Morning Word: Oil Industry Jobs in Steep Decline

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undreds of jobs are being lost in the oil drilling industry in New Mexico, but Santa Fe gets help with angel investors. It looks like the Lobos men's basketball team's offense is sputtering out. That, plus a complete legislative news roundup. We take you around the state in 800 words or less.

It's Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Oil industry jobs in New Mexico are vanishing as quickly as a tumbleweed in a desert windstorm. Since December, the number of oil rigs, responsible for up to 50 jobs each, has declined from 102 to 66. See more at KOB.  The decline in jobs hasn’t impacted Hobbs yet. Businesses did $482 million of commerce in December, resulting in a gross receipts tax distribution of $9.95 million to the city in February. Read more at ABQ Business First . 

Some jobs are on the way to Southern New Mexico. A $412-million natural gas plant will be built in Eddy County. It’s expected to create more than a 100 new construction positions. Read more at the Carlsbad Current-Argus.  It’s not oil or gas, but Colfax County Officials hope that tourism, timber and a new solar show room will boost the area’s economic growth. Details at the Sangre de Cristo Chronicle.  After three years of contentious debate, a big water right’s protest is being dropped in Taos County.

Read more at the Taos News.  The Bernalillo County Commission, which was expected to vote on a small tax increase to raise funds to boost mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, has deferred action until next week. Reporter Dan McKay says the measure is on 'shaky ground'.  In yesterday's "Morning Word", we told you about a University of New Mexico grad student who hopes to resettle on Mars. Today, SFR editor Julie Ann Grimm talks to a 35-year-old Los Alamos Laboratory scientist who’s "already there.” Read "Mission to Mars" here.  Back on Earth, the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency fears that hostile nations are trying to manipulate the world’s weather. Read more at the Daily Mail. At least the weather was good for a star-spangled event at Cannon Air Force Base Tuesday afternoon. Col. Tony Bauernfeind handed over command of the 27th Special Operations Wing to Col. Benjamin Maitre. During Bauernfeind’s command pilots also flew more than 22,000 worldwide combat missions. Read more at the Clovis News Journal.  New Mexico Legislative News:

• Aware of employment declines in the oil fields, US Rep. Steve Pearce, R-New Mexico, is urging state lawmakers to focus their energy on job creation efforts–
• ABQ Journal
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• The New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Angel Investment Tax Credit is an example of what’s already bringing high paying jobs to Santa Fe–
• SFR
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• Legislators want to crack down on food stamp fraud–
• KRQE
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• House Republicans also want to crack down on repeat violent offenders and have proposed a life sentence for habitual criminals–
• Santa Fe New Mexican
• . 
• Inmates' children are often placed into foster care. Supreme Court Justice Petra Jimenez Maes wants legislators to provide more oversight–
• Joline Gutierrez Krueger is Up Front
• . 
• For inmates scheduled to be released from jail or prison, State Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino wants to help them get signed up for Medicaid–
• KUNM
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• The Senate Public Affairs Committee has passed legislation that would limit police department’s use of drones in some investigations unless they have a search warrant–
• Las Cruces Sun-News
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• Blogger Mark Bentley thinks a state budget bill may get out of committee this week–
• Inside Politics
• . 
• Poll: An overwhelming number of New Mexicans support a right-to-work law–
• New Mexico Political Journal.
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• Rio Grande Foundation’s Paul Gessing disputes his right-to-work calculations are akin to ‘kindergarten’ math–
• ABQ Business First
• . 

After a private laboratory shut its doors, Ortiz y Pino also wants the governor to open up a state lab to test medical cannabis products .

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Former New Mexico State University Coach Lou Henson gets a huge honor and long overdue recognition. He’ll be inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in November.

Probably not many. Henson left NMSU and built the “Fighting Illini” into a college powerhouse that went to the March tournament more than 10 times. Read it at the Las Cruces Sun-News.  It might be a longer road to the Hall of Fame for Lobo Coach Craig Neal. His men’s squad’s offense got thrashed by San Diego State University, 63-47. Game highlights at the Daily Lobo. Bernalillo County Treasurer Manny Ortiz says he’s not watching Better Call Saul , but some part of the fictional plot may have been inspired by his office.

See more at KOB. 

Santa Fe Reporter