Morning Word: Soda Tax Campaign Gets Sticky

Soda Tax Chicanery or Sugary Slip-up?
The head of a pro-tax political group is apologizing after distributing a flier that didn't say who paid for the blast. Former city councilor Karen Heldmeyer has filed a complaint with the city, because the fliers are supposed to list a contact person and phone number.

Lawmakers Say Special Session Rhetoric is Over the Top

Calling the governor's pronouncements about a special session "brinksmanship," Speaker of the House Brian Egolf says the state should be able to weather the financial storm

threatened by Gov. Martinez.

Taos Deputy Charged With Medicaid Fraud
Sheriff's Sgt. Ricky Romero faces criminal counts after investigators say they found him filing for medical costs of providing care for his neighbor despite the fact that he was on duty as a cop during the time he claimed to be providing care. Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe would not say if Romero had been placed on leave or otherwise suspended.

Judge Accepts Freeze on ICE Holds
A federal judge has given the OK to a proposed class-action lawsuit settlement that would bar the San Juan County jail from holding inmates at the request of federal immigration officials. The suit claims the county was violating the rights of inmates by holding them for the feds for no substantive reason and beyond the time they should have been in jail for their original accused crime.

CYFD Chief Bemoans Lack of Progress on Child Protection Bills
A handful of bills that would have instituted tougher penalties for crimes against children and closed what the Martinez administration believes are loopholes in the justice system were left on the sidelines in the recent legislative session. To some degree, it's a punishment-versus-prevention argument. CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobson gave a few interviews yesterday, and it wouldn't be surprising to see a bill or two on the agenda for the promised special session.

State Relocates Treatment Facility to Roswell
After months of fighting to keep Yucca Lodge, an 18-bed inpatient treatment facility, a host of southwest New Mexico community leaders and elected officials learned the state Department of Health is transferring the facility to Roswell. The state says it's doing so to ramp up care for veterans; the community leaders say that's news to them.

SFR Preps for Court Case Versus Governor
The Reporter is going to court next week as part of a push for more open, accountable government. Here's why.

Nun Better
A new TV pilot based on Santa Fe nun Sister Blandina will be shooting in Santa Fe, Chama and Albuquerque. New Mexico will be telling its own story, which is a welcome change from standing in for Texas and Afghanistan all the time.

Thanks for reading! The Word tries not to make a habit of watching nun-based television, but could make an exception. Get it? Habit? Woof. One more day, people.

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