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 revenue projections continue to drop, The Santa Fe New Mexican reports. The latest numbers say revenues will fall another $53 million. With these new numbers, the budget gap may potentially be closer to $500M to $600M. Gov. Richardson says he is currently considering consolidating operations and looking at tax increases.
The Portales News-Tribune reports on an order to close the Ogallala Aquifer to new applications for agricultural wells due to limited groundwater supply in the area. State Engineer John D’Antonio projects the future of water in the area and how limiting the well’s usage is necessary.
DNA testing at the Santa Fe State Police crime lab has been shut down, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Forty-eight cases have come to a halt after the New Mexico Forensic Laboratories’ accreditation lapsed at the end of October. If all goes as planned, the lab will regain accreditation after a meeting on December 10.
The Deming Headlight writes on the 25th annual “Noche de Luminarias” set to light the New Mexico State University campus this coming weekend. The tradition began in 1984 as a way to kick off the holiday season, while luminarias date back to the early 16th century.
Meanwhile, ACLU of New Mexico today sent out an e-mail to supporters explaining its position on Christmas, which is to support private and public holiday displays–except in cases of “the government favoring a specific set of religious beliefs to the exclusion of others.” See here for more on how the law affects holiday displays.
The Las Vegas Optic has a story on a housing development north of Las Vegas that would exclude mobile homes and regulate architectural style. The 46-lot subdivision will be modeled after two high-end subdivisions in northern areas of the state.
And a strange-but-true story from the Carlsbad Current-Arugs: A man gets arrested for drug charges after texting to a wrong number. Raymond Franco texted plans to sell drugs to a number that belonged to an agent of the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force. Doh!
In other news, Senate Minority Whip Bill Payne, retired from the U.S. Navy, will speak about his service and his experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq at a Kiwanis meeting in Albuquerque on Monday. The meeting will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the MCM Elegante Hotel at 2020 Menaul N.E. Payne traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq while serving as deputy director for strategy, plans and policy for the U.S. Central Command.
