Remember Bill Nevins? Nevins was fired by Rio Rancho High School in 2003 from his position as a humanities teacher and poetry coach after one of his poetry students read an anti-war poem over the school intercom system. This was during a the context of multiple anti-war protests in Albuquerque that were characterized by police in riot gear firing tear gas and shooting rubber bullets at protestors. At the time, many saw the firing of Nevins as an issue of free speech. This morning, the Albuquerque Journal tells us that Central New Mexico (CNM) Community College is being challenged by the American Association of University Professors for notifying Nevins just two weeks before the Fall semester began that his services were no longer needed.

Nevins who had been an adjunct professor at CNM for 10 years, was told in April that he would teach five classes this fall. In a letter to CNM, the Association said “Mr. Nevins had taught at CNM for 10 years without apparent problems, evaluations of his teaching had reportedly been strong.” A CNM spokesperson refused to explain its actions without a signed release from Nevins.

The Las Cruces Sun-News has an interesting article on dropping gas prices, noting that the price of gas in Las Cruces has dropped 72 cents in the past month. The article quotes leaders of New Mexico petroleum marketers and automobile associations saying they expect gas prices to keep falling. Ruben Baca, executive director of the NM Petroleum Marketer’s Association, attributes the declining prices to a drop in world energy demand.

The Farmington Daily Times has a story about the anxiety and stress children experience when their parents go to war. And it interviews 9-year old Andreis Montoya. According to the article, “Andreis constantly had nightmares and worried incessantly about his dad’s safety. He lost sleep and he wasn’t eating. He was overflowing with sadness and prone to frequent fits of crying.” His anxiety has been lessened after a visit to a local recruiter who served in the same city as Montoya’s father. The recruiter showed him pictures so he could see the high walls and safety measures at the compound where his father lives.

Another article not to miss is a Los Angeles Times piece about Amy Biehl, the young Santa Fe woman who was killed by a mob 15 years ago in South Africa while she was studying there. The article talks about the forgiveness shown by Biehl’s parents for Amy’s killers, two of whom now work for the foundation started by the Biehls with the donations they received unsolicited from strangers after Amy’s death. The Foundation runs after-school programs around the Cape Town area of South Africa. Amy Biehl’s memory lives on in other ways as well. A charter school in Albuquerque is named after her, and New Mexico Voices for Children gives an annual Amy Biehl Youth Spirit Award.