LAHS NJROTC Takes 3rd Overall At 2026 Regionals
Los Alamos High School NJROTC cadets celebrate their accomplishments earlier this month at the Regional competition in Sahuarita, Ariz. Courtesy/LAPS
Cadets at attention for inspection. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Thirty-two cadets representing the Los Alamos High School NJROTC program competed against six other schools in the Regional contest in Sahuarita, Ariz., earlier this month, earning third place overall. They earned their spot by placing first at the regional qualifiers (Area 20) meet in November.
The competition included an academic test, which was completed before the meet, Read More
Los Alamos High School Student Semih Zeytun Named BigFuture Ambassador For 2026 Spring Cohort
Semih Zeytun
LAPS News:
Los Alamos High School freshman Semih Zeytun has been selected as a BigFuture Ambassador by the College Board for the 2026 spring cohort. The BigFuture Ambassador program is a community of high school students who volunteer to support their peers in planning for life after graduation.
As a BigFuture Ambassador, Semih will spread the word about college and career planning and steps students can take now with bigfuture.org, a free College Board platform offering tools and guidance for exploring careers, researching colleges, and planning for financial aid. More than Read More
‘Light To Online Learning’: Funding Crisis Prompts Focus On Virtual Education
Third Grader Titus Van Wyk attends a virtual math class at the New Mexico Destinations Career Academy from his family’s kitchen table on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. Virtual schools have been a flashpoint this legislative session, as legislators debate tightening regulation for the first time in nearly two decades. Jim Weber/The New Mexican
By ANDRÉ SALKIN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
GLORIETA — The van Wyk kids’ virtual avatars scuttled across a wintry digital landscape, weaving among those of nearly 100 other cyber students from around the state—some shown in virtual wheelchairs—during Read More
New Mexico Legislature Passes Senate Bill 29 To Strengthen Math Education Statewide
Public Education Secretary Mariana D. Padilla
NMPED News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Legislature has passed Senate Bill 29 (SB 29), bipartisan legislation designed to strengthen mathematics instruction and improve student outcomes in public schools across the state.
SB 29 establishes a comprehensive framework to enhance math teaching and learning, including stronger preparation requirements for educators, expanded professional development and early identification of students who may need additional support in mathematics.
Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, schools will Read More
LAFD: Preparedness Is Great Tool Against Wildfires
An example of defensible zones for a residence. Courtesy/LAC
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net
It is only February and there are already fires igniting in New Mexico.
During the Los Alamos County Council work session Feb. 10, Wildland Division Chief Van Leimer reported that this month there are two wildfires in the eastern part of the state. One is about 4,000 acres and the second is approximately 3,500 acres, he said. Luckily, they are grass fires and as of Feb. 10, Leimer said both were 70 percent contained.
It isn’t looking good for the rest of Read More
House Advances Tax Package With 1% Raise For New Mexico Workers, State Budget
By DANIEL J. CHACÓN
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Proposed 1% raises for state government employees that were stripped from New Mexico’s spending plan in House Bill 2 to fund other priorities found a lifeline Wednesday in an unlikely place: an omnibus tax package.
“When … our people are left out in the cold with their pockets not as full as they could be, we have to do something to make it right,” Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, said before the House passed the tax package, Senate Bill 151, on a 43-19 vote.
The tax package has an estimated total capacity of $110 million, generated by “decoupling” Read More
National History Day Showcase Featuring Local Students’ Projects Presented By Los Alamos Historical Society
Historical Society News:
The Los Alamos Historical Society invites the community to a National History Day Showcase from 6:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Fuller Lodge.
Community members are invited to stop by, explore student projects, including exhibit displays, websites, and documentaries, and wish participants well before they advance to the regional competition in Santa Fe.
The 2026 theme for projects is Revolution, Reaction, Reform in History.
National History Day is a nationwide academic program for students in grades 6-12 that promotes in-depth historical research, critical Read More
Deadline For NMSBA Excellence In Student Achievement Award Nominations Is Feb. 20
LAPS News:
The deadline for nominations for this year’s New Mexico School Board Association’s (NMSBA) Excellence in Student Achievement Award is fast approaching.
Los Alamos Public Schools is accepting nominations through this Friday, Feb. 20.
This award recognizes school leaders, staff and other individuals who have played an important role in improving student achievement.
Submit nominations using the form that may be found at https://forms.gle/c9WXNyT2Uu2Eu1DW9. Read More
Bill To Fund New Mexico Universal Child Care Moves Ahead With Significant Cuts
By ESTEBAN CANDELARIA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill to fund New Mexico’s lofty goal of extending free child care to all families appears to be on the fast track to the governor’s desk after the House amended and signed off on the bill.
The chamber passed Senate Bill 241 on a 37-19 vote Tuesday evening after the key House Appropriations and Finance Committee voted overnight to cut the amount the state could pull in coming years from the roughly $11 billion early child trust fund to $700 million from an originally proposed $1 billion. That move was lauded by supporters as a way of ensuring the permanent Read More
The Ribbon Is Cut On Hideout Café At UNM-LA!
Celebrating the ribbon cutting at the Hideout Café this morning in the Student Center at UNM-Los Alamos, from left, Abiel Diaz, Chamber Director Sandy Jones, Hideout Café Owner Victor Castillo, UNM-LA Chancellor Mike Holtzcaw, Assistant Chamber Director Alison Watkins, Christine O’Brien, Gillian Sutton and Jennifer Armstrong. Photo by John McHale/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net
Scene from the ribbon cutting ceremony this morning at the Hideout Café in the Student Center at UNM-LA. Photo by John McHale/ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net
Scene from the ribbon cutting ceremony this Read More
Los Alamos Federated Republican Women Seeks Entries From Students For 2026 U.S. Constitution Essay Contest
LAFRW News:
The Los Alamos Federated Republican Women (LAFRW) is seeking entries from students for its 2026 U.S. Constitution Essay Contest.
Since 2015, local students have been winning cash for their essays. The U.S. Constitution Essay Contest is designed to challenge students to learn more about the U.S. Constitution and to express original, thoughtful ideas in essay writing. Essays are judged on how completely and clearly the ideas are stated and supported. Grammar, spelling and punctuation are also considered. The judging is blind.
Students in grades 4-12 who reside in or attend school Read More
Houck: Your Real Estate Contracts … The Purchase Agreement – Part 3 Of 3
By DAVID HOUCK
Qualifying Broker
Atomic Realty, LLC
Generally, there are three primary contracts used in a real estate transaction:
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- Listing Agreement
- Buyer’s Brokerage Agreement
- Purchase Agreement – This contract establishes the agreed-upon price and terms of sale between the Buyer and the Seller.
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All terms in these contracts are negotiable, and both buyers and sellers should carefully review and negotiate them before signing.
The Purchase Agreement
The purchase agreement is a legally binding contract between the Buyer and the Seller. It begins as an offer and becomes a fully executed Read More
Come On Community! Let’s ‘Shower’ Our Teachers At Los Alamos Public Schools With Love!
LAPS Foundation News:
Wish you could show a particular teacher a little extra love? Now you can.
The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation is once again sponsoring a community-wide campaign to “Shower” LAPS teachers with much-needed classroom supplies and resources.
From Feb. 14 through March 17, community members are invited to visit https://showerlove26.givesmart.com to donate any amount toward a teacher’s wish list item.
Once a donation goal for an item is fulfilled, the LAPS Foundation will purchase the item directly for the teacher. It’s a simple, meaningful way to show appreciation Read More
Los Alamos Geological Society To Meet Tuesday
LAGS News:
The Los Alamos Geological Society (LAGS) will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the Los Alamos Christian Church at 92 East Road.
The guest speaker will be Samuel Perry who will give a presentation summarizing new discoveries in the uranyl sulfate and uranyl carbonate mineral published in the past 15 years (approximately 55 minerals). He will also provide evidence for the existence of natural hollow-cage uranyl carbonate nanoclusters in water, determine the enthalpy of formation of five uranyl sulfate mineral phases and review the structural relationships of every uranyl sulfate Read More
Fuselier: The Mirrors Of Our Lives
By ROBERT FUSELIER
Los Alamos
Whether we want to admit it or not, the subconscious parts of our mind (the majority of our brain) is programmed to see life as a choice: is this good for my survival or is this harmful for my survival. We share this programming with every living thing. Even plants, which have no nervous system as we know it, react to their environment through this paradigm.
Our minds are programmed to see the world through the dualistic lens of either/or. This/they are either on our side and good or this/they are against us and are bad. Unfortunately, this view is an extremely limited view Read More
Legislative Roundup: 8 Days Left In Session
Jordan Garcia, alongside students from West Las Vegas, dance to La Bamba while practicing for their performance later in the day outside of the Capitol building on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. Gabriela Campos/The New Mexican
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Capital outlay bill: The Senate Finance Committee Thursday morning unanimously approved a bill to rein in the problem of billions of dollars going unspent in capital outlay.
House Bill 247, sponsored by Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, limits reauthorizations for capital projects.
A growing backlog of projects and unspent funds has been a concern Read More
Community Invited To Panel Discussion On ‘Health Care In Northern New Mexico: Changing Landscape’ At SALA
There’s Still Time To Sign Up For Spring Break Trip To D.C.
EDUCATION News:
Attention Los Alamos Middle School and homeschool 8th grade parents. It’s not too late to sign up for this year’s spring break trip to Washington, DC. There are still airline seats available. This opportunity
is a once-in-a-lifetime annual trip for your student to travel with their peers to our nation’s capital! Sign up quickly to lock in your reservation and trip price. Price for the trip could possibly increase soon. Flexible payment plans are available with Worldstrides for this trip. The trip is a private trip and not a school-sponsored trip and has been offered to Los Alamos Read More
Increase In Daytime Bobcat Sightings In Los Alamos: What You Need To Know…
A bobcat roots through a resident’s shed in February in Eastern Area. Photo by Jim Goforth
A bobcat hunts around the grounds at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in February. Photo by Amanda Bucklin
A bobcat spruces up in February in downtown Los Alamos. Photo by Kurt Steinhaus
COUNTY News:
Bobcats are found throughout Los Alamos County and have been spotted regularly in the downtown area in the past few weeks. Although elusive and difficult to observe, it is not unusual for the bobcat’s habitat to include a densely populated urban area.
These cats are much smaller than a mountain lion, weighing Read More
Catch Of The Week: No, Bernalillo County Is Not Texting You From Ohio About Traffic Fines
By REBECCA RUTHERFORD
Los Alamos
If you received a dramatic text message this week claiming you owe unpaid traffic fines and must “pay immediately or appear in court”, congratulations.
You are the latest target in a statewide text scam. Not as exciting as winning the lottery, but what are you going to do?
The message looks official at first glance. It says “Notice of Default – Unpaid Traffic Fines.” It lists Bernalillo (Bennalillo ha!) County Metropolitan Court. It includes a real Albuquerque address on Lomas. It even throws in legal language about Title 66 of the New Mexico Code to make it sound Read More