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t seems like there's never enough money for schools. That, plus alien ships are headed back to New Mexico next month. Maybe we'll finally figure out if it's green or gray meat.
To avoid dipping into its cash reserves, the Santa Fe Public School District is seeking almost $678,000 in emergency funds from the Public Education Department.
[Superintendent Joel] Boyd and the district’s chief financial officer, Carl Gruenler, have said the district has to contend with a $712,000 increase in health and risk insurance as well as the need to cover a mandated increase in new teacher salaries, estimated at $521,000, among other costs.
Officials at the Public Service Company of New Mexico claim if public regulation commissioners reject their power replacement plan that its customers could face higher electricity costs.
Radioactive chemical drums stored at Los Alamos National Laboratories appear to have finally stabilized, and gas buildup has decreased inside the containers.
“That would suggest that the reaction, if it is occurring, is slowing down. It’s reached a steady state, and it has stopped,” said John Marra, chief research officer for Savannah River National Laboratory and one of the investigators who reviewed the cause of the 2014 radiation leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southern New Mexico.
The Department of Justice is in Albuquerque to review the University of New Mexico’s sexual assault policies and procedures. An advocacy center is expected to be up and running by the fall semester. No word on when the DOJ's Civil Rights Division will issue its report.
Meanwhile, Albuquerque City Councilors will be voting on a $4.5 million contract for the team overseeing DOJ reform of the Albuquerque Police Department. While they consider terms, Gordon Eden, the chief of police, says he’s launching a new cadet recruitment program, which includes lowering the college credit requirements for “exceptional candidates.”
Even as reforms start to take place at APD, some people are worried that the resignation of the department cadet who blew the whistle on two officers suspected of beating a homeless man could hurt the new recruiting effort.
Journalist Eric Lipton’s story for The New York Times last October that showed how lobbyists sway congressional leaders and state attorneys general, including then-New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting.
Joey Peters, our old SFR colleague, posted his first piece at New Mexico Political Report yesterday. He’s got the legal responses from the folks being sued for their alleged roles in the leaked email case.
A much needed campaign finance disclosure bill with bipartisan support, which had unanimously been approved in previous sessions by the Senate, didn’t even make it to the House floor. Three committee assignments—usually a death knell for bills—assured its demise. Other transparency bills fared little better—an ethics commission fell into a committee dark hole, as did bills to archive committee hearings and floor sessions and to require webcasting of interim committees.
"When it comes to taxes, the Land of Enchantment presents a lackluster reality to its retired residents," the story states. "Social Security benefits are subject to tax....There's also a statewide gross receipts tax (similar to a sales tax) of 5.125 percent. County and city taxes can add another 3.56 percent."
Kiplinger also faults New Mexico for its crime rate.
"Safety may be an issue," the reports states. "For every 100,000 residents in New Mexico, there were 3,705 property crimes, including burglary and car theft, and 613 violent crimes, such as rape and murder, in 2013."
She’s not ready to retire, but Caroline Rotich, who won the Boston Marathon’s women’s division yesterday, loves living and training in New Mexico.
As she crossed the finish line, a group of Wood Gormley Elementary School students who had huddled around a cellphone in Santa Fe to watch coverage of the race let out whoops and cheers. Rotich, who lives and trains in Santa Fe, has been a running mentor to youngsters at the school. “It is really personal for the kids,” said Ted Freedman, director of the school’s annual Panther Run, which is scheduled for Saturday.
Blue Bell Creameries has recalled all of its products in New Mexico. Officials say they’re concerned about listeria contamination in their ice cream and other frozen snack products.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, toured Tina Fey’s movie set at Kirtland Air Force Base on Monday to discuss how expanding opportunities for film production in New Mexico helps drive the local economy and showcase the state's assets.
"Collaboration between the growing film industry in New Mexico and our military installations boosts the local economy while showcasing the incredible talent of our Armed Forces," Heinrich said. "I'm proud to have passed a law to strengthen this partnership and will continue working to ensure New Mexico remains a top destination for future movie and television productions."
Speaking of films being made in New Mexico, Nick Maniatis at the state film office says Independence Day 2 will be shot in the Land of Enchantment. Director Ronald Emmerich’s sci-fi thrill has a $200 million-plus budget and begins production on May. 4.
Santa Fe Reporter