justices vacated one of Aragon’s three convictions for evidence tampering as a violation of constitutional protections against double jeopardy for multiple punishments for the same crime.
Aragons case returns to the trial court for resentencing after the dismissal of the one evidence tampering conviction.
Aragon Read More
Daily Postcard: Steller’s Jay On Branch At Valles Caldera
Daily Postcard: A Steller’s Jay perches on a branch Saturday at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Photo by Lauren Hughes Read More
Update On Line & Mimms Fires In Quay County
NMFD News:
The New Mexico Forestry Division (NMFD) has issued the following update on wildfire activity on the Line Fire and the Mimms Fire in Quay County that is requiring the attention of suppression resources in New Mexico.
Fire activity continued on the Mimms Fire Saturday, but good work from ground resources and air support helped to fortify line and increase containment around the southern edge.
Today, the fire’s containment percentage has grown to 40 percent, and its estimated acres have also increased to 7,093.
Firefighters will continue to improve line on the east edge of the fire Read More
Baggage Claim Kicks Off Co-op Summer Showcase Series
Local rock band Baggage Claim kicked off the inaugural Co-op Summer Showcase at 6 p.m. Friday, May 15. The concert was held at Los Alamos Co-op Park, adjacent to Los Alamos Schools Credit Union at 1010 Central Ave. This free concert was the first in the new series, which offers music from local musicians at this outside venue as opening acts for the main Friday night summer concert series. This is a true community concert series that features only local musicians. The purpose of this series is to build community spirit and to raise awareness for a new non-profit organization that will bring local Read More
Cone Zone: Week Of May 18, 2026
COUNTY News:
TLC Plumbing and Utility will continue working on Pueblo Drive and 36th Street.
NOTE: Vehicles shall be removed from these roads during construction activities. (7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday)
Construction operations
Pueblo Drive
- Crews will finalize grading the roadway.
- Crews will continue to place curb and gutter.
- Crews will begin to remove drop inlets and install new drop inlets.
36th Street
- Crews will begin to remove drop inlets and install new drop inlets.
- Crews will finalize grading the roadway.
Traffic control
- During construction, road closures, lane restrictions,
Posts From The Road: Big Texan Steak Ranch
Big Texan: The Big Texan Steak Ranch can not be missed as you travel through Amarillo on I-40. The big bright yellow building is the first thing you see but several other ‘attention getting’ features await visitors as they arrive at the Big Texan. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
World Famous: The entrance to the Big Texan is flanked by a stretch limo with Texas Longhorns mounted on the hood and a big Route 66 Shield painted on the walkway into the facility. In Big Texan fashion, the door handles to open the front doors are pistols mounted at an angle to create door handles. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com Read More
Weekly Fishing Report: May 17, 2026
By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post
The Department stocked a total of 44,581 rainbow trout weighing 16,359 pounds. Most of the stocking will now be in Northern New Mexico.
It has been one of the weakest spring runoffs in memory this year. The snowpack is gone and the weather has been unseasonably warm and dry. This is reflected in streamflow measurements. Normally, the Rio Grande would be swollen with spring runoff from the melting snow. Streamflows above 1,000 cubic-feet-per-second would be common.
Streamflow in the Rio Grande decreased slightly and is extremely below Read More
Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board To Meet At Noon Tuesday
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board is scheduled to meet from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, in Council Chambers at the Municipal Building at 1000 Central Ave., and via Zoom.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board meetings and provide public comment either in person or over Zoom.
About the Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board:
The Lodgers’ Tax Advisory Board is established to advise the County Manager and Council on the expenditure of funds authorized by NMSA 1978, § 3-38-22 for advertising, publicizing, and promoting Read More
Los Alamos County Celebrates 2026 National Public Works Week Theme ‘Rooted in Service, Powered by Community’
COUNTY News:
May 17 through May 23 marks National Public Works Week for 2026. The American Public Works Association announced this year’s theme as “Rooted in Service, Powered by Community”.
The Los Alamos County Public Works Department is proud to celebrate this year’s theme, “which reminds us that public works professionals are motivated to put service at the forefront and their efforts form the foundation of a thriving community.”
The Public Works team provides critical services that support our everyday lives. From building, maintaining, and improving public roads and facilities, Read More
Fr. Glenn: The Rising Son
By Fr. Glenn Jones:
So, we’re coming to graduation season again. Hard to believe how quickly the years go by, as you parents know all too well. One day you’re taking the little tykes to pre-K, and the next they’re going off to college … spreading their wings, leaving the nest and beginning to make their way in what is often a scary world. Christian parents worry: “Will they resist the myriad temptations of the world and forget what they have been taught by Christ and the Church, or will they hold fast to faith and conscience?” Priests are not called “Father” for nothing; we, too, worry for our young charges, Read More
Los Alamos National Laboratory Injuries Continue Decline
Los Alamos National Laboratory reported a 21% decrease in total recordable injury and illness cases in 2025, reflecting sustained progress in strengthening its safety culture. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
- Focused effort on safety drives decrease
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) reported a 21% decrease in total recordable injury and illness cases in 2025, reflecting sustained progress in strengthening its safety culture. Building on this momentum, the Laboratory is increasing its focus on employee empowerment and addressing root causes of recurring injuries.
“Safety lapses have Read More
Community Invited To Weigh In On Green Bike Lanes
Green bike lanes along Diamond Drive. Courtesy/LAC
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Public Works team recently installed a couple of green bike lanes along Diamond Drive.
The team used an epoxy resin with crushed colored glass to enhance the visibility of locations where bicyclists are expected to operate, where they might be in conflict with traffic crossing the lane.
The County wants to hear the community’s thoughts.
To weigh in, email Keith Wilson at keith.wilson@losalamosnm.gov with answers to the following questions:
- What DO you like about this treatment?
- What DON’T you like about
Las Vegas Water Treatment Plant Project Design Unveiled
Rendering of new City of Las Vegas Water Treatment Plant. Courtesy/Burns & McDonnell Engineering
Rendering of new City of Las Vegas Water Treatment Plant. Courtesy/Burns & McDonnell Engineering
NMED News:
LAS VEGAS — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the City of Las Vegas this week unveiled design renderings for the community’s new Water Treatment Plant, marking a significant step toward a summer groundbreaking and the long-term restoration of reliable drinking water for a community still recovering from the 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire.
The renderings, Read More
Scientists Map Shape Of RNA That Can Shut Down Genes
A Los Alamos research team is unraveling the structure and function of RNA. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
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- Understanding the ‘dark matter of the genome’ could help develop therapeutic medical advances
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In the field of human biology, there are many still-unanswered questions about the role of RNA, the less well-understood companion to DNA also found in all living cells, as scientists begin to unravel the complicated and important responsibilities of nucleic acid. In research described in Communications Biology, a Nature publication, an international research team applied innovative techniques Read More
