Morning Word: Feds Propose More Money for Poor Schools

It's Tuesday, July 7, 2015

A proposed education reform bill in Washington could provide more funds for schools in economically depressed areas of New Mexico.

Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican.  New Mexico has consistently had a large number of people living in poverty. A new report from the Economic Innovation Group shows 20 percent live in communities that are economically depressed.

Steve Terrell has more.  New Mexico In Depth correspondent Gwyneth Doland takes an up-close look at some New Mexicans caught up in an expensive cycle of payday loans. Read her riveting report here.  After rejecting a big new apartment complex development, four Santa Fe City Councilors are sponsoring a resolution to direct city staffers to research ways to solve the city’s house affordability problems.

TS Last has the story.  Elizabeth Miller, SFR’s new city government reporter, has a preview of tomorrow’s Santa Fe City Council meeting. She reports councilors are considering a budget mechanism that will allow the transfer of up to 12 percent of enterprise fund money to the general budget. Read more here.  People living in Questa have been struggling ever since the Molycorp mine closed down. Now comes word the company has filed bankruptcy. Mike English has the story at ABQ Business First.  Gov. Susana Martinez reminded New Mexicans on Monday about their legal obligation to report suspected child abuse.

Read it at the Los Alamos Daily Post.  Martinez also says protecting the state’s water resources is not negotiable.

Read more here.  On Monday, lawmakers on the Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee spent time  discussing how the state should regulate airborne drones in New Mexico.

Susan Montoya Bryan has more.  Reporter Uriel Garcia has more good news about recent rains improving the state’s drought conditions; even more rain is in this week’s forecast.

Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

Traversing a dirt road shortcut along Highway 599 at Paseo de River proves to be treacherous for Santa Fe drivers, especially during monsoon season. We’ve crossed the Santa Fe River here many times and had no idea it was illegal. KRQE has the story.  Head-on collisions caused by drivers going to the wrong way on roads has been a problem in Santa Fe. On Monday, Santa Fe police car dash cams caught a 72-year-old suspected drunk driver going to the wrong way on Highway 599. Gabrielle Burkhart has the video.  KOB reports there is more federal grant money coming to New Mexico to help law enforcement agencies battle the DWI crisis. Read it here.  We haven't had any sports news for a while, but here's some good news for Lobo basketball fans. After playing a year in Italy, former men’s basketball standout Kendall Williams has inked a one-year deal to play in France. Van Tate has the scoop.  Former LSU baseball standout Alex Bregman, who’s inked his own lucrative MLB deal with the Houston Astros, is playing minor league baseball this summer in New Orleans. Now he’s celebrating his first professional-level home run. Read about it at NOLA.com  If you’re considering a vacation close to home this summer, TripAdvisor recommends affordable trips to Angel Fire and Red River. Read more online.  Finally, a Taos man has had enough and has decided to sue Facebook to force them to stop invading his privacy with unwanted text messages.

Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican. 

Santa Fe Reporter