Morning Word: Remembering 911

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, with services being held in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Penn. In New Mexico, employees at White Sands Missile Range are

and sad memories.

today than it was in 2001.

Two of the four Public Regulation commissioners who New Energy Economy wants to block from voting on PNM’s power replacement plan say they’re

. The environmental group could push the matter and ask the state Supreme Court justices to order recusals from the bench.

After being confronted by KOB 4 for failing to report $4,250 in donations, state Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, says he’s now

to include a total of $11,750 in previously unreported contributions. Deborah Baker reports Maestas told Secretary of State Dianna Duran in a letter Wednesday that the checks that weren’t reported were part of deposits that were not available online “when my volunteers filed my campaign reports.”

Longtime Santa Fe City Councilor Patti Bushee could have to campaign to

. Daniel J Chacón reports Frank Montaño, a businessman who served three terms on the City Council and two terms on the school board, Renee Villarreal, a former Santa Fe Planning Commission member, and political newcomer Kathryn P Kennedy have picked up candidate information packets for next March’s election. Incumbent Councilor Chris Rivera could also face a challenge from another political novice, Donald Ramon Vigil.

SFR’s Elizabeth Miller, who has been covering the proposed 300-home Las Soleras development on 550 acres on the southern edge of Santa Fe, reports

now hinges on a school, a gate, a park and a tax credit.

. The technical difficulties, which state computer technicians finally fixed by midafternoon, meant New Mexicans could not renew their driver’s licenses or conduct most other vehicle-related business, either online or in person. The computer issue also effectively paralyzed the state’s online tax filing services.

Weather forecasters are predicting

, and that means even more moisture for the Southwest to offset several years of drought.

Extra moisture this summer has already led to a

on the prowl in New Mexico. Experts say we need to keep an eye on curious pets who could get too close and suffer serious injury from the spider’s toxic venom. Papal Passes
US Sen. Tom Udall has 200 tickets reserved for New Mexicans who want to travel to Washington and watch a simulcast of

. Udall has already invited Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester to be his special guest to attend the speech on Sept. 24.

Santa Fe Reporter