Morning Word: Early Voting Proves Popular

By Peter St. Cyr

Early Voting Appears Popular

Heath Haussamen is reporting that so far, early voting in Bernalillo and Doña Ana Counties is

“sky high.”

He’s also posted the Secretary of State’s interactive map showing voter convenience centers around the state.

Gun Safety Group Donates Big in New Mexico

Gun law reform advocates are

pumping a ton of money into campaign coffers

 in New Mexico. The Associated Press reports: "Everytown for Gun Safety, a national organization advocating for universal background checks on firearm purchases, made several recent contributions to Democrat-aligned political committees in the state, including a $100,000 donation to Patriot Majority New Mexico, according to campaign finance disclosures filed this week."

Former Miss Teen New Mexico Remembers Trump’s Dressing Room Visit

As Donald Trump faces increased criticism over his treatment of women, Michael Coleman reports on what a former New Mexico Miss Teen USA remembers about the billionaire’s 1997 dressing room visit. She says

it was a "bad judgement call"

 even though she was fully dressed and didn’t know if the other pageant contestants were or not. 

Environment Groups Want Attorney General to Investigate Flynn

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is being

urged to investigate

whether former New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn “violated state law by helping industries seeking to preserve the controversial 'Copper Rule,' which Flynn helped orchestrate during his time with the Environment Department.” Rebecca Moss has the story.

Obama Returns Tribal Land

While undocumented immigrants have been deported at record levels during President Barack Obama’s administration, it looks like

500,000 acres of land have been returned

to Native American tribes during the same time period.

Feds Consider Sealing Parts of Nuclear Repository

To ensure safety,

the federal government is proposing permanently sealing off the south end

of the underground Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Southern New Mexico.

Laser Technology Developed at Kirtland

Kevin Robinson-Avila reports that Kirtland Air Force Base is working on laser technology for the military’s fighter jets that will eventually be used to

defensively shoot down air-to-air missiles

that threaten American pilots.

Crimes Rates Drop During Balloon Fiesta

While crime rates are up overall around the state, it appears that

property crimes were down

across the city of Albuquerque during 10-day long Balloon Fiesta earlier this month. 

That's it for this week. Thanks to Charlotte Jusinski for her eagle eyes and early morning copy editing help. Have a great weekend.

Santa Fe Reporter

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