State, Nation & World - Los Alamos Daily Post

WIPP: Bryson Named Acting Manager For CBFO

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2015

New Acting Manager of DOE Carlsbad Field Office Dana Bryson

WIPP News:

Mark Whitney, Acting Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM), today named Dana Bryson the Acting Manager for the DOE Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO).

He is replacing Joe Franco, who recently returned to a position in DOE’s Richland Operations Office in Washington. Bryson has more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear industry and served as the CBFO Deputy Manager since December 2013.

Previously, Bryson was the

Udall Discusses Critical Need To Address Youth Suicide In Native Communities

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2015

SENATE News:

WASHINGTON ― Wednesday June 24, at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Sen. Tom Udalldiscussed the critical need to address the high rate of suicide among Native American youth.

He questioned the acting director of the Indian Health Service, Tribal leaders and a Psychological and Developmental Sciences expert about improving desperately needed mental health services.

Udall highlighted some of the challenges facing New Mexico’s Tribal communities and cited recent research by the University of

What’s Eating The Aspens?

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 29, 2015

Aspens at Big Tesuque Campground defoliated by western tent caterpillars. Courtesy/SFNF

Western tent caterpillars on the Santa Fe National Forest. Courtesy/SFNF

SFNF News:

Visitors to the Santa Fe National Forest’s popular aspen groves along N.M. 475 (the road to the Santa Fe Ski Basin) are wondering what’s happening to the trees.

Although the aspens may appear to be dying, the bare branches can be blamed on hungry western tent caterpillars that are stuffing themselves on one of their favorite foods. The tent caterpillar is a native defoliator whose larvae feed on a variety of hardwood trees Read More

New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division Rolls Out Phase 1 Of Tapestry Project

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2015

MVD News:

SANTA FE ― The New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) has rolled out the first phase of a new database for drivers services as a part of the division’s Tapestry Project. It will improve efficiency in customer transactions to better serve New Mexicans.

“The Tapestry project is a model for the Governor’s initiatives to make state government more efficient,” said Demesia Padilla, Secretary of the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. “The Governor’s support of this project has been critical.”

The Tapestry project began in 2014 to replace MVD’s

Legal Agreement Reached To Reduce Power Plant Pollution Damaging Southwest’s National Parks

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2015

NPCA News:

WASHINGTON ― The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) and other clean air advocates, represented by Earthjustice, reached an agreement today with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the owners of New Mexico’s Four Corners Power Plant to reduce the plant’s pollution and improve the health of surrounding communities and national parks.

“For far too long, the irresponsible management of Four Corners has denied the Navajo people the basic human right to clean, healthy air in our communities,” said Lori Goodman, board member of Diné

Kids Count Conference Welcomes Sen. Heinrich

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2015

NMVC News:

ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, who will unveil new legislation that he is sponsoring in Congress, will be among the speakers at today’s 3rd Annual KIDS COUNT Conference presented by New Mexico Voices for Children.

The theme of this year’s conference is Child Well-Being: A 2-Generation Approach.

There is a full slate of speakers for the day-long event, which includes the presentation of the 21st annual Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Awards, a special screening of the documentary on child abuse, Everyone’s Business: Protecting

Los Alamos Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider Awarded Firefighter Commendation From American Legion

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 29, 2015

On behalf of the American Legion, Department of New Mexico, Cmdr. Paul Espinoza honored Los Alamos Deputy Fire Chief Justin Grider with a Certificate of Commendation Satuurday at the local Legion for his 18 years of service to the community and leadership. The award signifies honor and service, and is given to a firefighter who exemplifies these characteristics in a special way. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

LAFD Deputy Chief Justin Grider with his Certificate of Commendation awarded to him by American Legion Cmdr. Paul Espinosa. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

Latest Commissary Fire Update

Submitted by Chris Clark on June 29, 2015

SFNF News:

Fire crews on the lightning-caused Commissary Fire on the Pecos/Las Vegas Ranger District successfully completed firing operations with hang ignitions on 200 acres as part of a strategy to manage the fire for resource objectives.

Resource objectives on the Commissary Fire include improving wildlife and range habitat, encouraging regeneration of aspen and improving watershed and overall forest health. Firing operations will continue with a goal of accomplishing approximately 200 acres more, including firing along Forest Road 66G and the southeastern boundary

Curiouser And Curiouser: Bright Spots On Ceres

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 29, 2015

Courtesy/NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA

SCIENCE News:

The closer the Dawn spacecraft approaches, the mysterious bright spots on the dwarf planet Ceres appear more complex, and the more complex they appear, the more interesting they become.

The cluster of mysterious bright spots on dwarf planet Ceres can be seen in this image, taken June 9 by NASA’s Dawn spacecraft from an altitude of 2,700 miles (4,400 kilometers). These new images of Ceres from NASA’s Dawn spacecraft provide more clues about its mysterious bright spots, and also reveal a pyramid-shaped peak towering over

NMDOH: Tularemia Kills Cat In Los Alamos

Submitted by Carol A. Clark on June 28, 2015

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis). Courtesy/CDC

By CAROL A. CLARK

Los Alamos Daily Post

The New Mexico Department of Health reports there have been 20 cases of the severe infectious bacterial disease tularemia in animals since Jan. 1 in New Mexico.

Cases include two cats from Los Alamos County as well as dogs, cats and or rabbits in Taos County, Santa Fe County and Bernalillo County.

Confirmatory testing was conducted at the Department’s Scientific Laboratory Division, NMDOH officials said.

A White Rock resident residing near Pinon Elementary School reported finding two Read More

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