Udall: Americans Deserve More Transparency on Phone Record Collection
U.S. SENATE News:Thompson Ridge; Tres Lagunas Fire Updates – Morning of June 6
The Thompson Ridge Fire on the Valles Caldera National Preserve Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Photo by Robert Beberniss
Thompson Ridge Fire Update
Thursday June 6, 2013 9 a.m.
Acres: 12,171; Start date: May 31, 2013; Cause: Downed powerline; Location: Valles Caldera National Preserve; Containment: 5 percent; Fuels: Mixed conifer and Ponderosa pine; Terrain: Steep, rugged; Resources: 23 crews, 36 engines, 8 water tenders, 2 dozers; Total personnel: 816 Available air support: 3 air tankers, 7 helicopters.
Summary: Yesterday and last night, lower temperatures and slightly higher humidity Read More
House Passes Luján Amendment to Increase Funding for Wildfire Preparedness and Preventative Measures
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District offered an amendment late last night to the Fiscal Year 2014 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act to increase funding for grant programs that help communities prepare for wildfires.
The amendment passed the House with broad bipartisan support by a 287 to 136 vote this morning. Below are Representative Luján’s remarks from last night. Click here<https:////www.youtube.com/watch?v=579fTTs_gLM&feature=youtu.be> to watch Luján’s Read More
‘Run the Caldera’ Cancellation Impacts 450-plus Participants
VCNP News:
The Thompson Ridge Fire has forced the cancellation of the annual Run the Caldera Marathon event.
Mike Lippiatt from the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce said that more than 450 participants had registered up to the time the event was cancelled earlier this week.
Lippiatt addressed the short and longterm impact the cancellation of Run the Caldera may have on the local economy.
“It is impossible to quantify the loss of revenue due to the event being cancelled but the impact to our local businesses is quite significant,” Lippiatt said in a news release. “The long-term Read More
Luján Encourages DHS to Use National Labs Rather than Build Duplicative Capabilities
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan
U.S. CONGRESSIONAL News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District spoke on the House floor late last night in an exchange with the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Rep. John Carter, to encourage the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to utilize the national labs rather than waste money on duplicative capabilities.
Rep. John Carter
The exchange occurred during debate on the Fiscal Year 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations Act. Below are their remarks. Click here<https:////www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-pUTK85SRA&feature=youtu.be Read More
Differences, Similarities of Early Los Alamos, Soviet Scientists Focus of 70th Anniversary Lecture
Istvan Hargittai, right, talks with Edward Teller at Stanford in 1996. Courtesy/LANL
LANL News:
- June 12 at Bradbury Science Museum
The differences and similarities between Manhattan Project-era scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and scientists working at the former Soviet Union’s secret Arzamas-16 installation will be discussed by Professor Istvan Hargittai at 5:30 p.m., June 12 at the Laboratory’s Bradbury Science Museum. The talk is part of the Laboratory’s 70th anniversary lecture series.
According to Hargittai, Los Alamos’ first director, Julius Robert (J. Robert) Read More
Posts Live from Van Cliburn International Piano Competition: Different Styles Mark Cliburn Competitors
Posts Live from Van Cliburn International Piano CompetitionChinese pianist Fei Fei Dong closes the semifinals of the Cliburn Competition. The judges are scheduled to announce the finalists at 11:30 p.m., well past our bedtime, but for this we will stay wide awake.
That all of these pianists have formidable technical skills is a given. Pyrotechnics abound. But I have decided that the competitors fall into two broad categories. Some choose repertoire and play in a way that says, “This is the kind of pianist I am and I’ll Read More
Thompson Ridge Fire Update – Evening of June 5
The Thompson Ridge Fire battle continues behind the Valles Caldera Headquarters area. Courtesy/VCT
VALLES CALDERA TRUST News:
Thompson Ridge Fire Update
June 5, 2013 9 p.m.
Acres: 10,400
Start date: May 31, 2013
Cause: Downed powerline
Location: Valles Read More
Bandelier Weekend Events
BANDELIER News:
Want to take a hike and travel to space all in one day? Explore Bandelier, by daylight and moonlight, during two exciting events.
Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 8, followed from 9-11 p.m. by an Explore the Stars program.
Celebrate National Get Outdoors Day by engaging in healthy, active, outdoor fun on your public lands. Join the Bandelier Trails Program Lead Dale Coker for a hike on the Alamo Boundary Trail.
Coker will lead hikers on an easy trail for one mile to the monument boundary. Participants will then have the opportunity to connect to the Coyote Read More
Thompson Ridge Fire Shuts Down Valles Caldera National Preserve
Valle Grande. Photo by Glen Wurden
VCNP News:
JEMEZ SPRINGS – All public access to the Valles Caldera National Preserve is closed to the public due to increased fire activity from the Thompson Ridge Fire.
The Fire has burned more than 9,000 acres near the western border of the preserve since the fire began Friday, May 31. All recreational programs and activities on the Valles Caldera National Preserve have been suspended until the area is considered safe for visitors to return.
The timing of what programs may be resumed will be determined after close collaboration with the Incident Management Read More
