Morning Word: New Laws Start Today

Driver's licenses issued to immigrants are still legal, but fewer are being issued

By Peter St. Cyr

It's Friday, June 19, 2015

Lawmakers spent two months in Santa Fe this winter, and one day in the Roundhouse this spring; now, the 79 laws they passed are scheduled to go into effect today. Dan Boyd recaps them all so you don’t break any of the new laws. Read his story here.  While Gov. Susana Martinez once again pushed for lawmakers to repeal the law that allows immigrants to get a New Mexico driver’s license, her proposals failed. The Motor Vehicle Department is still required to issue the licences, but journalist Russell Contreras has learned the number has decreased to a record low.

Read more here.  US Sen. Tom Udall, D-NM, voted against a recent Department of Interior spending bill because of provisions he believes would weaken environmental protections and contained “inadequate funding for Indian Affairs and federal lands," according to Washington Bureau Chief Michael Coleman. Read it at the ABQ Journal.  Speaking of the environment, former Santa Fe mayor David Coss has been hired to head up the state’s Sierra Club chapter. Read it here. Scientists at Los Alamos National Labs will be collaborating with the French space agency and scientists in Spain to make sure the next Mars Rover mission is successful. Julie Ann Grimm has details at SFR.  Here’s some good reading for the weekend. Dianne Goodman wants to improve government and eliminate institutional corruption. In fact, she’s been advocating for more ethics training in Albuquerque for months. Now, Goodman is sharing what she’s learned and offering a few good tips on how people in other communities can do the same thing. Goodman and blogger Heath Haussamen have also posted some of photojournalist Charles Arasim’s videos from a recent open government training session. A must read at NMPolitics.  Speaking of ethics and corruption, investigators have busted Rio Arriba County road crew employees for stealing fuel, gravel and other materials and then selling them.

Barron Jones has more at the Rio Grande Sun.  We missed this the other day, but after the Albuquerque Police Department rejected multiple requests by KRQE’s Matt Grubs and Jeff Proctor to interview Chief Gorden Eden about the department’s arsenal of weapons and powerful ammunition, the duo confronted him at a City Council meeting. See their report here. African American religious leaders in New Mexico are appalled and disturbed after learning about the hate-filled shooting in South Carolina. Dan McKay reports on their reaction. Otero County Republicans have a new party chair. They voted to replace Rocky Galassini, a longtime critic of the governor, with Trish Wilson. Read it at the New Mexico Political Journal.  If you’re a talented young singer or know someone who is, then get ready to audition for American Idol XV in Santa Fe next week. Producers are rolling through town on Friday, June 26.

SFR has the details here. 

That’s it for today. Enjoy another great summer weekend in our Land of Enchantment, and thanks for reading the Morning Word this week.

Santa Fe Reporter

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.