Nation

Detecting Nukes Through Underground Explosives Tests

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Two workers oversee the emplacement of the canister that contained the chemical explosive charge for Source Physics Experiment-4 Prime at the Nevada National Security Site. Courtesy/LLNL

HSNW News:

Three weeks ago, a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) led-team successfully conducted the fourth in a series of experiments designed to improve the U.S. ability to detect underground nuclear explosions.

The Source Physics Experiment (SPE-4 Prime) is a fundamental step forward in the U.S. effort to improve arms control verification, and will eventually be used to assure compliance Read More

Udall Statement On Senate’s Vote To Prohibit Torture

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. SENATE News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan 78-21 vote to reaffirm the ban on waterboarding and other inhumane interrogation techniques.

“Torture is a stain on our nation’s all too recent history. As the comprehensive investigation by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence confirmed, the CIA’s post-9/11 ‘enhanced interrogation’ techniques were not just brutal and inhumane — but also ineffective. This amendment reaffirms the torture ban and ensures that we never again Read More

IRS, Industry, States Take New Steps Together To Fight Identity Theft, Protect Taxpayers

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IRS News:
 
PHOENIX ― The Internal Revenue Service joined with representatives of tax preparation and software firms, payroll and tax financial product processors and state tax administrators to announce a sweeping new collaborative effort to combat identity theft refund fraud and protect the nation’s taxpayers.
 
The agreement—reached after the project was originally announced March 19—includes identifying new steps to validate taxpayer and tax return information at the time of filing. The effort will increase information sharing between
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USDA Invests $6.7 Million In 544 Renewable Energy And Energy Efficiency Projects Nationwide

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USDA News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. ― Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday that USDA is investing more than $6.7 million in 544 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide.
 
Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a visit to the Snake River Brewing Company, in Jackson, Wyo. The company received a $14,000 USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant to install a solar panel to generate energy for their business.
 
“These grants will help farmers, ranchers and small business owners use more renewable
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LANL: Project ATHENA Creates Surrogate Human Organ Systems

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Courtesy/LANL

LANL News:

  • Surrogate human organs could revolutionize the way biologists and medical personnel screen new drugs or toxic agents

The development of miniature surrogate human organs, coupled with highly sensitive mass spectrometry technologies, could one day revolutionize the way new drugs and toxic agents are studied.

“By developing this ‘homo minutus,’ we are stepping beyond the need for animal or Petri dish testing: There are huge benefits in developing drug and toxicity analysis systems that can mimic the response of actual human organs,” said Rashi Iyer, a senior scientist Read More

Global Samples From Nuclear Contamination Sites Reveal Unpredicted Uranium And Plutonium Behavior

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Workers on a cleanup site at DOE’s Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State, one of several sites sampled for uranium and plutonium variations. Courtesy/DOE

LANL News:

  • Los Alamos Analysis Shows Elements Not Acting In Nature As Previously Modeled

Knowing how a chemical in soil reacts and transforms over time in response to neighboring elements, weather and heat is essential in determining whether that chemical is hazardous.

This is especially important when that chemical is radioactive.

In a collaborative, international effort led by Los Alamos National Laboratory, researchers Read More

Udall Champions Bill To Empower Small Donors

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U.S. Sen. Tom Udall

U.S. Senate News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall announced that he has joined U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. and others in introducing the Fair Elections Now Act, which would dramatically change the way congressional elections are financed.

Under the legislation, qualified Senate candidates would earn grants, matching funds, and television vouchers to run competitive campaigns based on small-dollar contributions, rather than rely on funding from wealthy donors and special interests. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich also is a cosponsor, and New Mexico Public Interest Read More

Los Alamos Democrats Present JFK Award To Bingaman

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Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard presents Sen. Jeff Bingaman with the prestigious JFK Award on behalf of the Democratic Party of Los Alamos County during the 4th Annual JFK Dinner Saturday evening at the Los Alamos Golf Course Community Building. Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
Democratic officials, standing from left, Probate Judge Christine Chandler, Public Education Commissioner Karyl Ann Armbruster, Magistrate Judge Pat Casados, Public Education Commissioner Jeff Carr, School Board member Bill Hargraves, County Assessor Ken Milder, County Councilor Pete Sheehy,
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American Legion Post 90 Celebrates Flag Day At Smith’s

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The American Legion Post 90 in Los Alamos hosted a Flag Day Ceremony this morning at Smith’s Marketplace. Post 90 Cmdr. Ken Nadeau presents Daniel Lopez, a Smith’s manager, a certificate and flag. Maxine Grant from the floral department looks on. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com
 
American Legion Rider Chris Larribas places the American flag into a holder this morning in front of Smith’s Marketplace. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com
 
The crowd applauds the new American flag now flying in front of Smith’s Marketplace on Trinity Drive.
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Los Alamos Elks Lodge Hosts Flag Day Ceremony

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Los Alamos Elks Loyal Knight Ben Bouman, ER Allen Woodward and VFW Cmdr. Roger Anaya open this morning’s Flag Day Ceremony at the Los Alamos Elks Lodge B.P.O.E. 2083 on Trinity Drive. In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated each June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened on that day in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. Photo by Leland Lehman/ladailypost.com

All eight versions of the national flag are displayed and a history of each presented to the people gathered for this morning’s event. Photo by Leland Read More