Morning Word: Protests Aplenty

Immigration Protests in Albuquerque
Our weekend began with President Trump (still real) signing an executive order temporarily banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. By Sunday night, hundreds and possibly thousands in Albuquerque had joined with hundreds of thousands across the country to protest the move. The group gathered by UNM and marched to the Sunport.

How Milo can you go?

Breitbart writer and right-wing

Milo Yiannopoulos

as planned on Friday night. The event was packed with both those who wanted to hear what he had to say and those who wished he wouldn't have opened his mouth in the first place.

New Mexico's the best! Who's with me? Uh...

One of the weekend's more fascinating reads was a

into New Mexico's declining population. Taking into account the fact that our state should naturally have gained residents, New Mexico has seen a net population drop. The primary reason, experts say, is that we just don't have the jobs to attract people.

Martinez mum on wall critique

Gov. Susana Martinez withheld comment on Donald Trump's border wall plan. The Associated Press

on Friday. Through a spokesman, the governor expressed support for putting more agents on the border and giving the federal government "a variety of tools" to protect the border. Is a wall a tool? Ask her if you see her, because the AP couldn't get the governor's office to say.

After acquiring the property underneath the iconic downtown Santa Fe motor inn, the State Land Commissioner is

about what to do with it. The current lease fetches only about $20,000 annually, a number that could rise maybe 15 times over, the state estimates. The motel might stay, get modified or the whole property off Old Santa Fe Trail could become senior apartments. No word on what would happen to the Bobcat...er, Santa Fe Bite.

Nope, not

and not whatever you sipped box wine in front of at Friday's gallery opening. It's state Sen. Cliff Pirtle's

 to set New Mexico permanently on daylight saving time. Pirtle, whose

betrays a deep-seated desire to craft bespoke riding britches or hand-hammered farm implements, has stood by the effort to keep us from having to spring forward or fall back or wonder if our phone is displaying the proper time.

In an event that lasted three and a half hours, fifth grader Akansha Nanda rocked "lamprey" to take the title of champion speller of Santa Fe County. It was apparently

, replete with audience controversy including coughing fits and inappropriate cell phone use. 

A Santa Fe city councilor wants to update the city's process for serving alcohol at special events on city property. The rules

to allow more reasonable sizes of high-alcohol beers like craft brews. It also would allow hard cider to be served. Still no booze, and the Plaza is off limits.

Santa Fe Reporter