Columns

Skolnik: Los Alamos County And Wastewater-Based Disease Surveillance – Major Gaps In Transparency, Ethics, And Technical Expertise

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock

Los Alamos County has ended its wastewater-based disease surveillance system (WBS) for COVID, RSV, Influenza A, and Influenza B. The purpose of this article is to inform the community about the manner in which I believe Los Alamos County has mis-managed this program and to encourage the community to demand that the County continue WBS and manage it in a transparent, ethical, and technically competent manner.

The Importance of Wastewater-Based Disease Surveillance

Despite significant declines in the number of COVID cases and deaths, COVID in 2023 was still the Read More

McQuiston: The Not-So-Scary Truth About Reconstruction Costs Of Your Home

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By ALLEN MCQUISTON
Jemez Insurance Agency
Serving Los Alamos Since 1963

Many people believe their insurance coverage should be based on the price they paid for their home. Others believe they’re adequately insured if the insurance coverage is based on the fair market value (the amount the owner would expect to receive if the home were sold today). And for those who just completed construction on a new home, you see no reason to insure it for more than what it cost to build, right?

The amount of insurance you buy should be based on the cost of replacing the home. The costs associated with replacing or Read More

Liddie’s Traditional New Mexican Dishes: Chiles En Nogada

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Chiles en Nogada. Photo by Liddie Martinez

Roasted chiles prepared to include in Chiles en Nogada. Photo by Liddie Martinez

By LIDDIE MARTINEZ
Española Valley

This might be one of the most perfect culinary delights I have ever eaten.  The first time I had Chiles en Nogada, I was in Durango, Mexico working on the committee to establish El Camino Real as a National Historic Trail. The committee was invited to dinner at the Governor’s Palace and the chef served this beautiful dish with a depth of flavor that kept challenging my taste buds as I tried to workout what the ingredients were. The presentation Read More

Amateur Naturalist: Bumble Bee Decline

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A Russian Sage covered with flowers. Russian sage bloom throughout the summer and its branches become completely covered with hundreds of small blue flowers. Photo by Robert Dryja

Hunt’s Bumblebee: White bands can be seen on each side of an orange band on the bee’s rear abdomen. The Hunt’s bumble bee has had some decease in abundance over the past century but does not have a clear downward trend. It is placed in the ‘least concern’ category in one report. Photo by Robert Dryja

 

By Robert Dryja
Los Alamos

A variety of plants bloom in the spring but their flowers fade by mid summer. There is an exception. Read More

Mason: Acid Canyon Well Within Safe Exposure Ranges

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By THOM MASON
Director
Los Alamos National Laboratory

During the Manhattan Project, the nation’s urgency to develop a weapon that could win World War II led to environmental decisions that have had long-standing consequences. That is why the Department of Energy Environmental Management and its contractor N3B continue to work to clean up legacy waste in Los Alamos.

This important cleanup work will continue for many years, however, cleanup has also yielded many success stories, returning once-contaminated land to a condition that is safe for the community once again. Acid Canyon in the Los Read More

Weekly Fishing Report: Sept. 2, 2024

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By GEORGE MORSE 
Sports and Outdoors 
Los Alamos Daily Post 

There was a chill in the air to begin the Labor Day weekend. Cooler temperatures and the continuing benefit of monsoon rains have improved fishing conditions. This has allowed the State Game and Fish Department to stock more locations. 

Anglers have been reporting murky to muddy water conditions at Pilar on the Rio Grande. Flows on the Rio are not too high, so the rain may be to blame. 

Grouse season began Sunday, Sept. 1, so keep an eye out for these birds. They are great eating but can be hard to find. Spotting some while driving the Forest Read More

Neal-Clinton: Changes Coming To Insurance Coverage For Prescription Drugs

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

Editor’s note: While this article is from Beverly Neal-Clinton in her capacity as a small business owner, she also understands the importance and agrees to mention she is a candidate for Los Alamos County Council.

Did you know 87% of participants are concerned and want their prescription drugs covered? Did you know 40 to 70% of the current participants are expected to change their plans in 2025?

Take a look at the changes below…

(1) $2,000 Out-of-Pocket Cap: Starting in 2025, Medicare Part D will introduce a cap Read More

Dannemann: Volunteers Help Assure Honest Elections

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By MERILEE DANNEMANN
Triple Spaced Again
© 2024 New Mexico News Services

In my garage, clinging to a cabinet door, is a magnetic sign that reads, “Election Protection”. I saved it from the last general election, when I stuck it to the door of my car and drove around to polling places as a volunteer observer for Common Cause, a nonpartisan national organization whose mission includes safeguarding free and fair elections.

My job was to observe polling locations from my car. If I saw any problems, I was instructed to report by phone – not to intervene. Concern about possible election disruption was Read More

Werley: Legality Of Feeding Deer In Los Alamos

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By Dr. Ken Werley
Los Alamos

To: State Representative Christine Chandler, Los Alamos Daily Post, and NM Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF),

Re: feeding deer in Los Alamos:

BACKGROUND:

I have lived at my residence for 40 years.  For 25 years, when I notice an interested deer, I have fed it a small cup of birdseed that takes a deer 2-3 minutes of their day to consume. My house backs onto the golf course and it has the only unfenced yard on the east side of 35th St on my block. Some deer daily pass though my yard on the way between the golf course and the many fruit trees across the street (and to get to the canyon Read More

Robinson: Mass Deportation Spelled Out

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

Presidential candidate Donald Trump is mining a vein of public discontent when he calls for mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Recent polls show that Americans favor tighter restrictions on immigration, and Republicans resoundingly support mass deportation.

This would target an estimated 11 million people living here, although aspiring Vice President J. D. Vance cheerfully suggests starting with a million.

How exactly would that work?

I searched the latest thinking on the subject in media reports to give you an Read More