Carlsbad may be the new site of a nuclear facility within the distant near future, reports the Carlsbad Current-Argus. Supporters suggest this move would make Carlsbad a leader in the nuclear energy industry, although many of the kinks need to be worked out — such as finding the land and not stepping on the toes of existing gas/mineral rights.

Up in Santa Fe, there’s squabbling over grass on the Plaza, the Santa Fe New Mexican says. The City Council wants the grass to be there for looking at, but not for touching, standing on, playing on, walking dogs on or putting Spanish Market booths on.

In Albuquerque, voters ousted school board President Mary Lee Martin, according to Tuesday’s unofficial returns from the Albuquerque Public Schools and Central New Mexico Community College elections, KRQE reports.

The Legislature is taking up the issue of violent street gangs, and KOB has the story. Sadly, we’re not talking about the kind of violent street gangs that like to fight with dancing.

Meanwhile, a Duke City Fixer sounds off about the Legislature’s failure to get serious about domestic partnerships and encourages readers to get active on the issue. David Cramer writes: “We all know how the role of marriage has changed over centuries. Now we are on the cusp of another evolutionary step. I think the best way we can become ‘traditional’ is by being seen as a regular part of society and no longer hidden from view, where the dark forces of stereotype and fear breed misunderstandings about who we are.”

In national news, the new fun game is to speculate whom President Obama will choose to replace Tom Daschle as his nominee for secretary of health and human services. According to Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post’s Fix blog:

Here’s the short list: Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, former Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt and John Podesta, the head of Obama’s transition effort and White House chief of staff for Bill Clinton. Sebelius spokeswoman Beth Martino told the Fix that the Kansas governor “will continue to do what she can to help President Obama fix our economy, improve our health care system and get America back on track.” Does that include serving as HHS Secretary? If it does, Senate Democrats lose their top-tier recruit for Sen. Sam Brownback’s (R) open seat.

And despite all of your fervent prayers, wishes and efforts in the voting booth, former Vice President Dick Cheney is not dead/living in Antarctica/totally mute. “… Cheney warned that there is a ‘high probability’ that terrorists will attempt a catastrophic nuclear or biological attack in coming years, and said he fears the Obama administration’s policies will make it more likely the attempt will succeed,” writes The Politico today. Oh boy. I need a Tums.

Don’t worry! Here’s a nice story for you from Frank Bruni of the New York Times. Fancy restaurants in New York are so hard up for cash that they’re taking drastic steps like being nice. Read it here.

Pleeeeeeeeeease eat at my place!

"Pleeeeeeeeeease eat at my place," say Mario Batali, Siro Maccioni and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.