Healthcare

Albuquerque Woman Named ‘TOPS 2024 New Mexico Queen’

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Christina Barnes of Albuquerque before and after she lost 48.25 pounds and was named ‘TOPS 2024 New Mexico Queen’. Courtesy/TOPS

TOPS Club News:

TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds SensiblySM), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, is unveiling its “royalty” for 2024. Christina Barnes of Albuquerque, who lost 48.25 pounds, is the 2024 New Mexico Queen. She was honored April 25-26, 2025, at the New Mexico recognition event at the Albuquerque Elks Lodge in Albuquerque.

TOPS® royalty are women and men who have officially recorded the largest weight loss from their highest weight at Read More

Governor Marks 60th Anniversary Of Medicare And Medicaid

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STATE News:

SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham today recognized the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid while condemning the GOP budget that threatens to strip health coverage from hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans. 

“For six decades, Medicare and Medicaid have been lifelines for New Mexico families, ensuring our most vulnerable residents can access the health care they need and deserve,” Lujan Grisham said. “While we celebrate this milestone, we must also recognize that these programs are under unprecedented attack by Congressional Republicans.”  Read More

Neal-Clinton: 2025 Annual Enrollment Update On Humana, UnitedHealthcare & Aetna

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By BEVERLY NEAL-CLINTON
The Retirement Answer Team

Editor’s note: Beverly Neal-Clinton is sharing this information in her role with The Retirement Answer Team and not as a Los Alamos County Councilor.

Los Alamos County is announcing its 2025 health benefit annual enrollment period, set for Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This year’s enrollment is accompanied by major industry changes, including Humana’s withdrawal from the Los Alamos area, and multiple lawsuits against Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna involving federal investigations, “steering” practices, Medicare Advantage ratings, and Read More

Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance Approved For New Mexico Storm Recovery

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NMDWS News:

ALBUQUERQUE — President Donald Trump approved disaster aid for New Mexico, authorizing unemployment assistance for Lincoln County residents and businesses affected by severe storms, flooding, and landslides that struck June 23 at the request of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. 

The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) from workers and self-employed individuals in Lincoln County who have been unable to work due to this disaster. Applications may be filed by calling the Unemployment Insurance Operations Read More

How Los Alamos National Laboratory Is Addressing ‘Forever Chemicals’ Known As PFAS …  With This Nationwide Contaminant Of Concern, LANL Is Ahead Of The Curve

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Sarah Holcomb and Randy Vigil check a device that collects wastewater samples entering and leaving Laboratory property. The samples assess the effectiveness of the treatment process for PFAS as well as other substances. Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

They’re arguably the most talked about chemicals of our time, pervasive in everyday products and linked to a litany of adverse health effects. They are so widespread, in fact, that they’ve been detected in snowmelt on Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth.

Known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, high levels have been found Read More

Baby Announcement: Angel David Gonzales July 25, 2025

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Angel David Gonzales was born on July 25, 2025, weighing 7 pounds and 9 ounces at Presbyterian Hospital in Española. His parents are DaVida A. Gonzales and David Jordan Vigil of Hernandez. ‘He’s a little bit of heaven sent down to Earth and I love him with all my heart,’ DaVida said. Courtesy photo
Another view of Angel David Gonzales, born July 25, 2025, to DaVida A. Gonzales and David Jordan Vigil of Hernandez. Courtesy photo
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Air Force Denies State Inspectors Access To Test For Toxic PFAS On Cannon Air Force Base

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NMED News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Environment Department Sec. James Kenney and New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez today asked a state court to order Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis to comply with state law and let inspectors collect on-site samples of toxic PFAS.

The motion follows Cannon officials’ refusal to allow NMED inspectors to conduct environmental sampling during a regulatory inspection on July 15. In doing so, the U.S. Air Force has blatantly disregarded state law as NMED has clear authority to conduct environmental sampling under state and federal law.

“Denying access to state Read More

Public Health Pilot Project Expands Services

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NMDOH News:

MESCALERO — For the first time, the New Mexico Department of Health is leveraging its public health infrastructure to implement and expand primary care clinical services in collaboration with the Mescalero Apache Tribe. 

The historic partnership between the Mescalero Apache Tribe and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has resulted in the opening of the Ruidoso Primary Care Clinic, which will offer wellness visits, well child checks, chronic disease, mental health and women’s health care services. 

“This bold and necessary step toward health equity reflects our unwavering Read More

Local Author Song Freedom Fields Shares How To Bring Healing Home In New Anthology

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Song Freedom Fields

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos native and 2010 Los Alamos High School graduate Song Freedom Fields knows a thing or two about healing and finding a purpose in life.

A Modern Curandera Medicine Woman and founder of Integrative Fields of Medicine, Freedom Fields has used her expertise to help people spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically reclaim their lives.

Now, she is sharing her knowledge in a different format: a book. Freedom Fields is one of 31 authors who have contributed to an anthology titled Whispers of the Read More