Morning Word: Coyote Carcasses Dumped in Socorro

Scientists: Megadroughts could last decades

omance is in the air. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and it's not too late to check out SFR's annual

This morning, we also have the latest news from around the state; plus, a complete legislative news roundup. It's Friday, February 13, 2015

At the same time that lawmakers are debating whether to ban coyote hunting contests, four more carcasses have been found under a bridge in Socorro County. Reporter John Larson has details.  A big water project in Eastern New Mexico is getting $700,000 from the federal Bureau of Reclamation to help with severe drought conditions. The Ute Lake Pipeline is designed to channel water from Ute Lake to Curry and Roosevelt County users in about 20 years. Read more at the Clovis News Journal.  As bad as the drought has been around the Southwest, scientists fear even worse “megadroughts” are in our future and they could last decades. The Associated Press has the grim outlook. Some headway has been made to improve the well-being of children in New Mexico, yet hunger persists in Lincoln County. More at the Ruidoso News.  US Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-NM, wants Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security before the agency runs out of money.

Read it at the Los Alamos Daily Post. The New Mexico Department of Tourism may be spending $6.8 million on tourism marketing, but Wally Gordon says the publicity about the Albuquerque Police Department’s lethal shootings in The New Yorker and Rolling Stone magazines is causing “incalculable” damage. Read more at New Mexico Mercury.  A devout Jewish man incarcerated in San Juan County Detention Center is threatening to sue because he’s been denied access to his Rabbi and kosher food. Read more at the Farmington Daily Times.  An Española man claims police brutally shocked, beat and illegally arrested him last year. Tegra Donnelly said he was arrested after being put in a headlock and punched in the face because he challenged two officers’ authority “to harass an elderly man.” Read more at the Rio Grande Sun.  Distracted driving is a pretty scary thing. It’s even worse when commercial truckers, driving 80,000 pound rigs, do it. Investigative reporter Ryan Luby tagged along with New Mexico State Police recently and watched them cite drivers caught talking and texting on their cell phones. See more at KOB 4.  Meanwhile, US Rep. Steve Pearce, R-NM, has introduced a bill to help oil truck drivers. He opposes a new law that requires them to log wait time as hours driven.

Read more at the Carlsbad Current-Argus.  New Mexico’s Aging and Long-Term Services Department recognized 29 centenarians last year. Read more at the Ruidoso News.  Legislative News Roundup:

  • The Senate Rules Committee has passed a proposed constitutional amendment to legalize pot–
  • ABQ Journal.
  •   
  • Democrats oppose Rep. Nate Gentry’s, R-Albuquerque, proposal to add a 50 cent minimum wage hike to right-to-work legislation–
  • ABQ Journal.
  •  
  • Amid tension, the Senate has approved a behavioral health bill that defines fraud–
  • Santa Fe Reporter.
  • A bill that would limit worker comp benefits in some cases clears a big hurdle–
  • Santa Fe New Mexican.
  •  
  • Citizen lobbyists learn the ropes in Santa Fe–
  • New Mexico In Depth.
  •  
  • A bill that would exempt military pensions from state income tax is back. This time it would only include the first $50,000–
  • ABQ Journal.
  •  
  • A House panel has approved a bill to ban smoking or vaping in cars carrying children–
  • Santa Fe New Mexican. 
  • Two bills aimed at protecting young athletes from brain injuries have been introduced in Santa Fe–
  • Los Alamos Daily Post.
  •  
  • Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, underwent a surgical procedure last night. It’s not clear why, but he has been absent from the Legislature this week and has reportedly been suffering from problems with his feet–
  • Santa Fe New Mexican.
  •  

We’ve never celebrated Mardi Gras in the mountains, but it looks like they’re having a blast in Red River all the way up to midnight on Tuesday. Read more at the Sangre de Christo Chronicle.  Skiers and snow enthusiasts are already looking forward to the opening of a chairlift that will lift them to the top of Kachina Peak in Taos. It’s scheduled to start running this morning at 10 am. Details at the Taos News.  Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and gift shops love it, but Feb. 14 is really the Super Bowl for floral shops.

Read why at the Deming Headlight. 

Letters to the Editor

Mail letters to PO Box 4910 Santa Fe, NM 87502 or email them to editor[at]sfreporter.com. Letters (no more than 200 words) should refer to specific articles in the Reporter. Letters will be edited for space and clarity.

We also welcome you to follow SFR on social media (on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) and comment there. You can also email specific staff members from our contact page.