Donkey Kong

Democrats face off in testy TV debate

Democrats debate

With voting underway in the primaries, the three candidates for governor took to the airwaves last night in a televised debate on KOAT-TV. The storylines were somewhat predictable, as Joe Cervantes and Jeff Apodaca targeted Michelle Lujan Grisham, who's been leading the fundraising race and won a wide victory at the party's nominating convention. There were a handful of tense exchanges.

Amber alert questioned

In the bottom half of the 8 o'clock hour last night, Santa Fe police issued an amber alert ($) for a missing boy and his mother, whom officers seemed to think may have been kidnapped during an armed robbery at a Motel 6 on Cerrillos Road. But the two were located safely within an hour and a lieutenant with the police department was thankful for that, but questioned the need for the alert.

The quiet job

Being lieutenant governor in New Mexico is, in some ways, a lesson in keeping a low profile. Even in the position's most high-profile function, president of the Senate, the lieutenant governor rarely makes news. Still, across the state, voters will decide who represents their party as second in command on the ticket (Democrats have the only contested race). SFR wondered if we're asking enough of our lieutenant governors and if the way we elect them hamstrings their effectiveness.

State representative arrested for DWI

State Rep. Monica Youngblood was arrested for aggravated drunk driving over the weekend after she was flagged at a DWI checkpoint on Paseo Del Norte. The Albuquerque Republican failed a field sobriety test, but refused to take a breathalyzer test, which means she'll lose her driver's license. Youngblood issued a statement Sunday that did not admit to the crime and said she regretted not taking a breath test.

Take back the House

It's a tall order for congressional Democrats, but Rep. Ben Ray Lujan says it's doable. He's the guy his colleagues have charged with doing it. Lujan is the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, a job that's kept him busy. One of the seats he's targeting is the race for New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District, which Rep. Steve Pearce is leaving to run for governor. The last time Democrats held the seat was 2008, when Pearce left it in an unsuccessful run for Senate.

But can you?

The state Public Education Department has been moving aggressively to change four schools across New Mexico that have been designated for what the state calls "more rigorous interventions" after years of failing performance. But the move hasn't been without controversy, and as the Albuquerque Journal's Shelby Perea explains, the Legislature is questioning whether the PED has overstepped its authority.

Jury gives woman nearly $1.3 million after SFPD chase

Late Friday afternoon, a jury awarded almost $1.3 million to an 80-year-old woman who was injured when a man driving a stolen car slammed into her while being chased by Santa Fe police ($). The jury found the man was half responsible and the city 40 percent at fault for what happened. The other 10 percent of the award would be charged to the Toyota dealership, if the verdict survives appeal.

That smell

The good one. On the wind. That's moisture, and it smells like hope. This afternoon brings the best chance in weeks for significant rainfall. Relative humidity readings have been in the single digits almost statewide. Highs will dip about 10 degrees to near 70 in Santa Fe, with similar behavior throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Santa Fe could see half an inch of moisture.
 
Thanks for reading! The Word is slightly nervous that mentioning rainfall might jinx it.

Spread the Word! Forward this and subscribe to our other newsletters at sfreportercom/signup.

The dollar signs ($) are links that require a paid subscription to the news source.

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.