PBS Special 'The Bomb' Seeks To Tell Story Of Atomic Weapon - By Russell Contreras, Associated Press
A new PBS special looks into the creation of the atomic bomb at the then-secret city of Los Alamos and will feature newly-restored footage of nuclear weaponry.
"The Bomb," which begins airing this week on most PBS stations, seeks to tell the story about deadly device as the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki approaches.
Producers say some of the footage of the film has been declassified only recently by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The first test took place in southern New Mexico as part of the Manhattan Project, the secretive World War II program that provided enriched uranium for the atomic bomb.
The project involved three research and production facilities at Los Alamos; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Hanford, Washington.
Albuquerque Firefighter Tells 911 Caller To 'Deal With It Yourself' – The Associated Press
An Albuquerque, New Mexico, firefighter has been removed from the city's dispatch center after telling a 911 caller who was trying to keep alive a gunshot victim to "deal with it yourself."
KRQE-TV reports 17-year-old Jaydon Chavez-Silver was fatally shot during a party on June 26.
In the recording, the panicked caller snaps at the dispatcher for repeatedly asking whether Jaydon is breathing.
The dispatcher responds that the caller can deal with it herself and adds, "I'm not gonna deal with this, OK?" before hanging up.
A spokesman for Jaydon's family says they're astonished at the call, but want to focus on finding their son's killer.
Albuquerque Fire Chief David Downey said in a statement that the department has launched an internal investigation into the call.
New Machines Aim To Revive Troubled New Mexico Green Chile – The Associated Press
Efforts are underway to save the green chile that's important to traditional New Mexican fare as labor shortages, a previous severe drought and competition from China, India and Mexico endanger its growth in the state.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that investors and inventors are running tests this week of machines that would harvest and de-stem the crop. The delicate chiles are now picked by hand, and problems with bruising and removing their stems have made the change to machines difficult.
New Mexico land dedicated to growing chile has long been declining, and experts say mechanization might stop or even reverse the trend. Federal numbers show overall chile acreage harvested across New Mexico fell last year to a 43-year low.
The trial runs involve harvesting machines from U.S. and Israeli company's and an American inventor's device to pull the stems.
Santa Fe Police Chief Announces Immediate Retirement – The Associated Press
Santa Fe's police chief is stepping down after just more than a year in office.
Police Chief Eric Garcia on Tuesday announced his retirement effective immediately after a meeting with the city manager.
Garcia said in a statement released by the city that the department has laid a foundation for improving community policing, and City Manager Brian Snyder expressed gratitude for Garcia's work to decrease crime, expand community engagement and raise morale within the department.
The statement said the city's training specialist, Patrick Gallagher, will serve as interim chief.
The city's statement said Gallagher has 27 years in law enforcement and served in several police departments, including those in New York City, Santa Fe and Truth or Consequences. He was a captain in the Santa Fe Police Department.
GOP Official Ousted Over Anti-Trump Piñata Santa Fe Party – The Associated Press
A New Mexico Hispanic Republican Party official has been removed from his post after hosting an anti-Donald Trump event that included a necktie-wearing blonde piñata.
Former Santa Fe County GOP treasurer Ignacio Padilla says he wasn't acting as a party official when he organized the event last week to allow residents to hit a piñata that bore Trump's likeness.
Padilla says he was exercising his right to free speech and believes Trump's previous comments about Mexican immigrants and Mexican Americans belittles Latinos.
The group's executive committee voted Padilla out of his leadership role the same day of the event.
Chairwoman Jo Ann Eastham says elected party officials are required to maintain neutrality in primaries. She says Padilla was warned not to host the event.
New Mexico Religious Leaders: Pope Right On Climate Change – The Associated Press
A coalition of religious leaders in New Mexico is calling on residents to support Pope Francis' recent plea for bold action to curb climate change.
The leaders are scheduled Tuesday to sign a letter supporting the papal document that argued climate change was a global problem with grave implications.
Last month, Francis called for a bold cultural revolution to correct the "structurally perverse" economic system of the rich exploiting the poor that is turning Earth into an "immense pile of filth."
Francis will be making his first trip to the U.S. in September, starting in Washington, where he will meet with Obama and address a joint session of Congress.
Most Expensive Trips For Albuquerque Employees Reported Late – The Associated Press
The city of Albuquerque is three months late in posting four of last year's most expensive employee trips to its transparency website.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the city spent about $3,400 to send four Cultural Services Department employees to the New Orleans Jazz Fest in April.
City employees have a week from the day they return from their trips to file taxpayer-funded travel expenses with the city clerk.
Chief administrative officer Rob Perry says having the city clerk operate the website means some expenses are incorrectly entered or added to the system late.
He said the city is changing over to a software program that will input all travel-related expenses automatically.
Imprisoned Former Sheriff Asks Court To Protect Bank Funds – The Associated Press
A former sheriff serving a 10-year prison sentence is asking a judge to prohibit the seizure of $70,000 to pay fines pending an appeal.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports former Rio Arriba County sheriff Tommy Rodella says his wife needs the money in their joint bank account so she can run her bail bond business.
Rodella was convicted in September of brandishing a firearm and depriving a motorist of his rights during a March traffic stop.
Prosecutors have been trying to collect court fines totaling more than $200,000 from Rodella, with a balance of $147,000 remaining.
His appeal is set to appear before a federal court in Denver on Sept. 29.
San Francisco attorney John Cline is representing Rodella and says his client wasn't given a fair trial.
Air Force Base Near Clovis Accused Of Religious Favoritism – The Associated Press
Officials at an Air Force base near Clovis are denying claims that they improperly promoted an upcoming religious event.
The Clovis News Journal reports emails about an Aug. 15 Gospel Explosion event planned for the Cannon Air Force Base chapel said "please post everywhere and spread the word."
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation says a master sergeant and first lieutenants sent emails to seven people who later contacted the organization. In a news release Thursday the group said the emails could be construed as supporting or endorsing religion, which violates base policy.
Base public affairs representative Lt. Erin Recanzone says the invitation was promoted just like any base-hosted event, including standup comics and golf tournaments.
She says the base thoroughly investigates all concerns related to religious freedom.
Countersuit In California Case References State Auditor – The Associated Press
New Mexico's state auditor has been referenced in a countersuit filed in California by a former employee of a Native American consulting firm.
The Albuquerque Journal reports attorney Michael Khouri is representing former employee Nikishna Polequaptewa and says State Auditor Tim Keller got a percentage of each contract he won for Blue Stone Strategy Group LLC.
Khouri says he doesn't know which contracts his client is referring to.
State Auditor Tim Keller said last week he never solicited contracts for the California-based company.
Polequaptewa resigned from Blue Stone last year. The company's lawsuit against says Polequaptewa breached a contract and accessed sensitive information through the firm's computer system.
Farmington Officials To Consider Raising Taxes – The Associated Press
Farmington city officials will consider this week whether to raise taxes for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The Daily Times in Farmington reports the Farmington City Council are scheduled to discuss the issue at a meeting Tuesday.
Council members say they have to find a way to make up for millions of dollars in lost tax revenue due to a state plan to phase out "hold harmless" payments.
The council is supposed to formally vote on Aug. 11.
Councilor Mary Fischer is the only councilor so far to say publicly she will not vote for the tax.
"Hold harmless" payments were created in 2004 to make up for repealed gross receipts taxes on food and medicine.
Gov. Susana Martinez signed legislation in 2013 to phase them out.
Albuquerque Neighborhood Battling Over Aggressive Bees – The Associated Press
An Albuquerque neighborhood is battling a neighbor and a set of aggressive bees living in his backyard.
KOB-TV reports that the Ventana Ranch Neighborhood Association is asking a homeowner to remove two hives from his backyard after neighbors have complained of feeling like they are under siege. When reporters arrived to ask about the buzzing nuisances, one was stung.
The homeowner says he removed most of the bees Sunday morning, though neighbors still report many bees swarming the area. He says he is taking them to a farm in Corrales.
Health Officials Say Santa Fe County Death Could Be Plague – Associated Press
State health officials are conducting tests to see if a Santa Fe County woman died from the plague.
The New Mexico Department of Health said Friday the 52-year-old woman would be the first human case of plague in the state this year if tests come back positive.
Department staff is going door-to-door in the woman's neighborhood to inform them about plague found in the area.
They say the woman had pneumonia. So, her health care providers and close contacts are taking preventive antibiotics.
Plague is a bacterial disease from rodents that is typically transmitted to people through bites from inflected fleas or direct contact with infected animals.
Symptoms in a human include sudden fever, chills, headache and weakness.
There were two human plague cases in New Mexico last year.
Ailing Vets Sue Companies Over Burn Pits – Santa Fe New Mexican
Hundreds of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are suing companies that helped operate their base camps. They claim toxins from open-air burn pits made them sick.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that David Montoya of Farmington has joined that legal fight. Montoya blames his cancer on contaminated water supplied by the military contractors, and from breathing in smoke from the burn pits.
Montoya filed suit last week in state District Court in Santa Fe against Halliburton Co., KBR Inc. and Kellogg, Brown & Root Services LLC. He joined almost 250 other former and active military personnel who are suing the companies, which provided water treatment and waste disposal services in Iraq and Afghanistan. Two other soldiers from New Mexico filed a suit against the companies six years ago.
The companies being sued say their work was critical to America’s war effort, not a detriment to American soldiers.
Convicted Murderer To Be In New Mexico Transition Program – KRQE-TV, Associated Press
An ex-convict who terrorized a couple in southwestern New Mexico, leading to the woman's death, is the first participant in a New Mexico inmate transition program.
KRQE-TV reports that the Department of Corrections has hired 40-year-old David VanHorn to be a kitchen cook at a Santa Fe state prison.
The job is part of a pilot initiative to help released inmates settle into life outside prison.
VanHorn was released in May from the state penitentiary in Santa Fe.
Authorities say a 20-year-old VanHorn ransacked a Virden couple's home in 1995 and then set it on fire with them inside. The woman died as a result.
Corrections secretary Gregg Marcantel says VanHorn has demonstrated positive behavior in prison.
But the victim's son says he wishes Van Horn would remain imprisoned.
Santa Fe Mayor Wants Re-Vote On New Living Facility – Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
The mayor of Santa Fe is flip-flopping on his initial approval of a proposed assisted living center that has drawn criticism from residents, including a former CIA operative.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Mayor Javier Gonzales said Friday he will make a motion to have the city's planning commission reconsider plans for the 84-unit assisted living facility.
Gonzales says he is concerned about the project's design and the divisiveness it's caused.
Gonzalez cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of its construction last month.
Opponents say the MorningStar development is out of character with the surrounding neighborhood and doesn't meet zoning requirements.
Former CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson, who has been a supporter of Gonzalez, says she doesn't understand why Gonzalez is disregarding what his constituents want.
New Mexico Bail Bondsman Says Arrest Is Retaliation – The Daily Times, Associated Press
A New Mexico bail bondsman who was arrested for allegedly defrauding clients says the arresting agency is retaliating for a lawsuit.
Daniel Goldberg Sr. told The Daily Times of Farmington Saturday that the San Juan County Sheriff's Office is trying to discredit his ongoing civil suit against them.
Goldberg sued the sheriff's office in 2014, alleging he had been slandered and libeled by Sheriff Ken Christesen and other employees.
Sheriff's spokesman Kyle Lincoln declined to comment because of the pending litigation.
But Lincoln says Goldberg's alleged fraud took place in San Juan County so their office had to investigate.
Goldberg is facing two counts of fraud.
In 2006, he and his son were tried for allegedly raping a woman they bailed out of jail.