Mayor clarifies stance on migrants

Well, actually

Whether you call it clarification or backpedaling on a welcoming announcement ($) made last week, Mayor Alan Webber said last night that Santa Fe won't physically host asylum-seekers ($) after all; rather, due to logistical reasons, we're better off raising funds and helping with other methods of aid. The city, he notes, is not a transportation hub, and bringing migrants here, only to send them back to Albuquerque to catch transportation to a more permanent home doesn't make sense. He says the Santa Fe Community Foundation is preparing to spearhead fundraising efforts.

Dead disease comeback

A KOB investigation showed that, according to state records, more than 100 schools in New Mexico are not keeping proper track of students' immunization records. With the rise of the anti-vaxxer movement and outbreaks of measles in various communities across the country, vaccines are in the spotlight. KOB reports that Santa Fe, Taos and Los Alamos counties see 2-3% of students are not vaccinated (most other New Mexico counties are below 1%).

Good on ya

City union workers scored a victory from Santa Fe City Council last night, securing $220,000 in pay raises that will give the most benefit to the lowest-paid workers ($) among them. Negotiators originally asked for $409,000 in raises, but disagreements on how to allocate the funds gave that idea a rocky ride, and SFR reports union members seem happy with the deal.

Soothing the giant

The gov is standing up for Facebook, with regards to a Public Regulation Commission decision to charge Facebook $39 million for its new facility. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham can't interfere with or change the PRC's decision, but she said she reached out to Facebook and assured the company that they can find a solution. None of this has seemed to scare the company off, judging by a new purchase in Los Lunas of over 400 additional acres. That $39 million pales in comparison, however, to the potential $5 billion in fines Facebook faces from the Federal Trade Commission for violating privacy laws.

Hopkins injured in jail

Alleged United Constitutional Patriots leader Larry Mitchell Hopkins, arrested over the weekend, was involved in an altercation at the Doña Ana County Detention Center and received medical treatment. His lawyer is upset, saying Doña Ana should have been more prepared to house "a high-profile defendant." Meanwhile, the rest of the militia camped out in Sunland Park has been told to pack it up and leave by Friday; the order came from the Union Pacific Railroad, which owns the land they've claimed as their home base.

New Mexico playwright dies of cancer

Famed playwright Mark Medoff, who called Las Cruces his home, has died at age 79. He penned the award-winning play Children of a Lesser God, credited with giving the deaf community a more prominent place in professional theater. The New York Times also published an obituary.

Local talent succeeds

Santa Fe fashion designer Hester Sunshine is doing well on competition reality show Project Runway. SFR spoke to Sunshine before the season started about what to expect from the season. She isn't the first New Mexican to excel on this show; designer Patricia Michaels of Taos Pueblo is another fashion star. (And, for the record, reality TV is usually a scourge, but the Word heartily recommends Project Runway; it's actually really creative and fun.)

Another gorgey one

High temps are set to be above normal today, with some rain in higher elevations and gusty winds all around. The rain we got on Monday, by the way, could make this the wettest April on record at the Sunport.

Thanks for reading! The Word is bummed that it took 32 years for her to discover the cleaning miracle that is baking soda, but better late than never.