Trinity Test Site Opening To Face Protest From Residents – by Russell Contreras, Associated Press
Seven decades after an atomic bomb helped end World War II, families in New Mexico's Tularosa Basin want tourists to know nearby residents later suffered from health problems.
Protesters are planning a demonstration this weekend as the Trinity Test site opens to visitors.
Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders, says a bomb tested at the site later caused rare forms of cancer for many residents in the area.
Cordova wants the federal government to compensate New Mexico families hurt by the test.
In July 1945, Los Alamos scientists successfully exploded the first atomic bomb at the Trinity site, located near Alamogordo.
The U.S. later dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending the war with Japan.
New Mexico Governor Signs Legislation To Attract Caseworkers – The Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez has signed legislation aimed at helping New Mexico recruit and retain child abuse caseworkers.
The measure establishes a student loan repayment program for eligible social workers at the state Children, Youth and Families Department.
It targets those who incurred debt while pursuing degrees in social work or other fields critical to protective services and juvenile justice. They must have worked for the agency for at least a year and serve in positions or areas where recruitment is a challenge.
Martinez acknowledged that caseworkers have difficult jobs and that the agency has been hampered by staffing shortages and an overwhelming caseload.
Another recruiting tool has been stipends for college student who commit to work for the child welfare agency. Nearly $850,000 has been budgeted for this fiscal year.
Navajo Officials Weigh In On Latest Order In Election Case - The Associated Press
Officials on the Navajo Nation say the tribe's high court overstepped its authority in directing the controller to fund a belated presidential election.
Meanwhile, early voting for the tribe's top official is underway. The election featuring Joe Shirley Jr. and Russell Begaye is scheduled April 21.
The Navajo Nation Supreme Court granted a motion last month to enforce an order to hold the election without further delay. It also ordered the tribal controller to transfer $317,000 to the election office to cover the cost.
The chief legislative counsel says he wasn't given an opportunity to respond to that motion. The president's office says transferring money to the elections office without approval from tribal lawmakers is illegal.
The court hasn't ruled on requests to clarify or reconsider its order.
New Mexico Senate Democrats Join Call For Special Session – The Associated Press
New Mexico Senate Democrats have joined the call for a special session to address millions of dollars in public works projects.
The Legislature adjourned March 21 without approving a more than $260 million package that would have funded work around the state.
Albuquerque business leaders asked Gov. Susana Martinez in letters this week to call a special session so lawmakers can pass a capital outlay bill. They say thousands of jobs are at stake.
Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a Belen Democrat, weighed in Wednesday. He says he and other Democrats may be willing to support a special session.
Sanchez says creating jobs is the most important priority and only a special session can accomplish it.
Sanchez mentioned compromise in his statement but said the Senate bill would have serve as the starting point for negotiations.
Junk Food Tax Goes Into Effect On Navajo Nation – Associated Press
A tax on junk food sold on the Navajo Nation goes into effect Wednesday.
Tribal officials passed legislation last year for an additional 2 percent sales tax on food with little to no nutritional value. The tax expires in 2020, but it can be extended by the Navajo Nation Council.
Advocates for the junk-food tax say it could serve as a model for Indian Country to improve the rates of diabetes and obesity among tribal members.
The tax is expected to generate about $1 million a year. It will fund projects including farmer's markets, vegetable gardens and exercise equipment in Navajo communities.
Representatives of the beverage industry had lobbied the tribe to reject the tax that applies to sports drinks and fruit juice as well as cookies, chips and sodas.
New Mexico Wins Federal Education Waiver – Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez says the federal government's decision to extend New Mexico's waiver from No Child Left Behind requirements validates the education reforms implemented by her administration.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced Tuesday that New Mexico and four other states have received four-year renewals of their waivers.
Federal officials say states needed a new round of waivers given that Congress has yet to overhaul the law. The waivers provide more flexibility as the states continue with changes aimed at giving students high-quality educations.
Martinez tells The Associated Press that New Mexico's graduation rates have improved in recent years and more young students are reading at their respective grade levels.
New Mexico previously received an "on track" designation from federal officials for changes that included using student test scores to help evaluate teachers.
Investigation Focuses On Fires in Bosque - KRQE
Four Bosque fires kept Albuquerque firefighters busy Tuesday. According to the Albuquerque Fire Department, three of them started in southwest Albuquerque near the Hispanic Cultural Center just after 5 p.m., reported KRQE. An earlier fire started in the Bosque on Tuesday afternoon near Tingley Beach.
Bernalillo County Fire Department assisted Albuquerque crews to extinguish the fires. Investigators are trying to determine what started them.
Officials say there are currently Stage I fire restrictions in all Open Space areas. These restrictions include:
· No smoking
· No Fireworks
· No Open Fires
· No Camping
New Mexico Starts New Economic Development Grant Program – Associated Press
New Mexico economic development officials have unveiled a new grant program aimed at boosting job creation and encouraging startup activities.
Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela says the Local Economic Assistance and Development Support program allows the state to supplement the work of local communities that are looking to diversify their economy.
He says by identifying viable economic development projects, the state can stretch and target limited resources.
Funding criteria for the program will be measured on whether a project can help recruit, retain or create jobs; develop the tax base; or encourage business development.
State officials will be accepting applications through May 1. The submissions will be reviewed and Barela will make a final decision on which projects are funded.
Selected projects will have to be completed before June 2016.
Albuquerque Puts Holds On Some Dog Adoptions – Albuquerque Journal
The city of Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department is putting a moratorium on adopting out dogs that have failed behavior tests and has begun contacting owners of potentially dangerous dogs adopted over the last year.
Mayor Richard Berry told the Albuquerque Journal this is an urgent situation. He also reiterated his confidence in the department’s director, Barbara Bruin. Berry said he was confident she would make whatever changes were needed in the interest of public safety.
Bruin came under heavy criticism in a complaint to the city Office of Inspector General, which alleged that as part of an ongoing practice, 132 dangerous dogs were allowed to be adopted from the city shelter last year despite failing a nationally standardized behavior test administered by the shelter. Another 83 were returned to their owners by the city shelter.
In some cases, before or after being adopted, the dogs hurt people, including shelter staff, and killed family pets.
Restoration work begins at Hyde Memorial State Park - Associated Press
Work is underway to thin trees and other debris from the mountainsides that supply Santa Fe with its drinking water.
State officials say the restoration work will cover 80 acres at Hyde Memorial State Park.
Funding for the project comes from the U.S. Forest Service and is being implemented by staff from New Mexico State Forestry's Returning Heroes Program, which employs military veterans.
State Forester Tony Delfin says the project will complement the work already done on nearby national forest land. The area is considered at high risk for wildfire.
State Forestry is in the process of implementing 14 watershed restoration projects throughout the state. These projects were funded with a $6.2 million capital outlay appropriation that was authorized last year.
The work at Hyde park is expected to last through fall 2016.