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 Metro Courthouse corruption trial of former state Senate President Manny Aragon will go on as scheduled after a federal judge dismissed claims by the defense that the prosecution was tainted by political and ethnic concerns.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that U.S. District Judge William "Chip" Johnson on Monday denied motions to toss out the charges against Aragon, former Metro Court Administrator Toby Martinez and Raul Parra, an engineer on the job. Defense attorneys had alleged that the Bush Administration had targeted Democrats for prosecution and that the courthouse corruption case was linked to the U.S. Justice Department’s firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.
Johnson ruled that the indictment was based not on political pressure, but on the testimony of others involved in the alleged corruption scheme. Charges were brought against Aragon, Martinez and Parra in March 2007 after several other principals in the case — court architect Marc Schiff, lobbyist and former Albuquerque Mayor Ken Schultz and subcontractor Manuel Guara — pleaded guilty. The judge also found no evidence to support the defense claims that the three men were targeted because they were Hispanic, noting that Anglos had been charged in the case, also.
Aragon, Martinez and Parra, along with Martinez’s wife, Sandra Martinez, and construction manager Michael Murphy, have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering in what prosecutors say was a conspiracy to skim more than $4 million from the $83 million courthouse construction project through phony change orders and inflated invoices, the newspaper reports.
The trial is scheduled to begin in October.
Farmington middle school students are starting their school year with free Apple MacBook laptop computers as part of a new program in the Four Corners region, The Farmington Daily News reports. It’s the first year for the Farmington Learning Initiative that focuses more on computers than printed textbooks for information, Farmington Municipal Schools officials said.
The MacBooks come with a wireless Internet card and built-in camera, along with an electronic tracking system that should aid in recovery if the computer is lost or taken. "We are working to create a system where these laptops become paperweights if stolen," one official said.
"At first I was kind of scared. I like it, I was just worried about the security. But I think it’s going to be a good thing," said parent Irene Salazar. "It’ll also teach them some responsibility."
Maybe Farmington’s public works department could take some lessons from the school district. The city is losing manhole covers left and right, which are being stolen and sold as scrap metal, the Daily News also reports today. Thirty-nine lids were nabbed last week, bringing the five-week total since the theft spree started to 174.
Each lid is worth up to $40, Public Works Director Jeff Smaka told the paper. "We have gone as far as actually chaining them to the inside meter can. They are cutting the chain and then taking them," he said.
Most of the gaping holes left by the thieves have been covered with plywood. It takes about two weeks to get a manhole cover replacement, Smaka said. The new ones are cast iron, which cost $275 but don’t have any resale value, he said.
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Former Beatle Paul McCartney — now Sir Paul, that is — got a look around New Mexico last week on a cross-country tour of Route 66, The Associated Press reports.
After checking out antiques in a shop in Tucumcari on Thursday, McCartney and girlfriend Nancy Shevell ordered take-out at Del’s Restaurant. "He looks pretty good," said Shirley Hancock, a hostess at Del’s.
The two visited Santa Fe’s art museums and galleries Friday and then continued west to Gallup on Saturday and saw some of the 87th Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Unfortunately, the former Beatle didn’t want to be seen:
Sammy Chioda, an announcer at the ceremonial, and his brother Dario Chioda were in the announcers’ booth Saturday night when they learned McCartney was in the audience. Dario Chioda said McCartney gave his brother a thumbs up but motioned that he wanted to keep his visit under wraps.
Dario Chioda said he later shook hands with McCartney and gave him a hug but his request for a photograph of the ex-Beatle was turned down. McCartney told him he shies away from the camera.
McCartney and Shevell were to finish their Route 66 odyssey in Santa Monica, Calif.
