Dry County

The drought

Extreme drought has swept over most of Santa Fe County. The latest United States Drought Monitor map even has northern parts of the county, in the always-beautiful Pojoaque Valley, under "exceptional drought." That's the droughtest of droughts, and the conditions are not helping the wildfire outlook. Not long ago, the state had escaped these hellish conditions, but now forest managers are taking caution. Elizabeth Miller has the implications of the closure of the tinderbox that is the Santa Fe National Forest. We welcome monsoon season; that's when the officialdom says it may open the gates back up to the masses.

The promises we keep

As a candidate, Alan Webber said he would create a women's advisory council. Two months into his first term, Webber has created no less than eight other councils. But the administration says it's still working on the women's group, pending city council approval. All the while, the city still needs to select department heads, not to mention a city manager. It could be an opportunity to confront the gender imbalance at the top of city government, where men hold 34 positions and women hold 10. Matt Grubs comes with a sharp analysis of this pivotal transition time for Webber.

The DC connection

Outgoing Gov. Susana Martinez has been making the rounds in Washington, DC lately. A couple weeks ago, she dined at the White House, where President Trump hosted a discussion about the "deadly ravages of drugs, gangs and crime that's pouring across the border." Martinez made her latest appearance in the US House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to make it easier for oil and gas companies to secure drilling permits on federal lands. The governor—whose political committees have been fueled by oil and gas money—framed the issue as a matter of economic development. But The Santa Fe New Mexican reports ($) there's backlash from the environmental groups critical of the bill, co-authored by US Rep. Steve Pearce, the Republican nominee for governor.

GOP jabs

Gov. Martinez held off on giving a full-throated endorsement of Pearce. She also questioned whether Yvette Herrell, the Republican nominee to replace Pearce in Congress, can represent New Mexico in a "fair and reasonable way." That's what she told ($) the Albuquerque Journal's Washington, DC correspondent in an unusual intra-party jab. It's worth noting that Monty Newman, who lost to Herrell in the primaries, hired Jay McCleskey as a media consultant for his campaign. McCleskey is also Martinez' longtime consultant. Martinez also said she'll be leaving the state in "very good condition."

Bat attack

Santa Fe police charged Christian Lopez with 18 criminal counts, including attempted murder and attempted armed robbery, The Santa Fe New Mexican reports ($). Police say that on Monday, the man beat his mother's boyfriend with a pink baseball bat. His face bloody, the man then used the bat to smash vehicles at the intersection of Rodeo and Yucca roads. An officer stopped him.

Another fatal shooting

Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III fended off a re-election challenger in the primaries. But shortly after his re-election victory, an increasingly familiar story re-emerged; his deputies fatally shot a suspect again, this time at Avenida Cesar Chavez, KOB reports. The shooting happened just after midnight, and Gonzales told ($) media his deputies were after the dangerous fugitive for days. But the latest shooting is sure to draw more calls from community organizations who want a review the agency's use-of-force policies.

Summer fun

Summer does not officially start until June 21, but we're not calling this weather "spring." More sunny and warm forecasts are out for today, and there's a chance for showers Saturday. Meanwhile, SFR is ahead of the curve in telling you how to make the most of the season with its annual summer guide. First up for summer events is an Edible Art Tour on Canyon Road Friday and Saturday. (No, not those kind of edibles.)

Thanks for reading! The Word's suggestion for your listening pleasure today is still "King of the Bongo." We've suggested it before, but you may not have listened then, so here it is again.

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