Morning Word: Radioactive Leak Could Have Been Prevented

Early warnings were ignored

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IPP will spend more than $1 billion cleaning damage from a radioactive leak that could have been prevented, according to investigators. That, plus we have the latest news from around the state. Read it all before you take off for the weekend.

It's Friday, April 17, 2015

Experts say that the Valentine’s Day 2014 radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad could have been prevented with better management and safety protocols. Cleanup costs could exceed $1 billion. Read Staci Matlock's piece here.  Former Sen. Phil A Griego will begin collecting his legislative pension before the end of the month. He still insists he didn’t break any laws. Under a new law, if Griego was prosecuted and convicted for collecting a $50,000 fee related to legislation he pushed, he would forfeit his $1,324 monthly retirement check. Griego may not in the clear yet. Attorney General Hector Balderas’ office indicated Thursday that the situation was still being reviewed.

Dan Boyd has more from Santa Fe.  US Sen. Martin Heinrich is apologizing for getting federally reimbursed for some personal commuting expenses after they were reported by USA Today . Senate rules prohibit lawmakers from accepting reimbursements for their own commute from home to work, or for other personal trips. Michael Coleman has details.  Journalist Justin Horwath is one of the best  at following the money. He checked Gov. Susana Martinez’ latest campaign finance reports and discovered at the same time her staff was saying they didn’t have the funds to donate a contribution from a Texas developer

 

accused of physically assaulting a woman in Nevada

 

to a domestic violence or other nonprofit, that her account had still had $70,000. Read his story at SFR.  Navajo Nation voters are headed to the polls next Tuesday to finally vote in the presidential election do-over. Read more at the Navajo Times.  Members of that conservative political action committee who want three "progressive" city councilors recalled in Las Cruces are challenging the way the city clerk counted signatures on their recall petitions. Now they want a court to review the process. Read more at the Las Cruces Sun-News. US Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, told Veterans Administration Secretary Robert McDonnell he’s still concerned about the long time veterans are waiting to see a doctor or specialist at the Veteran Affairs Medical Centers.

Read it at KRQE.com. A federal appeals court will consider lifting an injunction that blocked President Barack Obama’s executive order that shielded millions of immigrants from deportation. See it at KRQE.com. After being tossed off the prosecution of two Albuquerque police officers facing murder for killing James Boyd for an apparent conflict of interest, District Attorney Kari Brandenburg has appointed Randi McGinnis as her special prosecutor. Jeff Proctor provides analysis.  Meanwhile, KOAT is reporting the district attorney says she’s learned that an Albuquerque Police training cadet may be the person who reported that two officers who are being investigated by the Department of Justice, FBI and New Mexico State Police reportedly beat a homeless man. Brandenburg says people in Albuquerque “do not trust their elected officials.”

See more here. "Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston is back. He’s doing voice work for a New Mexico Tourism advertising campaign to promote its New Mexico Clean and Beautiful program. Jessica Dryer has the scoop.  On the eve of marijuana’s high holy day (4/20), CNN’s chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says it is time for a marijuana revolution. He thinks the federal government should legalize the drug for medicinal use.

Read more at the Cannabist. Gov. Chris Christie, R-New Jersey, adamantly disagrees with Gupta’s position. His reefer madness was on full display this week when he stated that he would crack down on recreational marijuana if he's elected president. He also says he's opposed to states profiting from marijuana. Read it at the Huffington Post. Christie must be pleased that a federal judge has decided not to remove marijuana from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s schedule of drugs that they contend have no medical benefits.

Read more here.  The Albuquerque Isotopes have wrapped up their first homestand. Unfortunately, they couldn’t quite get a series sweep. They lost to Tacoma 3-1 in 11 innings.

Geoff Grammer has highlights. 

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