Local News

The chances of U.S. radioactive sources falling into the hands of risky characters were reduced again last year with the help of a small team of scavengers at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The lab’s Off-Site Source Recovery Project, under supervision of the National Nuclear Security Administration, recently passed an important domestic milestone for getting dangerous materials out of the way.

The number of excess and unwanted sealed sources recovered in the United States since 1997 reached 20,000 last month.

The sparkling jewelry, red and black gowns, dapper dark suits and delectable dinner Saturday at Central Avenue Grill was all about raising funds for The Family YMCA and to ensure no one is ever turned away because of inability to pay.

YMCA Executive Director Linda Daly thanked the many individuals and organizations whose efforts and contributions to the annual Red and Black Ball help the non-profit organization continue to provide a variety of healthy, fun activities for area youth and families.

The 1941 stretch limousine that carried Robert Oppenheimer to the Trinity Test site during the era of the Manhattan Project will be one of the feature attractions at the new National Museum of Nuclear Science and History when it opens in Albuquerque in April.

Jim Walther, museum director, said this week the museum has tracked the vehicle back far enough to be satisfied it is authentic.

Elected by voters Feb. 4, new school board members Thelma Hahn, from White Rock District 1, and Melanie McKinley from White Rock District 2, were sworn in during the state school board meeting in Santa Fe Friday.

“We’ve been at the state board meeting all day and heard that all the districts are receiving shortened budgets and I wonder how that’s going to affect out school, programs and teachers,” Hahn said. “It’s going to call for some belt-tightening.”