I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
Let it snow! Photo courtesy Ski New Mexico.
In national news today, President-elect Barack Obama says he plans to keep Bush’s current defense secretary, Robert Gates — at least for the time being. Nobody wants to spend any money, but food stamp usage is nearing an all-time high.
Meanwhile, in Santa Fe, Jerome Block Jr. isn’t out of the woods yet, even though he (miraculously) won a seat on the Public Regulation Commission Nov. 4. Attorney General Gary King told the Santa Fe New Mexican that he’s considering whether or not to press criminal charges against Block for campaign finance shenanigans. Also of interest in that story is this quote from King, whose father was governor three times: ”I’d love to be the governor. I’m not shy about that,” he added, “but there are lots of other considerations in running for governor other than just wanting to be it.”
By the way, the election results are finally official with the exception of one constitutional measure. Click that link to see official results on the Secretary of State’s Web site.
Governor Bill Richardson announced yesterday that CH Johnson Consulting has been chosen to plan the redevelopment of the State Fairgrounds. The firm will be paid $50,000 to do the work and will not be eligible to bid on the redevelopment work itself. Requests for proposals for that work are expected to be go out early next year. In addition, Richardson announced the creation of the EXPO New Mexico Redevelopment Task Force (because Lord knows we don’t have enough task forces!) to help CH Johnson with the plan.
Darren White wants to expand the three-strikes law and state Sen. John Ryan says he’ll introduce a bill to do just that when the Legislature convenes in January.
Otherwise, there’s lots of school news in the Journal today. APS is naming a middle school for Tony Hillerman, abolishing the South Valley academies for seventh- and eighth-graders, Del Norte will become a tech magnet and the whole district is getting a new calendar that closely follows UNM’s schedule.
Ski Santa Fe, which had hoped to open this weekend, will delay opening until they get (or make) enough snow. Ski Apache, Taos and Red River are expected to kick off the season this weekend. Speaking of snow, that’s exactly what forecasters are predicting today for parts of the state.
