Albuquerque Election Will Likely See Low Voter Turnout – Albuquerque Journal
Voters in Albuquerque go to the polls today to decide on two city council seats and whether to raise taxes for the BioPark.
But the Albuquerque Journal reports turnout will likely be low. In the 2011 municipal election there were just about 12 percent of eligible voters who participated and fewer people have voted early this time around.
The council races have the potential to shift the balance of power on the city council. The BioPark initiative would boost the gross receipts tax rate to 7.31 percent and raise about $255 million over 15 years for the zoo, aquarium, botanical gardens and Tingley Beach.
There are also about $125 million in bond questions on the ballot and three city charter issues. One would give the city council the power to approve the mayor’s appointments of police and fire chiefs.
New Mexico To License 12 New Medical Marijuana Producers – Associated Press
The New Mexico Department of Health says it will issue licenses to a dozen new producers as part of the state's medical marijuana program.
The department made the announcement Monday after a committee whittled down the list of applicants from 86 and made a recommendation last month to Health Secretary Retta Ward. She made the final decision.
Officials considered a number of factors in narrowing the list of potential producers, including plans for production, security, sales and distribution, quality assurance and their agricultural experience.
Now, licensure for the 12 finalists is contingent upon their acceptance and demonstration of regulatory compliance.
This will bring the number of licensed nonprofit producers in New Mexico to 35.
Health officials say the finalists are located in Bernalillo, Chaves, Santa Fe, Taos and Valencia counties.
NM Governor Weighs In On Union Fees For US Supreme Court – The Associated Press & The ABQ Journal
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a ruling allowing public-sector unions to collect fees from employees who decide not to become union members.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that Martinez argued in an 18-page brief that the fees violate employees' free-speech rights.
The Republican governor has clashed with labor unions since her election in 2010. She recently backed legislation that sought to block unions from collecting so-called "fair-share" fees, but it died in New Mexico's Democrat-controlled Senate.
The Supreme Court case involves several California teachers who object to having to pay union fees.
Labor unions argue that the fees are fair because nonunion employees benefit from union-negotiated contracts.
Navajo Nation Considers Replacing Tribe's Aging Aircraft – The Associated Press
Navajo Nation officials are lobbying for new jets to replace the tribe's aging aircraft.
The Gallup Independent reports that the Navajo Nation Council tabled legislation to approve a $20 million loan to purchase new planes in July. The Health, Education and Human Services Committee and the Resources and Development Committee to have a work session on the need for new planes.
At the joint meeting, Division of General Services Director Virgil Brown said the tribal government needs to either buy new planes or gradually shut down its air transportation department.
The tribal government has two King Air 200s that are 30 years old and one King Air 90 that is 20 years old. Officials say the planes need engine overhauls if they will keep running.
Albuquerque Voters Decide On Proposal For Police Chief Hires – The Associated Press
Albuquerque voters will decide whether future mayoral picks for police and fire chief positions must be submitted to the City Council for approval.
The measure to amend the City Charter is on the ballot in Tuesday's municipal election.
Councilor Ken Sanchez co-sponsored the ballot measure proposing to give the City Council more authority over fire and police chief hires, saying earlier this year that it would help with ongoing police reform in Albuquerque.
City officials and Justice Department officials agreed to a settlement after a scathing federal report last year outlined a pattern of excessive force by police.
The Albuquerque Journal reports very light turnout is expected Tuesday, with early voter participation falling below the 2011 municipal election's levels. That year only about 12 percent of voters entered ballots.
United Co-Pilot Passes Out, Diverting Flight To New Mexico – The Associated Press
A United Airlines flight from Houston to San Francisco had to be diverted to Albuquerque, New Mexico, after the co-pilot passed out.
Albuquerque airport spokesman Dan Jiron says air-traffic controllers got word shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday that the plane would be landing after the first officer, who is second in command, had a medical episode. The plane landed without incident around 8:20 a.m.
Jiron says the co-pilot regained consciousness and was able to walk off the plane to be transported to a hospital. Jiron had no details about the co-pilot's condition or what may have caused the episode.
United was aware of the diversion but didn't immediately comment.
It comes a day after an American Airlines captain became gravely ill while flying from Phoenix to Boston. He later died.
Hot-Air Balloons Hit Truck, Power Line At Albuquerque Event – The Associated Press
Two hot-air balloons participating in Albuquerque, New Mexico's annual balloon festival have been involved in separate accidents, with one landing on a truck and a second striking a power line.
Police Department spokesman Simon Drobik says there are no injuries reported from Tuesday morning's incidents, which happened about a mile apart.
Drobik said a balloon struck a parked truck near an intersection about 7 miles south of Balloon Fiesta Park, where balloons launch daily.
The balloon that hit a power line knocked out power to 2,600 customers.
'The Martian' Screenwriter Says Los Alamos Influenced Film – The Associated Press & The Los Alamos Monitor
The screenwriter for the newly released film, "The Martian," says growing up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, inspired his project.
The Los Alamos Monitor reports that Drew Goddard said being surrounded by scientists affected his understanding of the film based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel "The Martian."
Los Alamos was the site where the U.S. developed the atomic bomb and is home to a national laboratory.
Goddard says the script is about scientists doing their best to work together.
The film, released on Friday, stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jeff Daniels. In the movie, Damon's character, an astronaut finds himself stranded alone on Mars.
"The Martian" largely drew raves out of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Feds Propose Protection For Minnows In New Mexico, Arizona – The Associated Press
The federal government is proposing to list two minnows found in New Mexico and Arizona as threatened.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says the headwater chub and a population of roundtail chub are at risk of extinction in the foreseeable future.
The agency is taking public comment on critical habitat designation until Dec. 7.
The headwater chub is dark gray to brown with silvery sides. It's found in drainages, tributaries of the Verde River and parts of the upper Gila River.
The Fish and Wildlife Service wants to protect the roundtail chub found in the lower Colorado River basin in Arizona and New Mexico. The minnow is olive-gray to silver with a lighter belly.
Threats to the fish include predation, habitat destruction, mining, water pollution and climate change.
Ranch: Fox Probing Claims 'Maze Runner' Cast Took Artifacts – The Associated Press
A manager of a New Mexico ranch says 20th Century Fox representatives are trying to determine if actors took American Indian artifacts while filming "Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials."
Diamond Tail Ranch manager Roch Hart told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the studio is investigating claims the cast took artifacts and will seek to return any stolen items.
Actor Dylan O'Brien said last month on "Live with Kelly and Michael" that cast members took artifacts from private ranch north of Albuquerque, despite warnings not to take any items like rocks or "skulls."
The 24-year-old O'Brien didn't say what was taken.
A representative for O'Brien did not immediately return an email from The Associated Press.
Diamond Tail Ranch sits between the Sandia and San Felipe pueblos.
Hearing On New Mexico's Teacher Evaluation System Nears End – Associated Press
A hearing over unions' push to halt part of New Mexico's teacher evaluation system is set to conclude.
A Santa Fe judge is scheduled Tuesday to hear closing arguments over whether the state should stop its use of test scores in the evaluations.
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico and the Albuquerque Teachers Federation are seeking an injunction to halt the use of test scores while their lawsuit against the evaluation system goes through the court system.
The unions say the evaluation system is forcing veteran educators to retire or have their licenses jeopardized. They want the evaluation system tossed.
But Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre says the suit is a "disappointing distraction" from the agency's mission of providing a quality education to children.
Border Patrol Parent Agency Issues Custody Standards – Associated Press
The Border Patrol's parent agency has issued nationwide custody standards, a little more than a year after its jails were overwhelmed with Central American children fleeing to the United States.
The standards released Monday govern a wide range of scenarios and circumstances. They include guarding an immigrant's personal belongings, properly using handcuffs and other restraints and setting thermostats.
Customs and Border Protection has come under criticism from advocacy groups who compiled detailed statements from immigrants alleging frigid temperatures, poor hygiene, overcrowding and mistreatment. A federal judge in Los Angeles recently said children were being held in "widespread and deplorable conditions."
Federal Grant Aims To Bring Recycling To New Mexico Tribes – Associated Press
The New Mexico Recycling Coalition will be developing a training program and providing technical assistance to help Native American communities around the state with recycling programs.
The work is being funded with a $40,000 grant from the federal government. The funding was announced Monday.
As part of the program, 20 eligible tribes will benefit.
The project was developed based on outreach done by the Recycling Coalition. The group found that many challenges hinder how tribes are able to launch or expand their solid waste diversion programs. One of those challenges is the rural nature of the state.
The group's executive director, Sarah Pierpont, says training sessions will be held at tribal collection centers and a couple of audits will be done to better understand the waste streams in tribal communities.
US To Provide Funding For Vets Cemetery In Lincoln County – Associated Press
The federal government will provide $5.7 million to pay for building a veterans cemetery near Fort Stanton in south-central New Mexico's Lincoln County.
Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich on Monday announced the funding being provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The senators said ground breaking for the project is expected to take place Nov. 11, Veterans Day.
New Mexico currently has two cemeteries for veterans— one in Santa Fe in northern New Mexico and one at Fort Bayard near Silver City in southwestern New Mexico.
Alan Martinez, deputy secretary for New Mexico Department of Veteran Services, says plans for a veterans cemetery in Gallup will move forward in the coming year, with hopes a groundbreaking ceremony will take place in November 2016.
America's Challenge Balloon Race Dependent On Weather – Associated Press
Officials are waiting for a break in unsettled weather to launch the 20th annual America's Challenge gas balloon race.
The initial launch for the seven teams participating in this year's distance race was Saturday, but showers and thunderstorms over the weekend forced race officials to delay.
Officials say they must consider weather conditions both for the launch at Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque and downrange across the country for the two or three days the balloons are expected to be aloft.
The next briefing has been rescheduled for Tuesday at noon.
If conditions are favorable, balloons could launch that night or later in the week. The period of time during which the race can commence closes at midnight Wednesday.
This year's competitors include pilots from the U.S., Germany, France, Poland and Spain.
Scientists, Policy Experts To Talk Water At Annual Meeting – Associated Press
Scientists, policy experts and others will be gathering in northern New Mexico this week to talk about limited water resources and resulting management challenges.
The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute is putting on its annual water conference in Taos. The two-day event begins Wednesday.
The conference will include a tour that highlights the connection between traditional irrigation systems, or acequias, and an area's hydrology and local community.
Other topics include the latest drought research, land grants, the future of ski areas and watershed restoration priorities.
Despite some relief from the drought this summer, officials say New Mexico is still dealing with the effects of prolonged dry conditions and that means water supplies will continue to be squeezed.
According to the latest map, two-fifths of the state remains abnormally dry.
Petition Criticizes ‘Maze Runner’ Cast For Taking Artifacts – Santa Fe New Mexican
A young fan of an actor in a film shot in New Mexico launched an online petition asking cast members to apologize for taking Native artifacts while shooting in the state.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Maeve Cunningham has garnered about 22,000 signatures so far. She started the effort after seeing actor Dylan O’Brien on a television interview in which he said he and other actors took some artifacts while filming “Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials” at a site in Placitas. They were told not to take anything from the site.
Cunningham says she’s a fan of the Maze Runner books and of O’Brien, but told the New Mexican an apology to Native leaders would set a good example for fans.
'The Martian' Screenwriter Says Los Alamos Influenced Film – Los Alamos Monitor, Associated Press
The screenwriter for the newly released film, "The Martian," says growing up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, inspired his project.
The Los Alamos Monitor reports that Drew Goddard said being surrounded by scientists affected his understanding of the film based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel "The Martian."
Los Alamos was the site where the U.S. developed the atomic bomb and is home to a national laboratory.
Goddard says the script is about scientists doing their best to work together.
The film, released on Friday, stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Jeff Daniels. In the movie, Damon's character, an astronaut finds himself stranded alone on Mars.
"The Martian" largely drew raves out of its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.
New Mexico Elected Officials Declare Support For Power Plant – The Daily Times, Associated Press
Several New Mexico officials recently declared support for a plan to build a nearly $1 billion natural gas and solar power plant in San Juan County.
The Daily Times of Farmington reports that Gov. Susan Martinez, the state's five congressmen and County Executive Officer Kim Carpenter wrote letters to Western Area Power Administration in support of the plant. It's known as the Clean Path Energy Center and could start operating in late 2019.
Power plant developer Western Energy Partners is awaiting approval to connect transmission lines to the plant.
Western Area Power Administration spokeswoman Kara Lamb says her company will be ready to move forward once the plant complies with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Western Energy President Curt Hildebrand says he plans to publish a notice of intent to build the plant this month.