Just a little more Leg

‘Sup in the Leg? 

State lawmakers worked late last night to pass a voter registration bill that will allow voters to register the day of an election at their polling places. The House GOP and Dems quibbled over the long day and disagreements over the bill (and others), but it passed easily on a party-line vote. It now heads to the Senate. Republicans like to say that such measures encourage voter fraud, but it has been shown repeatedly that voter fraud is not a problem in America, and that low turnout is the real issue ($).

Beyond that, SFR's news section today has some info on the public's opinions on various gun control measures, a look at what state alcohol regulators are up to, and a huge roundup of energy-related bills in our cover story (which we'll talk about in more detail here in a few days).

Such sweet sorrow

Well, if you never got down to Llano Street to get your picture taken at the Love Transfer Station, that ship has sailed. Or, um, that dumpster has been dumped ($). The "pop-up park" in a vacant lot, created in 2014 with funds from a PNM grant, has been hauled away after it fell into disrepair and was called an eyesore by City Council. In December, MIX Santa Fe had the best intentions to fix it up, but they were to no avail. RIP, parklet.

Teen arrested again

A Santa Fe teen who remains a person of interest in a murder case from the fall has been arrested again. Zachary Gutierrez, 17, was charged in connection with the Sept. 26 Airport Road murder of tourist Richard Milan, but District Attorney Marco Serna dropped the charges when he couldn't ensure a speedy-enough trial. Gutierrez reportedly beat a man and fired a gun at a house party, and later fled from cops.

Spreading out

Despite layoffs at its Santa Fe installation last week, Meow Wolf is hinting that it will announce a new expansion soon. The mega-corporation already has plans to open other locations in Denver and Las Vegas. In semi-related news, SFR's music writer recommends a show there this week, and it sounds pretty rad.

Decrim measure moves on

Okay, so we have just a little more legislative news. With a recreational weed bill looking less promising each day, a bill to decriminalize cannabis statewide has passed committee and now heads to the House. It reportedly is gaining more support, unlike its more ambitious cousin (though Republican lawmaker Candace Gould did say that "we don't want younger people getting engaged in marijuana"). But we're entering the second half of the two-month session, and any bills that hope to pass in the next month need to sprout some legs, and fast.

Another kind of transfer station

Last night, the Santa Fe School Board voted to amend the school transfer system ($). SFR reported on the pitfalls of the current system in 2017, and while the rejiggering voted on last night will not address all criticisms of the program, it will give preference to students with a parent who works near a desired school, so it's a start.

Cop-fighter and runner-away-from’er released

An Albuquerque man who fought with an officer before fleeing the scene last March will serve no more jail time than he has already. The DA's office says the case against Alex Martinez is now too hard to prove, since none of the three people who witnessed the fight are willing to testify. Martinez will serve three years probation, but after nearly a year behind bars, will spend no more time locked up.

Shocking!

This is not really news, but we'll tell you anyway: We're gonna get more snow. Not till tomorrow, but we're gonna get it. The National Weather Service is predicting 4 inches in town, more in the mountains, and a foot or more in Chama.

Thanks for reading! The Word's neighbor's dog is barking. Not a lot, but just enough to remind us that she's there. Hi, dog. We like you.