Morning Word: PNM Wants More Time

Utility claims it still needs to finalize coal and ownership agreements

It's Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Public Regulation Commissioners are expected to decide this week if they’ll give the Public Service Company of NM more time to finalize a coal supply pact and ownership restructuring agreement. Those are needed before a decision is made on the utility’s proposed power replacement plan. Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican. Details from Pope Francis’ much anticipated climate change encyclical are beginning to emerge, and if a leaked document is accurate, his views on the environment are sure to heat up the debate.

Read it at the Daily Beast.  It looks like Santa Fe City Councilors want to transfer money from Water Division accounts to help them balance the city’s general fund.

Daniel J. Chacón has the numbers.  Raiding the Santa Fe Water Division accounts may not be an option next year. TS Lang reports.  Bernalillo County Commissioners are expected to vote on that huge Santolina home development proposal this afternoon. Dan McKay reports for the ABQ Journal.  Union workers should get prevailing wages when they work on public projects, according to the New Mexico Supreme Court.

Read it at ABQ Free Press.  Gov. Susana Martinez has signed the tax incentive package passed by lawmakers in last week’s special session. This morning, according to an early morning news release, Martinez will discuss "well structured" capital outlay funds with business leaders in Rio Rancho. Read it at the New Mexico Political Report.  Male professors at the University of New Mexico still get paid thousands more than women professors.

Sal Christ has details on the gender pay gap.  “Black Monday” has come and gone, but still no word on whether Intel workers in Rio Rancho will be part of a massive company layoff this summer. Read it at KOB.  Doña Ana County's information technology director is on paid leave, but no one seems to know why, and it’s not clear if it's connected to the fraud ring busted inside the clerk’s office. Read it at the Las Cruces Sun-News.   A robo poll shows that Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry’s approval numbers remain solid, especially with conservative voters. That could help boost his chances if he decides to jump into the 2018 primary for governor. Joe Monahan has more analysis.  Even with Berry’s favorability numbers in the mid to high 50 percent range, Albuquerque City Councilors aren’t immediately agreeing to provide more money to a consultant who helped APD negotiate a reform plan with the Department of Justice. Read it at the ABQ Journal. The Navajo Nation is considering what to do with its feral horse problem,  and it appears the mood is mixed on whether to hold summer roundups this year.

We may all live in the desert Southwest, but one thing we’ve learned is there are still a lot of hockey fans here. We don’t know how many love the Chicago Blackhawks, but they captured their third Stanley Cup in six years last night.

KRQE has the championship series highlights here. 

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