Op-Ed: New Mexico Doctors And Patients Are Being Held Hostage By Insurance Profits—Not Lawsuits
By CHERIE LACOUR
Principal
Bencoe & LaCour Law
For years, a familiar ghost has been used to haunt the halls of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe: “litigation crisis.” We are told that greedy trial lawyers and “runaway” juries are driving doctors out of New Mexico and forcing medical malpractice premiums into the stratosphere.
But according to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) own latest data, that ghost doesn’t exist.
2024 Data from the National Practitioners Data Bank paints a different story.
- Total medical malpractice lawsuit compensation for victims – NM ranks 15th nationally
Los Alamos Police Department Honors Three Retiring Officers Following Decades Of Service
From left to right: Sergeant Eric Wilhoit, Corporal Robert Larsen, Corporal Gilbert Padilla. Courtesy/LAC
LAPD News:
The Los Alamos Police Department is honoring the careers and service of three respected veteran officers whose retirements mark the end of decades of dedicated law enforcement service to the citizens of Los Alamos and communities across New Mexico.
Sergeant Eric Wilhoit, Corporal Robert Larsen, and Corporal Gilbert Padilla each retired during the month of May, with all three departures occurring within approximately one week of one another. While retirements represent Read More
BPU Hears Update On Hexavalent Chromium Plume
Joel Hebdon
N3B Deputy Manager
Environmental Remediation
By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com
The Environmental Management – Los Alamos Field Office (EM-LA) and its contractor, N3B are grappling with how to solve a 22-year-old mystery.
The hexavalent chromium plume was first detected in 2004, N3B Deputy Manager for Environmental Remediation Joel Hebdon told the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) during a May 20 meeting at the Municipal Building. The plume, which is in the regional groundwater aquifer 1,000 feet beneath Mortandad and Sandia Canyon at Los Alamos Read More
How Is The U.S. Modernizing The Nuclear Tip Of The Spear?
A B61 Nuclear Bombs in a Bunker illustrates the unimaginable destructive power located in one storage bunker. Courtesy/Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 2025
By Mark MacInnes
For the Los Alamos Daily Post
Adversaries and Urgency
As the United States confronts growing competition from China and Russia, much of the public discussion about nuclear deterrence focuses on missiles, submarines, and bombers. A recent online forum hosted by the Advanced Nuclear Weapons Alliance Deterrence Center highlighted a less visible challenge: rebuilding the industrial and scientific infrastructure Read More
Q&A With MANNM
Carolyn Linnebur, MD
Specializes in Internal Medicine and Cardiology.
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
The following is a Question & Answer (Q&A) report with MANNM.
Who is MANNM?
Medical Associates of Northern New Mexico (MANNM) was established in 1974 by Dr. Carolyn Linnebur, and we recently celebrated our 50th anniversary. We are an independent, women-owned practice providing medical care in Los Alamos.
Are you affiliated with the hospital, and would you consider being acquired by a hospital system?
MANNM is an independent practice and is not Read More
Enterprise Bank & Trust Welcomes New Branch Manager
New Branch Manager Amanda Garcia in her office Tuesday at Enterprise Bank & Trust at 1200 Trinity Drive in Los Alamos. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com.
Amanda Garcia took the helm as new Branch Manager at Enterprise Bank & Trust in Los Alamos in May, following the retirement of Nadine Martinez.
“What drew me to this opportunity was the chance to make a positive impact,” Garcia said who is a resident of Los Alamos. “I enjoy leading teams, developing employees and building strong client relationships and I see this
Navajo Nation Woman Pleads Guilty To Assault Charges
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A Navajo Nation woman pleaded guilty to shooting and seriously injuring a man in 2024.
According to court documents, on Nov. 17, 2024, Beverleta Tayah, 54, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted John Doe at a residence on the Navajo Nation after she armed herself with a handgun and shot John Doe in the chest causing serious bodily injury.
Tayah pleaded guilty to two federal felony offenses—Assault resulting in serious bodily injury and Assault with a dangerous weapon, each of which carries up to 10 years in prison at sentencing. Tayah will also be subject to up Read More
New Mexico Celebrates Free Fishing Weekend June 6-7
Courtesy photo
NMDGF News:
SANTA FE — Fishing license requirements are suspended in New Mexico on Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7, as the state observes National Boating and Fishing Week.
Anyone can fish for free in public fishing waters throughout the state on both days, but everyone must observe bag limits and all other rules and regulations. For more information, please visit the New Mexico Department of Wildlife’s website.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for New Mexicans to learn how to fish and get outdoors. We’re encouraging everyone to attend a nearby event Read More
District Court: Beware Fraudulent Text Message Regarding Traffic Violation
COURT News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico has recently been notified of individuals being targeted in a court-related scam since Monday, June 1, 2026. The targets are receiving a text message from a number that begins with 212. The message provides notice of an alleged traffic citation with the “New Mexico District Court.” The notification provides the name of an issuing officer, assigned judge, clerk of court, and alleged case number. The recipient is advised that they must appear in court on a specific date (typically the day following the date Read More
LAPS Students Receive 2026 Devi Raju Citizenship Awards
This year’s Devi Raju Citizenship Award recipients from Los Alamos Middle School pose for a photo with Principal Jill Gonzales. They include (left to right) Axel Lovato, Olivia Pulsipher, Lisbeth Munoz, Lanae Collins, Alma Trujillo and Chloe Blackburn. They each received a certificate and $100. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools recently presented the 2026 Devi Raju Citizenship Awards to 96 students representing the elementary schools and the middle school. This is the fourth year these awards have been presented to LAPS students.
Elementary students were selected by Read More
RSVP Now To Attend Celebration Of Life For Brian Easton
Brian Easton July 17, 1957 – March 17. 2026
A Celebration of Life will be held for Brian Easton 1-4 p.m., on June 27, 2026, at the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, 1738 North Sage Loop, Los Alamos, NM, 87544.
Please RSVP now to Pam (Brian’s sister) and for sure by June 20, 2026, at chekm8@cox.net.
Atomic City Transit To Provide SummerFest Shuttle Service
COUNTY News:
The annual SummerFest event will be held at Pajarito Mountain from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 6.
Atomic City Transit (ACT) will provide shuttle service from the Duane Smith Auditorium parking lot at Los Alamos High School to the Pajarito Mountain Ski Lodge.
Camp May Road will experience an increase in traffic, especially in the Lodge parking lot.
Motorists are urged to slow down and watch for others.
For more information about shuttle services, contact Atomic City Transit at 505.661.RIDE (7433). Read More
New Mexico Graduation Rate For Juvenile Justice Students Is 4x The National Average
CYFD News:
SANTA FE — Fifty-eight young people in New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department’s juvenile justice facilities will earn high school diplomas or GEDs this year—achieving an 86% graduation rate—four times above the national average for comparable programs.
The graduates come from CYFD’s two New Mexico Public Education Department–accredited high schools: Foothill High School in Albuquerque and Aztec Youth Academy in Las Cruces. One student achieved an associate degree—an exceptional milestone by any measure.
“Congratulations, graduates!” said Valerie Sandoval, Read More
Heinrich And Stansbury Announce House Passage & Senate Committee Advancement Of Legislation To Transfer Federal Land To Pueblos For Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) speaks in support of the Albuquerque Indian School Act at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing to consider pending legislation, June 3, 2026. Courtesy photo
NM Delegation News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) announced that their Albuquerque Indian School Act of 2025, which is cosponsored by U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.), passed the U.S. House of Representatives and Read More
Court Of Appeals Issues Opinion In Case About Elk Management In New Mexico
COURT News:
The state Court of Appeals today issued an opinion in a lawsuit brought by Catron County landowners over elk management by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
Click here to read the opinion in case numbers A-1-CA-42309 and A-1-CA-42310. Read More
2026 Primary Election Winners Express Appreciation
Winners of the 2026 Primary Election are: clockwise from left, Municipal Judge Elizabeth Allen, Los Alamos County Assessor candidate Jeff Casalina, Los Alamos County Council candidate Jason Chappel, incumbent Councilor Theresa Cull, Council candidate David Hampton, incumbent Councilor Melanee Hand, Probate Judge Perry Klare, Council candidate Steven Lynne, Sheriff candidate Antonio Maggiore and Magistrate Judge Catherine Taylor. Courtesy photos
Staff Report
The unofficial results of the 2026 Primary Election are in.
In the locally contested races for Los Alamos County Council Read More
Op-Ed: Protecting Our Right To Read
By Rep. KATHLEEN CATES
District 44
Bernalillo & Sandoval Counties
Imagine walking into a library filled with thousands of books and never finding one with a character who looks like you. Out of all the books in a public library, not one featured a character who shared your lived experience.
Banning books is harmful because everyone should be able to easily find books with characters that represent them.
In the last year, 4,235 unique titles were challenged, making this the second highest number in the history of the American Library Association. The same report stated, ”39% of these challenged Read More
FBI: Gallup Man Faces Federal Charges For Assault
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE — A Gallup man is facing federal charges for an assault that allegedly occurred in 2024.
According to court documents, on Nov. 9, 2024, Russell Lee Saunders, Sr., 45, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, assaulted and seriously injured John Doe.
Saunders is charged with assault resulting in serious bodily injury and will remain in third party custody pending trial which has not yet been scheduled. If convicted, Saunders faces up to 10 years in prison.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Read More
Daily Postcard: Unique View At Sunrise Over White Rock
Daily Postcard: Unique view as the sun comes up early Wednesday over White Rock. Courtesy photo Read More
Canceled: Planning & Zoning Commission June 10 Meeting
COUNTY News:
The Los Alamos County Planning and Zoning Commission meeting scheduled for June 10, 2026 has been canceled due to a lack of applications to review. Read More