Luján, Kelly, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Remove Wildfire Fuel From New Mexico’s Forests
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), John Curtis (R-UT), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Hazardous Fuels Transportation Assistance Act to help communities and forest managers remove woody biomass—material left behind from forest thinning operations meant to prevent wildfires—that, if left in place, actually increases wildfire risk.
When forests are mechanically thinned to reduce wildfire risk, the process generates large volumes of woody biomass. Transporting the material out of the Read More
New Broadband Program Expands Public Wi-Fi Access
CONNECT NM News:
SANTA FE — More local governments and state agencies in New Mexico will soon be able to provide public Wi-Fi access because of $6 million in U.S. Treasury Department funding for a new community broadband program.
Today the Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) launched the New Mexico Community Wi-Fi Digital Connectivity Technology Project, a new program designed to expand and deploy public Wi-Fi in local communities. OBAE will use $5,993,281 available from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund.
“Additional funding for Wi-Fi service is another Read More
McCauley Springs Fire Update: Friday Morning, June 26
Battleship Rock, June 25, 2026. Courtesy photo
USFS News:
Acres: 708
Containment: 0%
Start Date: June 24, 2026
Location: Jemez Ranger District, east of Battleship Rock
Cause: Undetermined
Personnel: 171
Fuels: Timber, logging slash, and short grass
Highlights: Southwest Complex Incident Management Team 3 assumed command of the McCauley Springs Fire at 6:00 a.m. after Read More
County: Updated Atomic City Transit Service July 3
COUNTY News:
Corrected Atomic City Transit information for July 3 can be found below.
No fixed bus routes or Dial-a-Ride service will be available. Regular services will resume Monday, July 6.
July 3 Concert Series Service & ACT MyRide — 6:30–9:40 p.m. The last buses will leave for North Mesa and North Community at 9:35 p.m., and White Rock at 9:40 p.m.
Bandelier Shuttle service will continue to operate within the park during the holiday. Read More
Valles Caldera Cancels Weekend Programs Due To McCauley Springs Fire
Smoke from the McCauley Springs Fire settling in Valles Caldera and San Diego Canyon. NPS/Jordan Ray
VALLES CALDERA News:
Due to poor air quality, power outages, and road closures associated with the McCauley Springs Fire, all park programs for the weekend of June 26-28 are cancelled. This includes the Weekly Wildflower Walk, Moonlit Hike to History Grove, and Family Flyfishing Clinic.
Registered participants will be contacted by email with alternative dates.
Deb Haaland Shares Update On LG Endorsement Process
Deb Haaland
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Deb Haaland, Democratic nominee for governor, shared the following update with State Central Committee members, regarding her process for endorsing a candidate for Lieutenant Governor:
Dear Distinguished Democratic State Central Committee Member:
On Monday, I shared that as the State Central Committee considers their options to fill the vacancy on the ballot for Lieutenant Governor, my campaign and I will conduct a thorough endorsement process.
We received thirteen requests for our questionnaire and nine questionnaires were completed and Read More
Urology From A-Z: LAMC’s Free Community Seminar Series At SALA July 20
LAMC News:
Community members are invited to attend Los Alamos Medical Center’s next entry in the hospital’s free health seminar series hosted at SALA Event Center by hearing an informative talk on common urological conditions and treatments at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 20th. Presenting that evening will be Kenneth Son, MD, and William Mustas, PA, from Los Alamos Urology.
Attendees will be able to enjoy refreshments, socialize, meet subject matter experts in a casual setting, and learn about their health. They can do so all while enjoying SALA, a vibrant community event center located at 2551 Central Read More
DOE Awards $2.2 Million Financial Assistance Grant To New Mexico Environmental Department Oversight Bureau
DOE News:
CINCINNATI — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) awarded a non-competitive financial assistance grant to the New Mexico Environmental Department Oversight Bureau today.
The bureau will conduct independent, confirmatory environmental monitoring at and around EM’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant — including groundwater, surface water, soil, vegetation, air, and gamma radiation sampling — to verify protection of public health and the environment from transuranic waste operations.
The total estimated value of the grant is $2.2 million Read More
Wonders On Wheels Mobile Museum On The Move In July
NMDCA News:
The Wonders on Wheels Mobile Museum July visits. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Wonders on Wheels Mobile Museum, a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, is traveling a new exhibit, “The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico.”
Upcoming Wonders on Wheels locations:
- 7/1: Gallup Public Library, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
- 7/2: Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho
- 7/3: UFO Festival, Roswell
- 7/4: Freedom 4th Celebration, Albuquerque
- 7/6: Santa Fe Southside Public Library, 12–6 p.m.
- 7/7: Fort Sumner Public Library,
Democratic Party Of New Mexico Calls State Central Committee Meeting To Fill Lieutenant Governor Vacancy
DPNM News:
ALBUQUERQUE — Shortly after receiving a notice of withdrawal from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office today, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair Sara Attleson sent the official Call to the State Central Committee (SCC) Meeting to fill the Lieutenant Governor vacancy.
The State Central Committee meeting will be held July 25 and will be conducted virtually over ZOOM, to ensure accessibility for State Central Committee members across New Mexico. Voting will be conducted by online absentee ballot after the meeting.
Roughly 500 SCC members will be able to vote in the election. Read More
Los Alamos Chamber Of Commerce Celebrates Grand Reopening Of Mesa Top Adventure
Mesa Top Adventure Owner Carolyn Cowen, center, snips the ribbon to officially open her business Wednesday at its new location in 109 Central Park Square. Joining Cowen was from left, Los Alamos Chamber Associate Director Audrey Marroquin, Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation Executive Director Lauren McDaniel, second from left, Los Alamos County Economic Development Program Manager Anita Barela, County Councilor Suzie Havemann, Los Alamos County Economic Development Administrator Max Khudiakov, MainStreet and Los Alamos Creative District Executive Director Jacquelyn Read More
Interior Department Opens Transformational Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum
DOI News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of the Interior today celebrated the opening of the new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft Museum, unveiling a 15,000-square-foot immersive museum beneath one of the nation’s most iconic memorials. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum joined the National Park Service, National Park Foundation and project partners to officially open the new experience to the public.
Opening just ahead of America’s 250th birthday, the project gives visitors unprecedented access to the story of how the Lincoln Memorial was built, what it represents Read More
Heinrich, Lummis Introduce Legislation To Improve Teacher Pay At Tribal Schools
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) introduced the Indigenous Students Excel through Parity Act, bipartisan legislation to help improve teacher pay at Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. New Mexico is home to 45 BIE-funded schools, which serve students from the state’s 23 federally recognized Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations.
BIE schools are funded by Congress and distributed to schools through the Indian School Equalization Program (ISEP) formula. Years of underfunding of ISEP have made it difficult for BIE Read More
U.S. Forest Service Adds Long-Sought Protections To Limit Health Risks For Wildland Firefighters
USFS News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service along with the Department of the Interior today announced new steps to reduce hazardous exposure for federal wildland firefighters during the 2026 fire year. These actions include expanded access to N95 respirators on the fireline, required training and standardized decontamination protocols.
Wildland firefighters work in extreme conditions with prolonged exposure to smoke, ash and airborne particles. While no respirator currently meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards Read More
New MRI Suite Construction Advancing Rapidly At LAMC
Construction is underway on new MRI suite at LAMC. Courtesy/LAMC
LAMC News:
Los Alamos Medical Center is committed to investing in the latest technology to better serve our community and patients, and to support its care teams. That’s why the hospital is thrilled to share that exciting progress is happening in its brand-new MRI suite.
Construction is rapidly moving forward, and patients and visitors will notice increased activity around the construction zone. LAMC is working closely with its teams and contractors to keep patient care and safety as their top priorities.
This important upgrade Read More
County: Heath Tips For Managing Wildfire Smoke
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos Fire Department (LAFD) encourages the community to take steps to stay safe and healthy when wildfire smoke is present. Due to nighttime inversions, the smoke from the McCauley Springs fire has been condensed and squeezed against the ground and into the canyons. As air heats later in the morning, the inversion will lift, and the smoke should lessen. An interactive smoke map about the impacts of the McCauley Springs fire is available at https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Take steps to stay healthy and safe:
The safest action when heavy smoke is present is to stay inside with Read More
Daily Postcard: A Century Plant Blooms On Rover
Daily Postcard: A Century Plant blooms Thursday on Rover Boulevard in White Rock. This one appears to be 14 feet tall. They are toxic when touched. They can create ‘pups’ around the base that can be transplanted elsewhere and sometimes develops ‘bulbis’ on the stock that can be transplanted. One of the most spectacular blooms in the Southwest and the stock can grow 6” to 12” a day before getting ready to bloom. Buzzing with bees! A Century Plant blooms only once in its lifetime. Photo by Shari Mills Read More
FEMA Provides Over $3.5 Billion To Survivors Of Historic Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire
FEMA News:
SANTA FE — As of June 23, FEMA has provided more than $3.51 billion for more than 24,502 claims to individuals and families who were affected by the historic Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fire and flooding.
This milestone comes a little more than four years since the largest and most destructive wildfire in New Mexico’s recorded history. The speed with which these resources were made available and delivered, has helped thousands of survivors navigate recovery faster.
Congress acted swiftly to pass the Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon Fire Assistance Act and secure a total of $5.45 billion Read More
UbiQD Expands Los Alamos Headquarters Campus With Economic Development Support
Gathered at the closing on the new building recently at the Title Guaranty office in downtown Los Alamos, from left, UbiQD Facilities Manager Mike Krajcik, Title Guaranty President Denise Terrazas and UbiQD CEO Hunter McDaniel. Courtesy/UbiQD
Gathered after the closing on the new building, from left, UbiQD’s Chief Admin Officer Liseth Garay, CEO Hunter McDaniel and Facilities Manager Mike Krajcik in front of Title Guaranty. Courtesy/UbiQD
UbiQD News:
- Facility expansion enables next leg of growth with space for new manufacturing equipment and R&D
National Park Service’s Pueblo Parks Group Implements Stage II Fire Restrictions For Bandelier, Fort Union, Pecos National Historical Park, Valles Caldera
National Park Service News:
Los Alamos, Watrous, Pecos, Jemez Springs – Due to the increased risk of wildfire in the region, the Pueblo Parks Group, which includes Bandelier National Monument, Fort Union National Monument, Pecos National Historical Park, and Valles Caldera National Preserve, will enter Stage II fire restrictions effective 8:00 am tomorrow, June 25, 2026.
These restrictions are necessary to help land management agencies reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires.
Under Stage II restrictions:
- All fires are prohibited, including campfires, charcoal grills, and coal and
