Public Safety

County Pavement Preservation Project Begins Monday On North Community & North Mesa With Road Closures

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COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos County Public Works Department has announced that a Pavement Preservation Project will begin on Monday, Sept. 29, on North Mesa and North Community.

The work, which will be performed by Albuquerque Asphalt, includes road closures, lane restrictions, and detours for several streets.

North Community:

  • The project area includes 35th Street, 36th Street, 37th Street, and 39th Street, which will be closed with local access only. 38th Street should be used as a detour throughout the duration of the project.

North Mesa Road:

  • The project area includes North Mesa Road,
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New Mexico Environment Department Warns Public Of Concerning Algae Bloom In Santa Cruz Lake

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Harmful algae blooms spotted Sept. 22 in the water and on the shoreline of Santa Cruz Lake. Courtesy/NMED

NMED News:

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) is advising visitors to Santa Cruz Lake near Española to exercise caution due to the presence of a potentially harmful algae bloom.

Recent samples collected from the lake indicate that harmful algae are present.

NMED is recommending that visitors follow specific safety precautions while at the lake:

  • Do not drink untreated surface water;
  • Avoid swimming in areas with algae blooms and keep pets out of the water;
  • Stay clear of
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FBI: Newcomb Man Pleads Guilty To Assault With Firearm

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Newcomb man pleaded guilty to federal charges arising out of an altercation.

According to court documents, Feb. 28, 2025, James Smiley, Jr., 56, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, entered a residence within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and pointed a firearm at three men while making threats to kill them without provocation.

Smiley pleaded guilty to one count each of assault with a dangerous weapon and using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. At sentencing, Smiley faces up to life in prison. Upon his release from prison, Smiley Read More

Los Alamos County Launches Video Podcast ‘Fusion’

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COUNTY News:

  • First episode features LAPD Cmdr. Chris Ross and road safety

Los Alamos County has released the first episode of Fusion, a new video podcast designed to connect the community with information about county programs, services, and issues that impact daily life.

Hosted by the County’s Communications and Public Relations (CPR) team, Fusion will feature conversations with staff on a variety of topics.

The inaugural episode features Los Alamos Police Department Cmdr. Christopher Ross and CPR’s Rachel Freeman. They discuss “Operation Just Drive”, a road safety initiative focused Read More

LANL, NNSA Complete Tritium Waste Container Treatment

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NMED News:

SANTA FE — Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) have informed the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) that they have completed treatment of four flanged tritium waste containers.

NNSA stated no significant emissions were released during the treatment process.  NNSA monitored the total emissions to be around 0.005 millirems. For comparison, the exposure an individual receives during a round-trip cross-country flight is approximately 3.7 millirems.

NMED staff performed on-site air monitoring during all treatment Read More

FBI: Shiprock Man Pleads Guilty To Leading Massive Illegal Marijuana Operation And Polluting San Juan River

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — Dineh Benally of Shiprock has pleaded guilty in federal court to leading a vast illegal marijuana cultivation and distribution ring.

The ring spanned several years, exploited workers, and polluted the San Juan River on tribal lands.

According to court documents, from approximately January 2018 to November 2020, Benally, 48, and his co-conspirators established more than 30 farms, covering more than 400 acres, on land obtained from Navajo Nation members.

Benally pleaded guilty to 15 counts:

  • Two drug trafficking conspiracy charges for orchestrating the illegal
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Court Of Appeals Judge Kristopher Houghton Takes Office

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Court of Appeals Judge Kristopher N. Houghton speaking at his public investiture. He is wearing a robe used by the late Justice Charles W. Daniels. Courtesy/Judge Houghton

COURT News:

SANTA FE — New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge Kristopher “Kris” Houghton donned a judicial robe with a special connection to his legal career after taking the oath of office at his public investiture.

The robe had been used by the late Supreme Court Justice Charles W. Daniels, who Judge Houghton clerked for from 2008 to 2010. Randi McGinn, the justice’s widow, lent the robe to Judge Houghton for his investiture and Read More

NNSA Los Alamos Field Office Manager Ted Wyka Briefs County Council On Local Operations

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NNSA-LA Field Office Manager Ted Wyka

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

Operations are moving steadily along at the NNSA Los Alamos Field Office, Manager Ted Wyka told County Council during a Sept. 16 work session.

In his presentation, Wyka touched on several areas including the laboratory’s budget, the electric coordination agreement between the Department of Energy (DOE) and County’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU), the Rendija Canyon land transfer and the efforts to improve driving behaviors on laboratory property.

Regarding laboratory funding, Read More

Santa Fe National Forest Seeks Input On Hermit’s Peak & Calf Canyon Fires Recovery Project

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SFNF News:

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) will begin accepting comments on Sept. 18, for the Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon Fires Recovery Project, as part of the Environmental Assessment (EA) process.

This is an opportunity to share your concerns, ideas, and feedback on the EA prior to the final decision to help shape the future of post-fire recovery efforts.

The EA was developed in response to the 2022 Hermit’s Peak and Calf Canyon fires and is designed to facilitate restoration and recovery work within approximately 167,840 acres of National Forest System lands and adjacent Read More

FBI: Albuquerque Man Indicted For Carjacking, Kidnapping, Fatal Shooting Faces Life In Prison Or Death Penalty

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE —  A federal grand jury has charged Sheliky Sanchez with the Aug. 7, 2025, carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death – crimes that under federal law are eligible for the death penalty.

According to court documents, on Aug. 7, 2025, Sanchez, 18, carjacked and kidnapped the driver of a 2022 Ford Escape using a firearm, then intentionally killed the driver during and in relation to those crimes.

A federal grand jury indicted Sanchez for carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a violent crime and causing death by firing it, and kidnapping Read More