Morning Word: New Mexico Clergy Promote Solar and Wind

Religious clergy from all faiths in New Mexico are lining up in support of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment, climate change and poverty.

Expect the state's three Catholic bishops to begin promoting wind and solar energy and increased funding to help improve child well-being in New Mexico.

Read more at the ABQ Journal.

In the meantime, it appears that oil production is on pace to match or set state records. Read it at the Santa Fe New Mexican.  Even as oil production increases and fuel prices stabilize, it looks like Santa Feans are driving around town a little less than before.

Elizabeth Miller reports. 

Amid allegations of cronyism and corruption, Santa Fe Police Chief Eric Garcia has decided to retire from law enforcement. Patrick Gallagher, a former New York City police officer who was a first responder on 9/11, now takes the reins as the city’s top cop. Thomas Ragan has the story at SFR.  Proposed rules governing mines, landfills and junkyards in Santa Fe County are raising concerns. Some residents want new ordinances to require more regulatory reviews before new projects are built. Justin Horwath reports.  What a difference a good monsoon season can make in just one year. Ollie Reed Jr. has published some maps that show exceptional and extreme drought conditions are gone and only 1 percent of the state is still in severe drought. Nearly half the state has no drought after the buildup of rain water this spring and summer. Read more at the ABQ Journal.  New Mexico road construction crews are breathing a sigh of relief after the US Senate approved additional highway transportation funds for at least the next three months. Read it at ABQ Business First.  The National Security Agency says it will finally destroy millions of Americans' call records it had collected and stored in its computer systems. Read more at the Los Alamos Daily Post.  New Mexico's two US senators are planning hearings to seek relief for the state's radiation victims.

Michael Coleman reports from Washington.  The National Park Service and US Department of Energy have agreed to jointly manage the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which commemorates the development of the atomic bomb in New Mexico. Anne Constable has the story.  After a fiery explosion at a Santa Fe medical cannabis dispensary last week, other producers are taking a close look at the safety of their own gas extraction manufacturing processes. Read my story at SFR.  Las Cruces Democrats are planning a big kickoff event for Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign this week. The Vermont senator is also scheduled to deliver a personal message to the crowd via a live video stream. Read it at the Las Cruces Sun-News. Work is beginning on the first 20 miles of the new 500-mile Rio Grande trail that will follow the length of the state's biggest river.

Staci Matlock reports. 

Santa Fe Reporter