Opinion

Early last week, information was published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranking the 50 states on various factors that indicate child well-being. New Mexico is a jaw-dropping 49th – even more astounding, our state has hovered in this area (dropping to 50th position in 2013) for several years!

Child poverty rates around the state are increasing steadily, and programs to help these children are few and far between. Looking at this information, coupled with the start of the 2015-2016 school year quickly approaching, and everything Read More

Despite (or perhaps because of) the latest bailout, the nation of Greece remains deeply-troubled. The crisis has manifested itself due to Europe’s single currency, the Euro. Greece cannot pay its bills, but because of the Euro, it cannot devalue its currency either. So a series of bailouts and “austerity” measures have been imposed.

This is a quick synopsis of the Greek situation, but what are the parallels for New Mexico? For starters, in July of 2011, The Economist magazine noted one interesting parallel when an article “Greek Americans” Read More

By DUSTIN JOHNSON
Los Alamos

Between Jacqueline Krohn’s letter to the editor in the Los Alamos Daily Post and another letter to the editor in the last edition of the Jemez Thunder, there’s been a lot of invoking Nazism to attack various beliefs lately, and I want to take a stand against that.

It is important not to forget what the Nazis were: a racist, genocidal regime that murdered 10 million people for nothing more than who they were, and helped start a war that killed another 60 million plus people. Because of how abominable their beliefs and actions were, one should never draw comparisons Read More

Please do not enact a plastic bag ban or tax on each bag.

There is no evidence that plastic bags are a problem in Los Alamos. In fact if the ban or tax is enacted, this would be a sign to prospective new businesses that Los Alamos is not a business friendly community. If the tax is enacted and the stated proposal to return the monies to the merchant becomes law there will be a law suit vis a vis the anti donation clause in the Constitution.

The ban will become a political campaign issue in 2016. The council has already passed one tax increase this year and another is Read More

By NERSES H. KRIKORIAN
Los Alamos

To the Council of the County of Los Alamos:

As an active participant in the Charter Commission charged with writing the Los Alamos Charter, which was approved by the voters in 1968, it is worthwhile to relate some of the thinking that took place in writing the original document.

Prior to the writing of the Charter, an approved amendment to the New Mexico Constitution allowed the formation of Los Alamos as an “H Class” County with the intent to unify county and municipal functions. This created a unique task for a new organizational and management structure Read More

In two chilling and gruesome videos, Planned Parenthood officials casually discuss harvesting and selling body parts from 17 to 18 week aborted babies (and 24 weeks, which are viable babies outside of the womb). 

Dr. Deborah Nucatola discusses how to obtain the organs; “We’ve been very good at getting heart, lung, liver, because we know that I’m not going to crush that part. I’m gonna basically crush below. I’m gonna crush above and I’m gonna see if I can get it all intact”. “Most of the other stuff can come out intact” [except the head]. Mary Gatter Read More

Editor’s note: The following letter was submitted to the County Council today.

Dear Councilors,

The reason that the Parks and Recreation Board is hearing complaints is that voice and sight control of dogs does not work. 

Revise the animal ordinance to delete Sec. 6-4, and many problems will disappear. When one class of people is given more freedom than another, the ordinance does not protect everyone. This policy has been the problem since it was created. 

I was appointed as the advisor (non-voting) to the animal ordinance revision committee Read More

I live in White Rock and I know where the hummingbirds are. They’re at my house … all 2,000 of them. 

Seriously we have five feeders that we are filling two times a day. I honestly don’t know why they aren’t at other peoples houses but we are going through gallons and making food almost everyday. Go figure.

However they are worth it and lots of enjoyment. Read More