Fatal detention

Fatal detention

Remember when the words detention and kids together conjured memories of cleaning blackboards after school? We long for the days. A second death of a migrant child in US custody is highlighting the inadequate process and facilities for asylum seekers arriving at the southern border. Unlike the child who died a few weeks ago who had newly arrived, the 8-year-old boy who died on Christmas Eve had been in government custody for more than a week. Immigration officials who are now releasing hundreds of people ($) each day in El Paso also say they are implementing medical checks.

Figurative lockdown 

This morning marks the sixth day of the budget impasse that led to a partial shutdown of the federal government. While the president's main holdout issue is funding a border wall, hundreds of thousands of federal workers are laboring without pay and others are off work for a undetermined amount of time. In New Mexico, White Sands National Monument has its own border trouble ($). The Valles Caldera, Bandelier, Carlsbad Caverns and other outdoor destinations are also affected.

Leadership team

Governor-elect Michelle Lujan Grisham has now named 13 of her 26 cabinet secretaries, including longtime City of Santa Fe Arts Commission leader Debra Garcia y Griego as head of the state Department of Cultural Affairs. New Mexico Political Report recently nabbed the new energy secretary for a Q and A. The Santa Fe New Mexican also composed a look at various people to hold cabinet jobs ($) under outgoing Gov. Susana Martinez. More announcements are scheduled today.

The plot thickens

Incoming State Auditor Brian Colon and outgoing officeholder Wayne Johnson sparred when they both lost the Albuquerque mayor's race, then Johnson got named to the state job and Colon ousted him in the general election.Their beef is at a whole new level now that Colon has accused Johnson of corruption and asked him to leave the office early. Attorney General Hector Balderas, an ally of Colon, also has an active criminal investigation against Johnson. And, Johnson has one going against the AG's office, too.

Hear ye

The young woman from Farmington who won the 15th season of NBC's The Voice just before we took a holiday break last week is planning to perform a hometown concert next month. Chevel Shepherd, 16, says she wouldn't have gotten on the path to stardom without her local fans. No time and date for the show are set yet.

Timely Topic

The University of New Mexico's new class on cannabis and communication might be right on time in what many say will be ramped-up discussion of recreational cannabis at the upcoming legislative session. One day journalists might get tired of pot puns, but not today. KOB says the class is "budding in popularity" and "sparking a lot of interest."

Laugh it off

Tonight could be a fitful reminder that there are just a few more work days until the next holiday, or you could slip on over to the Santa Fe Playhouse for the HahahaHoliday Extravaganza, wherein Wayward Comedy hosts stand-up Doug Mellard and other local favorites at 8:30 pm for $10.

Thar she blows

Snow and wind closed parts of I-25 yesterday afternoon, and conditions are forecast to remain intense today as more cold and snow spreads into portions of northern and eastern Arizona, southern Colorado and much of New Mexico Thursday night through Friday. First District Court in Santa Fe is on two-hour delay this morning due to a water main break. Check current conditions as reported by the state Department of Transportation here.

Thanks for reading and welcome back! The Word apparently really needed to sleep in. 

Although most sites allow a few free views, the dollar signs ($) indicate links that require a paid subscription to the news source.