Morning Word: Property Crimes Plague NM Cities

Fewer police officers and drug addictions contribute to the problem

Property Crime

Newly released

show that New Mexico led the nation in burglaries per capita last year. Police chiefs told Uriel Garcia that a lack of patrol officers and the state’s drug addiction epidemic are primary contributors to the 8.87 burglaries per 1,000 people, which is way ahead of the national average of 5.42.

Struggling with Addiction

Speaking of addictions, Carlos Trujillo, a former political operative, is speaking out about his

after being popped for driving under the influence of drugs in Española earlier this month.

Criminal Justice Reform

Sen. Lisa Torraco, D-Albuquerque, whose own home has been hit three times in three weeks, says, “Property crime offenders and repeat

; they threaten our safety and our children.” Torraco says criminal justice reform needs to start with better ways to deal with career criminals.

Debate Prep

While President Barack Obama says he thinks Hillary Clinton made a mistake using a private server to store her emails, he told 60 Minutes over the weekend

. While the charges may be “ginned up,” Clinton is working double-time to

ahead of tomorrow’s debate in Las Vegas.

Fixed Income

If you were counting on a cost-of-living increase in your Social Security benefits next year, you’ll be disappointed. For the only the

, there won’t be one because gas prices are down.

Lingering Claim

US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined state, tribal and local leaders Saturday to celebrate the designation of Valles Caldera National Preserve, one of the country’s newest additions to the National Park Service. Jemez Pueblo leaders attended the event but

to the 89,000 acres nestled inside a 13-mile-wide collapsed volcanic caldera in the Jemez Mountains.

Job Cuts

Citing more than a $2 million drop in tuition and student fees, the

through attrition.

Two Celebrations

Not everyone is honoring Columbus Day. Instead, some folks are celebrating

.

Flight Delays

If you’re headed out of town on Southwest Airlines today you’ll want to arrive at the Sunport at least two hours early. Unknown technical

ed to hundreds of flights being delayed yesterday. The company says there’s no indication its systems were hacked, but still doesn’t know what caused the breakdown that had gate agents handwriting boarding passes.

Green Flags

Great weather helped make this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

At least

during the week-long event. If you missed any of it, you’ll enjoy this

of the special shapes rodeo.

A History of Sunshine

Finally, the Albuquerque Journal had a great piece on the history of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government on Sunday. The group has been

and more government transparency for 25 years.

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