Columns

Hampton: Update On Oct. 3 County T-Board Meeting

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By DAVID HAMPTON
Chair
Los Alamos County Transportation Board

At our last Transportation Board meeting, Oct. 3, 2024, we received a presentation and took public comments on the FY25 Snow and Ice Control Plan. The plan was largely the same as last year, adding Camp May Road unconditionally as a Priority 2.

There will also be an enhanced educational outreach regarding public expectations on snow days. For example, do not park on the street if possible, as this inhibits snow removal. We approved the plan unanimously with the recommendation to move the North Mesa Stables to Priority 2 (from Priority Read More

Amateur Naturalist: The Autumn Leaves

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By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos

Autumn now is arriving. The most obvious sign is with leaves. The leaves of trees and bushes are turning yellow or red. Another sign is with birds. Hummingbirds drink flower nectar not only to meet their needs from day to day, but also to store nutrients for their migration flight south. As an example hummingbirds drank a pint of sugar water in a feeder on a daily basis at the start of September. This suddenly came to a stop toward the end of September when the first cool front of autumn arrived. The feeder now remains full, day after day. The hummingbirds have flown south. They Read More

Robinson: How Do We Attract Doctors And Healthcare Workers? Think Tank Has A Plan

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

How long does it take you to get an appointment with your doctor? If your answer is weeks or months, or “What doctor?” Think New Mexico has you in mind.

The nonpartisan think tank recently published a plan to solve New Mexico’s healthcare worker shortage. The group has done its usual thorough work of defining the problem and presenting a potentially do-able solution.

Most riveting, I thought, is the part about reforming the state’s medical malpractice act. This 48-year-old law, its changes and loopholes are a giveaway to malpractice Read More

Catch Of The Week: UMC Ransomware Attack

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By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
For the Los Alamos Daily Post

Nobody likes going to the hospital, but what if you became seriously ill or injured and the hospital had to turn you away at the door?

That’s exactly what happened at University Medical System (UMC) in Lubbock, Texas after they recently suffered a ransomware attack and had to divert incoming patients to other hospitals.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a malicious software designed to block access to computer systems until a sum of money is paid. The first documented ransomware attack occurred in 1989 when attendees of the World Health Read More

Denish: Abortion, A Personal Story

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

On August 8 in a press conference, Donald Trump said he believed abortion has become “much less of an issue” and that it would be a “very small issue” in the general election. He is wrong.

Just a reminder: Donald Trump appointed justices committed to ending a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions. He is proud of getting Roe v. Wade overturned. As a result, almost half the states now either ban or severely restrict women’s right to abortion and reproductive care.

Trump has forgotten about the women of my generation who were Read More

Holsapple: What I Wish For In Our County Councilors

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

With an election coming up, I am thinking about who to vote for, for the open County Council seats. I encourage every voter to have some criteria in mind when choosing who to vote for. It isn’t clear to me how the available candidates (or our current Councilors) match up to what I wish for in our County Council, but I would sure welcome hearing from them all on the following criteria as I decide who to vote for and talk to other people who ask what I think. All of the current councilors and candidates are good, nice, community-minded people who mean well, but voting for friends Read More

Fr. Glenn: The Beauty Of Marriage

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By Fr. Glenn Jones:

I’m privileged to have been asked to officiate at a wedding next weekend—one of the greatest joys for any minister. And so thoughts have been in that direction the last few days.

Marriage and children…two of the greatest blessings that God gives mankind while we are here on earth.  We read in scripture:  “My soul takes pleasure in three things, and they are beautiful in the sight of the Lord and of men; agreement between brothers, friendship between neighbors, and a wife and a husband who live in harmony.” (Sirach 25:1)

In the divine plan, the coming together of Adam and Eve at the Read More

All Shall Be Well: Change Is Just A Part Of Life

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

By Deacon Cynthia Biddlecomb, M.Div.
ELCA

Autumn is my favorite season in Los Alamos. It doesn’t last long enough, but to see the leaves change color is an annual treat. The hottest days of summer are behind us. And, unless we are into winter sports, we aren’t looking forward to winter temperatures or icy sidewalks. Whatever our preferences, the changing of the seasons is inevitable. Read More

McQuiston: What Is Flood Insurance … What Does It Cover?

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By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963

With the devastating damage coming from Hurricane Helene, I thought I would provide some of the insurance challenges these folks will be dealing with. Most will probably not have proper insurance to deal with the flooding and those that do may not actually get enough to replace their home and contents.  Here’s why.

Most home insurance policies don’t cover flood damage, which can cost you tens of thousands of dollars even if there’s just an inch or two of water. To protect yourself financially, consider buying separate Read More

Hampton: Vote YES On UNM-LA Bond

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By DAVID HAMPTON
Los Alamos

Can you imagine not having UNM-LA? I can’t, and strongly encourage a YES vote on the UNM-LA General Obligation Bond.

These funds will be used for projects including roof leak repairs, bringing UNM-LA up to ADA standards, modernizing IT, and modernizing energy efficiency of the buildings. Remember, many of UNM-LA’s buildings were constructed in the 1940s. Heck, they’re even older than me!

It is essential that our science based town have an institution of higher learning, and we cannot continue to successfully offer programs, such as our 4 year Mechanical Engineering Read More