Columns

Raffin: Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

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Dr. Celeste Raffin
Member
Los Alamos Health Council

Mr. X was a 50 something white male who worked for a prominent firm in a large Intermountain West city. He lived in an elegant old home in a very tony neighborhood.

One January morning, he came to work and told his secretary that he wasn’t feeling well. He complained of a headache, nausea, feeling dizzy and spacy. She urged him to call his doctor but by the end of the day he felt much better so he went home.

For several days, he would come to work feeling poorly but then normal by the end of the day. He thought he was fighting off a flu bug. One morning he did not Read More

Lost Your Medicare Coverage? Here’s How To Regain It!

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By BEVERLY NEAL-CLINTON
Loreen and Lane Retirement Answer Agent
Los Alamos

If you’ve recently lost your Medicare coverage under Aetna, Humana 341, Presbyterian PPO, Wellcare, United CSNP, or simply due to a plan discontinuance, you may qualify for a Special Election Period (SEP), allowing you to make changes to your plan outside the regular enrollment windows. Beginning in January.

This SEP can be a lifeline for those who’ve experienced a qualifying event such as marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse, an employer settlement payment, losing employer-based insurance, changes in income, Read More

All Shall Be Well: A Time For Travel And Journey

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Clergy from left, Deacon Amy Schmuck, Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, retired, The Rev. Mary Ann Hill and The Rev. Lynn Finnegan. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

By The Rev. Lynn M. Finnegan
Associate Rector
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Faith

“Safe travels.” “Text when you get there.” These are the text messages my family sends whenever one of us is traveling, either on a plane or a long car ride. The message is literal: we are hoping and praying that the travel goes smoothly, with no cancelled flights or road construction or accidents.

Compare this to the sentiment those of you who have walked Read More

Op-Ed: Why We Need Equitable Disclosure Bill In A Nutshell

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By GEORGE CHANDLER
Assessor
Los Alamos County

        1. The bill aims to bring valuations of non-residential properties up to statutory and equitable standards while minimizing the impact of these increases on property owners.
  2. Having valuations accurate ensures equity in property taxation. The tax rate in each county, municipality, school district, and other taxing governmental unit is determined by dividing the budget requirement by the sum of valuations in the district. The amount of taxes paid by each taxpayer is then the tax rate multiplied by their valuation. You can do the math: If some taxpayers
Read More

Robinson: Faceless Flunkies Making Dangerous Decisions

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By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

“Live your life in such a way that half the world isn’t dancing in the streets when some hero puts you in the forever box.”

This meme, with a photo of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, isn’t circulating in public – it’s on websites for medical professionals.

Debates over Thompson’s assassination and the capture of his accused killer are still blazing on social media and even at Christmas parties and show no sign of letting up. The consensus is the shooting reveals a seething anger against health insurers, although most of us stop Read More

Catch Of The Week: Package Delivery Text Scams

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By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
For the Los Alamos Daily Post

The holidays are almost here, and am I getting tons of festive greeting cards? No, I am not, because most people just text or email. Am I getting festive texts from loved ones? Nope again!

I am getting the USPS package delivery scams that are going around, and you probably are, too.

What could be more festive?

 

 

Image of package delivery smishing text scam. Courtesy image

These text scams are a kind of phishing known as “smishing”. What is smishing? Smishing is a form of phishing that involves a text message or phone number. Victims Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Dec. 18, 2024

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By GEORGE MORSE
Sports and Outdoors
Los Alamos Daily Post 

At this time of year, anglers should consider a trip to Southern New Mexico because most of the small lakes and reservoirs in this part of the state are stocked with catchable-size rainbow trout during the winter months.

Locations that offer a chance at not just stocked trout but larger holdover trout include Grindstone Reservoir near Ruidoso and Lake Robert’s near Silver City. Bonito Lake is open for fishing. It has been closed for several years after being ruined for several as l years by a wildfire. It is being stocked with rainbow trout Read More

LWV President’s Message: Our Work Continues

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By FELICIA ORTH
President
League of Women Voters of Los Alamos

Even the lightest touch on the pulse of current public discourse reveals strong contention, anger, and fear. The League’s work and goals feel more important than ever: to register those who are eligible to vote, to educate them through voter guides and candidate forums, to help assure ease of voting and the integrity of the electoral process, to advocate for sensible decisions on matters of public policy, to combat disinformation, and to fight gerrymandering and maintain fair districting.

Over the next few months we will Read More

Councilor Ryti: Moving Forward

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By RANDALL RYTI
Los Alamos County Councilor

In the last month or so the Los Alamos County Council has considered some controversial proposals. The item that generated the most public comment was the potential purchase of two vacant lots on Diamond Drive and a nearby commercial building. I had thought the purchase was worth considering because it could help the County realize a long-term goal for a social services hub. Even though I have been and continue to be a supporter for a social services hub, I was concerned about replacing commercially zoned land for institutional uses. Ultimately, there Read More

Denish: Join The Season Of Giving

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By DIANE DENISH
Corner to Corner
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

During the holiday season there is always a focus on charitable giving or philanthropy. Recently you might have been asked by your local nonprofits or organizations to give generously on Giving Tuesday. This is charitable giving. Philanthropy is something different.

Although Giving Tuesday sometimes seems like a commercial effort, it was the brainchild of NYC 92nd Street and its BELFOR Center for Innovation. Its original purpose was to counter the consumerism and promotion of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday hoped Read More