Public Safety

County’s Traffic & Streets Division Snow Response Team Asks For Resident Cooperation During Winter Storms

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Scene on Diamond Drive from winter 2024. Post file photo

COUNTY News:

During the winter months, Los Alamos County’s Traffic and Streets Division works hard to ensure safe travel by plowing snow from designated streets and sidewalks. To enhance the effectiveness of snow and ice control operations, the snow response team would like to remind residents that they also play a crucial role in maintaining clear and safe pathways.

To support this effort, residents are asked to:

  • To clear sidewalks and driveways within 24 hours of the end of a storm.
  • Ensure areas for trash pickup and mail or newspaper delivery
Read More

Aging Budget Strengthens Safety, Support For NM Seniors

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Aging Secretary Emily Kaltenbach

ALTSD News:

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department (ALTSD) is requesting $8.2 million in general funds, representing an 11 percent general fund increase from the previous year.

“New Mexico’s older adults need a strong, responsive support network,” Aging Secretary Emily Kaltenbach. “Each year, we see more aging seniors aging in need — this budget strengthens frontline services families rely on, invests in protection for our most vulnerable, and positions us to be prepared for the future.”

The FY27 budget request focuses on the Read More

County: How To Be BearWise At Home This Fall

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Learn how to be bear wise at home to prevent encounters. Courtesy/LAC

COUNTY News:

It’s Fall, and the bears are busy getting ready for their long winter slumber. Be BearWise at home to prevent encounters.

Trash & Recycling:

  • All trash containers are cleaned often to reduce odors.
  • Recycling is rinsed out and clean.
  • Bear-resistant trash containers are always closed and latched.

If containers are not bear-resistant:

  • Regular trash cans are stored inside a sturdy, locked building or bear-resistant enclosure.
  • Garbage is put out the morning of pick up (not the night before).

Around Homes and Read More

Robinson: Fire Hazard Mounts As FEMA, Forest Service Shrink

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By SHERRY ROBINSON
All She Wrote
© 2025 New Mexico News Services

A woman from Mora County told me recently: “We always said we were land rich and cash poor. Since the fire, we don’t even have the land.” Besides fire and flood damage to family property, a road washed out, and nobody has rebuilt it.

U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-NM, joined by U.S. Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan, have chided FEMA’s New Mexico Joint Recovery Office for its sluggish payout of claims for damages caused by the massive Calf Canyon-Hermit’s Peak blaze three years ago. In their recent letter they said the claims Read More

Online Suicide Prevention Training Before Holidays

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C’YA News:

Before the holidays, Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA ) is offering a free, one-hour, virtual training on suicide prevention.

The online training will be held 3-4 p.m., Saturday, Nov 22, and is limited to 12 students who must be 18 or older and include certificates of completion.

Those interested in attending the online training must send a valid email address and phone number to cya.org@att.net or text or call 505.695.9139.

If this virtual option is of interest, additional online training opportunities will be offered.

This training is sponsored by a grant from 100 Men Who Care Read More

NMED And NMDOH Report Increased Levels Of Metals In Mora County’s Groundwater

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NMDOH News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) are urging Mora County residents to test their private wells after high levels of metals were found in the county’s groundwater.

Three metals — antimony, arsenic and uranium — exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) safe drinking water limits. The independent geologic study focused on Mora County also found elevated levels of manganese over EPA guidelines.

Seven other metals — barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, thallium and vanadium — were also found Read More

Los Alamos CodeRED System Limited Due To Security Event … Be Aware Of County Alert Alternatives

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COUNTY News:

Los Alamos County Office of Emergency Management (LAC-OEM) was informed by OnSolve CodeRED, the County’s emergency alert system at 5:52 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, of a detection of potential vulnerabilities in the platform.

The company immediately suspended platform access for a comprehensive review of any unauthorized access. Access has since been restored; however, capabilities will be limited temporarily as the system is coming back online.

LAC-OEM always encourages the community to plan for potential emergencies to ensure the safety and security of every individual, Read More

New Mexico Environment Department Announces That Chromium Plume From Los Alamos National Laboratory Migrates Onto Pueblo De San Ildefonso Land

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NMED News:

A toxic chromium plume from Los Alamos National Laboratory has spread beyond lab boundaries onto Pueblo de San Ildefonso land for the first time, with contamination levels exceeding state groundwater standards, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) announced today.

Recent groundwater sampling conducted by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) found hexavalent chromium, a toxic and carcinogenic substance, at levels ranging from 53 to 72.9 micrograms per liter (ug/l), depending on the depth sampled. The ground water Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Prepares For Pile Burns

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SFNF News:

          • Favorable weather conditions are in place for hazardous fuels reduction work

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) is planning prescribed fire pile burns, pending all required approvals. SFNF estimates this work to continue through the winter as weather conditions allow.

Pile burning is meant to treat slash, like branches, piled by thinning crews with the aim of reducing flammable fuels. The decision to proceed with each pile burn will depend on multiple factors, including snowpack, air quality, ventilation, forecast weather and wind, and resource availability. SFNF Read More