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.
The historic Coronado Elementary School is set to reopen in Albuquerque, reports KOAT TV. Built in 1973 and closed in 1975, Coronado will fill its classrooms once again, yet this time with a twist.
The school will use the “90/10″ method — a dual-language program used to teach classes in set increments of Spanish and English. Kindergarten teachers will use 90 percent Spanish and 10 percent English in their classrooms, and the proportion progresses to 50 percent of both languages by the time students reach the fourth and fifth grades. All Albuquerque students are eligible to attend the new school by following the transfer process.
And on to higher education, the Las Cruces Sun-News writes about the New Mexico State University scandal caused when the list of university president candidates was leaked. A national education lawyer finds the NMSU president search “appalling beyond belief.” Find the whole story here.
College of Santa Fe students are faced with much more than the search for a new president. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that CSF students may sue if the college shuts its doors too soon. Over 300 CSF students have signed a petition to keep the school open through the end of the semester. The school, however, has already eliminated several administrative and faculty positions and forced pay cuts on several employees. The governor has set up a task force to meet Friday to discuss the future of the state’s oldest college.
In other news, the tobacco tax hike is set to take affect Wednesday, reports KOB TV. And, no, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke from our friends in the Roundhouse. An extra 62 cents will be tacked on to each pack of smokes, an increase of over 150 percent. The tax will apply to all tobacco products, including rolling papers. The increase looks to raise about $33 billion for children’s health insurance over the next four years.
And from nicotine to alcohol, The New Mexico Business Weekly reports that alcohol sales and consumption are up. The Beverage Information Group suggests that the economic blues have increased the sales of “value-priced” wine, spirits and beer. Despite the growing sales of domestic light beers, more expensive imports have seen a drop in sales.
A word for the wise: Don’t drown your sorrows too much, as you may run the risk of ending up like this guy.
