State, Nation & World - Los Alamos Daily Post

Congressional Delegation Secures Pledge From DHS On Delay Of REAL ID Enforcement

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015

STATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Representatives Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has informed them that the state of New Mexico can still get an extension of the deadline for REAL ID enforcement if Gov. Susana Martinez and the leadership of the N.M. House and Senate can verify to DHS that they agree on legislation that ensures REAL ID compliance.

Seeking answers on behalf of New Mexicans about the standards and procedures

Rep. Nate Gentry Pre-Files Legislation To Keep New Mexicans Safer From Violent Repeat Criminals

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015

Rep. Nate Gentry

STATE News:

SANTA FE ― Rep. Nate Gentry pre-filed “Jaydon’s Law,” legislation to ensure judges have access to the full criminal histories of violent offenders.

Current law prohibits judges from considering the juvenile record of an adult offender during bond and sentencing decisions. Jaydon’s Law would change the Criminal Procedure Act to allow judges to review an adult defendant’s prior record as a youth offender.

It will also give judges access to other information, such as evidence presented during past hearings

AFTNM And NEANM Reacts To Court Decision On Motion To Combine Hearings

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 24, 2015

AFT News:

SANTA FE ― American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly and National Education Association New Mexico President Betty Patterson released the following joint statement:

“We agree with Judge Mathew’s ruling against the most recent motion by the Public Education Department, which was to combine our organizations’ unique lawsuits against the educator evaluation policies of Secretary Skandera and Governor Martinez.

“We believe that each of our cases have merit and that the continued attempts of the PED to stall this process

Airport Security Checks Tightened

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015

Full body scanner. Courtesy/wkipedia

HSNW News:

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced Wednesday changes to traveler security screening at airports, allowing TSA personnel to require travelers to go through body scanners even if the passenger prefers a full-body pat-down instead.

The TSA said that the new system would be “warranted by security considerations in order to safeguard transportation security.”

CNN reports that currently, passengers may choose full-body pat-downs by TSA agents instead of going through Advanced Imaging Technologies, Read More

‘Christmas Eve Asteroid’ 2003 SD220 Sleighs By Earth

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 24, 2015

Resembling a sweet potato, which is quite appropriate for the holiday season, a Delay-Doppler image of asteroid 2003 SD220, the ‘Christmas Eve asteroid’ as observed Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 14-15 from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico using the NASA-funded planetary radar system. The asteroid will be 28 times farther away than our moon, measures more than 1.25 miles long and rotates very slowly, taking more than 11 days to complete one full rotation. Courtesy/Arecibo Observatory

The largest and most sensitive single dish radio telescope in the world is at the Arecibo Observatory Read More

LANL’s Top 10 Science Stories Of The Year

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on December 23, 2015

Scientists Aditya Mohite, left, and Wanyi Nie are perfecting a crystal production technique to improve perovskite crystal production for solar cells at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

Looking back on 2015 … Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Top 10 Science Stories of the Year. From supercomputers and climate modeling, to cybersecurity and cancer treatments, Los Alamos National Laboratory worked hard in 2015 to advance science that helps address many of the most pressing challenges.

“Our commitment to delivering science and technology for the public good Read More

LANL Study Forecasts Disappearance Of Conifers

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015

Los Alamos scientist Nate McDowell discusses how climate change is killing trees with PBS NewsHour reporter Miles O’Brien. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

A new study, led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, suggests that widespread loss of a major forest type, the pine-juniper woodlands of the Southwestern U.S., could be wiped out by the end of this century due to climate change, and that conifers throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere may be on a similar trajectory.

New results, reported in a paper released today in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests

FEMA Awards $63.6 Million To New Mexico

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015

FEMA News:

DENTON, TX — The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently awarded more than $63.6 million to the state of New Mexico for road repairs and hazard mitigation as a result of severe storms and flooding in September 2014.

A federal disaster declaration (DR-4199-NM) designated eight counties eligible for Public Assistance grants.

This award provides $63,602,780 in federal funding to Eddy County for permanent repairs and hazard mitigation to 24 aggregate, asphalt, and chip-and-seal roadways.

A total of 111 miles of county roads sustained base

IRS Opens 2016 Tax Season Jan. 19 – More Than 923,000 New Mexicans Expected To File

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015

IRS News:

PHOENIX ― Following a review of the tax extenders legislation signed into law last week, the Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation’s tax season will begin as scheduled Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016.

The IRS will begin accepting individual electronic returns that day. The IRS expects to receive more than 150 million individual returns in 2016, with more than four out of five being prepared using tax return preparation software and e-filed.

The IRS will begin processing paper tax returns at the same time. There is no advantage to people filing tax returns

NMDVS Completes Its Rural Veterans Coordination Program Team To Assist Rural-Area Veterans

Submitted by Chris Clark on December 23, 2015

NMDVS News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Department of Veterans Services announced that it has opened several rural offices in the state to help rural-area veterans on a variety of issues, including assistance with disability compensation, pension claims, health care, and dependent/survivor benefits.

The regional offices are the result of a federal grant. In addition, rural veterans also may call a new toll-free hotline to get their questions answered.

“We are excited to help more veterans and their families take advantage of our services,” NMDVS Secretary

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