Morning Word: Local Cuban Community Welcomes Surprise Announcement

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uban immigrants in New Mexico welcome new ties with the island nation where isolation has shaped the country's politics, identity and economy. Santa Fe reviews its campaign finance laws, and after this week's snow, it's time to hit the slopes.

It's Thursday, Dec. 18 2014.

President Barack Obama’s surprise decision on Wednesday to normalize relations with Cuba after five decades gets a mixed reaction, but for local communities it’s a welcomed announcement. Read more at the Albuquerque Journal. US Sen. Tom Udall, who traveled to Cuba in November, says he also supports lifting the embargo.

Read more at the Los Alamos Daily Post. After winning the state vote recount, Republican Aubrey Dunn is ready to move into the State Land Office. Read more at the Las Cruces Sun-News. SFR’s Joey Peters looks at how Santa Fe’s Ethics and Campaign Review Board may tweak the city’s new public campaign finance laws. Read more at the Santa Fe reporter.; The US Senate has confirmed New Mexico’s Estevan López to be the next commissioner of the federal Bureau of Reclamation.

Read more at the Albuquerque Journal. A Santa Fe jury has convicted the owner of Advantage Asphalt on bribery and dozens of other corruption related charges. Milan Simonich has the story. Democracy is best practiced in the open, so it should be no surprise that New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Executive Director Susan Boe has mailed Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales a letter suggesting that a closed door city council meeting to discuss a homeless shelter’s lease last week probably violated the New Mexico Open Meetings Act.

SFR's Justin Horwath reports. Recruiting companies to New Mexico could be even more difficult next year due to the steep decline in oil prices, according to House Speaker-nominee Don Tripp, R-Socorro.

Funding the act could be problematic as new state revenues decline. ABQ Business First has the story. Speaking of jobs, Las Cruces has the highest percentage of government jobs in New Mexico according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Read more at ABQ Free Press. Mid-year strategic budgeting for the City of Santa Fe may have to wait until a new finance director is able to get up to speed on the city's revenues and expenses. SFR Editor Julie Ann Grimm reports. Guest rooms at Hotel Santa Fe will soon be completely powered by solar energy. Reporter Dan Mayfield has the details. Mayfield also has a story about a new economic impact study that shows art and culture in New Mexico is huge.

New Mexico's Bureau of Business and Economic Research Director Jeffrey Mitchell says the state needs to do a better job of leveraging arts assets. Read more at ABQ Business First. If you need a a little time to say just chill out a little before the holidays, perhaps a 'powder day' is in order. Here’s some good news: 66 percent of the Ski Santa Fe is open. Check the snow report here. On your drive up the mountain, tune into KUNM radio. Call-In Show Host Kathleen Sabo has invited a few journalists, including Laura Paskus, Russ Contreras, Floyd Vasquez and me to talk about the year's big stories.

Listen here at 8 a.m.

Santa Fe Reporter