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.
State GOP officials are demanding the resignation of their party’s Bernalillo County chairman over statements he made to a British radio reporter about Hispanic voters and black candidates. The Albuquerque Journal provides the background, while blogger Joe Monahan gives readers the dish as Republicans from Sen. Pete Domenici on down call for Fernando C. de Baca to fall on his own sword.
The state’s largest utility, PNM, just won a rate increase in July. Now it’s proposing another rate hike of 18 percent to the Public Regulation Commission. For two takes on the plan, check the Journal and The Associated Press (AP).
Las Cruces residents hoping to get a better handle on the Wall Street meltdown of recent days, weeks and months can ask questions at a forum sponsored by New Mexico State University, The Las Cruces Sun-News says today. Luckily, the get-together Wednesday is free.
And last, remember that tawdry incident in Bernalillo where the city cops said they saw the Sandoval County sheriff engaged in sexual activity, and he vehemently denied it? It’s back in the news, The Rio Rancho Observer reports, as Sheriff John Trujillo sues Bernalillo for libel, slander and other forms of defamation of character.
GOP officials call for C. de Baca’s head
State GOP officials are meeting today to determine the fate of their Bernalillo County party chairman, Fernando C. de Baca, over statements he made to a British radio reporter about Hispanic voters and black candidates. The Albuquerque Journal quotes condemnation from everyone it spoke with.
“The Republican Party cannot let a high-ranking official remain in an active position having made this kind of statement,” Sen. Pete Domenici told the paper. “That’s not what Republicans believe.”
Allen Weh, chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, added this: “There’s an overwhelming consensus in the Republican Party at large that he should step aside.” He called the affair a “distraction to every issue that should be focused on in this election.”
In case you just flew in from Galveston, C. de Baca was interviewed at the New Mexico State Fair and told a BBC reporter that Hispanics wouldn’t vote for a black president. Why? Because the first Hispanics arrived in the New World as conquistadores, while blacks arrived as slaves.
Blogger Joe Monahan adds some depth to the story by noting there has been a “vicious feud” between Weh and C. de Baca over the party’s direction. C de Baca had been in line to replace Weh after the November elections, Monahan’s sources tell him, so the dust-up should keep the Weh-leaning contingent in power.
PNM files for another rate hike — 18 percent
The state’s largest electric utility, Public Service Company of New Mexico, has asked state regulators to approve a 23 percent rate hike for residential customers to keep pace with the growth in demand, according to stories by the Journal and The Associated Press. The hike would come on the heels of two other rate increases this year totaling 15.4 percent.
Pat Vincent-Collawn, president and chief executive officer of Public Service Company of New Mexico, told the AP the hikes are “part of our larger effort to prepare for New Mexico’s energy future, which includes new sources of power, reduced emissions at our main power plant and increased investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency.”
PNM’s proposal would raise residential rates an average of 23.4 percent and the largest industrial and commercial rates by 9.9 percent, according to the Journal.
If approved, the rates could go into effect in about a year.
Wall Street answers coming to Main Street Las Cruces
Las Cruces residents hoping to get a better handle on the Wall Street meltdown of recent days, weeks and months can ask questions at a forum sponsored by New Mexico State University, The Las Cruces Sun-News says today.
Members of NMSU’s College of Business will discuss the ups and downs of the global financial industry and take questions from the public at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. The event is free.
Garrey Carruthers, former governor and now dean of the College of Business, told the newspaper the forum idea came up during a recent lunch with Ben Woods, the school’s senior vice president for planning and physical resources.
Professors Chris Erickson, Ken Martin, Jim Peach and the school’s director of Treasury Services, Robert Scaling, are scheduled to speak on topics ranging from the international scene to the effect on New Mexico and Wall Street’s effect on city residents.
Sandoval County sheriff sues Bernalillo
City of Bernalillo police officers responding to a parked car two years ago filed a police report saying they saw a man who seemed to be engaged in sexual activity with a woman. Turns out the man was Sandoval County Sheriff John Trujillo, who vehemently denied the allegations and said he was working undercover.
The Rio Rancho Observer reports that Trujillo has now sued the city, its police chief and two officers for libel, slander and other forms of defamation of character.
The complaint filed in state District Court says one of the officers intentionally falsified the report to damage Trujillo’s reputation, and that the city made the report available to the news media. The sheriff was running for re-election at the time and ended up winning the election.
The complaint claims Trujillo suffered severe emotional trauma and distress as a result of the incident. He is seeking compensation, attorney’s fees and punitive damages.
