LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, one chapter of American history was written in the Nevada desert, where the Nevada Test Site became the center of the country’s nuclear testing program during the Cold War.

The National Atomic Testing Museum in Las Vegas preserves that history, telling the story of what happened at the site roughly 65 miles northwest of the city.

From Truman’s order to 928 nuclear tests

President Truman established the Nevada Test Site in 1950. It was formally activated in 1951 at the height of the Cold War and ultimately served as the location for 928 nuclear weapons tests.

Scott Wade, chairman of the board of trustees for the National Atomic Testing Museum, said the program emerged from unanswered questions following the Manhattan Project.

“After the atomic bomb was developed by the Manhattan Project and the two weapons were used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were still questions about how to safely utilize them — even as a weapon of war, this was emerging technology, something that had never been done before,” Wade said.

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A family legacy tied to the site

Wade’s connection to the site is personal. His father began working there in 1958 and eventually rose through the Atomic Energy Commission, retiring as the Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs in charge of the nation’s nuclear weapons program.

In the 1990s, Wade’s family, along with six other families of former employees, worked with state and federal partners to establish the Atomic Testing Museum.

“There are a lot of feelings about nuclear weapons, and that’s actually the wonder and beauty of a museum,” Wade said.

Impact beyond weapons testing

Supporters of the program argue its influence extended well beyond military strategy. Wade said the testing program advanced scientific research with applications that reach into medicine today.

“I don’t think as a nation, maybe as a world, we would be anywhere near as far as we are with nuclear material separation even for medical uses,” Wade said.

Supporters also argue the program’s greatest impact was helping deter a global nuclear conflict during the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Nevada’s role continues today

The Nevada Test Site is now known as the Nevada National Security Site and continues to operate. Wade said Nevada’s role in nuclear security remains active.

“Right now, nuclear weapons are still a very big topic. So we’re saying it’s history, but really, Nevada is still playing a very critical role in our everyday lives,” Wade said. “Everything still contributes to making sure that the weapons that are within the stockpile are safe and secure. And because you can’t do an underground nuclear weapons test, you do it with pieces and parts so you understand those pieces and parts.”

The Nevada National Security Site continues to play a role in maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear stockpile.

The National Atomic Testing Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – License plate readers remain a controversial law enforcement tool. During this past legislative session, New Mexico lawmakers passed a bill that puts limits on how police use a controversial piece of technology.

The Driver Privacy and Safety Act implements safeguards on how the data collected by license plate readers is shared. It comes after instances where the technology was found to be used for non-law enforcement reasons, like people seeking abortions and immigration enforcement.

The lawmakers behind the bill said they want to ensure private information remains private. Santa Fe Police Interim Chief Ben Valdez says they are already restricted from sharing data collected from license plate readers, but he says it’s still important to have the law on the books.

“As a state, I think it puts us on the same page, which I think is very helpful. The data is the property of the City of Santa Fe. So if there’s going to be any sharing of that data. It has to be given with the express permission of the City of Santa Fe. It can’t just be used for any purpose, including being sold to a third party,” said Interim Chief Ben Valdez, Santa Fe Police Department.

Chief Valdez also emphasized that the plate readers can only be used in public spaces. “So it’s on a street that is a public road. It may be in a shopping area where that’s again within the public purview. We’re not doing plate reads in private areas that people have an expectation of privacy,” said Chief Valdez.

There are some cases where the license plate reader data would be shared, including homicide investigations that cross state lines or kidnapping. “They’ve been able to find children that were taken either by a custodial parent or another person, or even missing persons where their plate read came back as a missing person,” said Chief Valdez.

Under the new law, agencies are also required to submit annual reports to the Department of Public Safety on how the tech is being used.

In all, 15 new laws went into effect on Wednesday, including shifting “aggravated battery on a peace officer inflicting great bodily harm” from a third-degree felony to second degree and creating an Office of Special Education in the Public Education Department.