Public Safety

LANL Responds to Radiological Incident at LANSCE

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  • Multiple tests indicate no health risks to public or employees

Los Alamos National Laboratory is investigating the inadvertent spread of Technetium 99 by employees and contractors at the Lujan Neutron Scattering Center at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), a multidisciplinary accelerator facility used for both civilian and national security research.

The Laboratory has determined that about a dozen people came into contact with the material, and some tracked small amounts of Technetium 99 off-site.

The contamination poses no danger to the public. The type of radiation Read More

Los Alamos Police Blotter: Aug. 16 to Aug. 22, 2012

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The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.

Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.

Aug. 16 at 7:45 a.m. / Los Alamos Public Schools reported that someone damaged school property with graffiti at Los Alamos High School. The estimated loss is less than $1,000.

Aug. 17 at 2:54 p.m. / Police received a report of someone shoplifting from a business in the 500 block of Central Avenue. The estimated loss is more than $250. The matter is under investigation.

Aug. 17 at 8:18 a.m. / Police Read More

Whooping Cough Cases on the Rise Statewide

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Courtesy/CDC

Staff report

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is on the rise in New Mexico, according to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH.) Anyone can get whooping cough, and in fact, increases in disease are occurring in all age groups. But babies who get pertussis are the group at greatest risk of complications, including pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing, which often makes it hard to breathe.

After fits of many coughs, Read More

Bridge Work Begins Sunday on N.M. 84/285

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NMDOT Traffic Advisory:

The New Mexico Department of Transportation will start work on a bridge maintenance project on N.M. 84/285 north of Santa Fe Sunday, Aug. 26.

The work will take place in the northbound lanes of the highway at mile marker 174.9 near Camel Rock Casino. 

The work will be done at night from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will be completed in two to three weeks, weather permitting.  

There will be single lane closures as crews work to stabilize the soil under the roadway and lift bridge approach slabs.

Drivers are asked to proceed through the work zone with caution, watch for traffic Read More

Police Track Down Suspected Paint Vandal

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A worker removes paint after police on Friday tracked down a teenage boy suspected of throwing a paint balloon against the back wall of the Los Alamos Motor Vehicle Division Office, 997 Central Ave. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Fresh paint is splattered in a parking stall near the vehicle believed to be used by the suspected vandal. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

A police cruiser blocks the car allegedly used by the suspected vandal. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Two bottles of paint and a skate board were visible inside the car allegedly used by the suspect. Photo Read More

Case Study: How Standards Can Make U.S. More Secure

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NIST News:

Courtesy/NIST

By Erik Puskar

Before 9/11, most radiation detectors were designed for use in laboratories. After 9/11, the new Office of Homeland Security, which became the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), needed to plan for the possibility that terrorists would try to smuggle “dirty bomb” components into the country.

Consequently the first responder community needs radiation detectors that are accurate, reliable, rugged, and easy to use.

DHS needed to develop and deploy rugged detector equipment that non-specialists and first responders could use easily Read More

Luján Announces $600,000 in Drug-Free Communities Grants

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US REPRESENTATIVE BEN RAY LUJAN News

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District announced today that five organizations in Northern New Mexico are receiving more than $600,000 through grants from the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program. 

The DFC program, which is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is designed to support community coalitions as they mobilize individuals and organizations to reduce youth substance abuse. 

Coalitions are composed of community leaders, parents, youth, teachers, religious and fraternal organizations, Read More

Potential Weather Impacts to Area Through Friday

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Courtesy/NWS

NWS News:

The National Weather Service (NWS) in Albuquerque has issued an update on an upper level disturbance that will be impacting northern and central New Mexico through Friday.

Overview:
An unseasonal upper level disturbance is currently tracking eastward through Arizona. This disturbance will advance into western and central New Mexico this afternoon and into the evening.

By Friday this weather system will track toward the northeast corner of New Mexico before exiting.

Abundant atmospheric moisture is in place ahead of this feature, and scattered to numerous thunderstorms Read More

No Arrests During Wednesday’s DWI Checkpoint

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Local police officers conducted a DWI checkpoint Wednesday night as part of their ongoing effort to keep drunk drivers off the streets of Los Alamos.

The operation occurred between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., on East Road near the Los Alamos County Airport, during which 175 vehicles passed through the checkpoint. No arrests were made.

Sgt. Jeremy Duran reported that two vehicles were pulled into a secondary location. Field sobriety tests were administered to each driver, they passed and were released at the scene.

Los Alamos police will continue to conduct these checkpoints throughout the County Read More

NMDOT Sponsors Statewide Child Safety Seat Clinic

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NMDOT News:

SANTA FE–The New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) is pleased to sponsor a statewide child safety seat clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 25.

The clinics will take place in four cities and six different locations as part of the “100 Days and Nights of Summer” campaign that was kicked off late last month. 

The clinics are held on a first-come, first-served basis and the service is free and open to the public.

“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14. Whether they’re taking short trips or long vacations, we want New Mexico families Read More