New Mexico's Weak Child Porn Law Attracts Offenders – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
Officials say the state's weak child pornography law is attracting offenders to New Mexico.
The Albuquerque Journal reports a 2014 New Mexico Supreme Court ruling limits child porn possession charges to a single count regardless of the number of images involved.
Attorney General Hector Balderas plans to try getting previously-failed legislation approved in 2016 to allow a charge to be filed for each image depicting child pornography, as some states do.
Special Agent in Charge Anthony Maez heads the state attorney general's Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the New Mexico Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Maez said law enforcement has noticed New Mexico's lax rules being discussed online, and that traffickers in child pornography are moving to the state as a result.
He said consequences aren't outweighing the crime.
Federal Approval Of Gila River Agreement Triggers Review – The Associated Press
The U.S. Department of Interior is entering into an agreement with water managers in New Mexico that marks the next step in a long, contentious process as the state looks to develop its share of the Gila River.
The department's approval came Monday despite opposition from environmentalists and others who contend a diversion project along the Gila could end up costing $1 billion.
Critics submitted 54,000 petition signatures to the department last week.
Supporters argue that the project is vital to supplying communities and irrigation districts in southwestern New Mexico with a new source of water.
The department's signing of the agreement is procedural.
Federal officials say approval does not guarantee construction of a diversion system along the Gila, but rather triggers a series of environmental and economic feasibility reviews.
New Mexico Bishops 'Pray' For Driver's License Compromise – The Associated Press (UPDATED 11/24 11:00a)
New Mexico Catholic Bishops say they are praying for state lawmakers to come to an agreement on a "fair" two-tier compromise regarding New Mexico driver's licenses.
The bishops said in a statement Monday they hoped a proposed compromise will continue to allow immigrants suspected of being in the illegally to obtain licenses and make the state compliant under the federal REAL ID act.
State lawmakers are expected in January to begin work on revising a state law that grants New Mexico driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of status.
The move follows a decision by the federal government to deny New Mexico an extension from imposing tougher federal requirements on state driver's licenses.
Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Marsha Catron says a decision on commercial air travel will be announced by the end of the year.
Roswell Lawmaker To Reintroduce Daylight Saving Time Bill – Roswell Daily Record, Associated Press
A New Mexico lawmaker says he plans to reintroduce legislation that would allow the state to maintain the same time all year.
Sen. Cliff Pirtle announced at a legislative luncheon last week that he will bring up the measure that would keep New Mexico on Mountain Daylight Savings Time throughout the year.
The Republican farmer from Roswell told the Roswell Daily Record that he may put the bill in the form of a joint resolution.
He says a joint resolution would allow the measure to bypass Gov. Susana Martinez and go to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The measure would then go back to the state and be discussed in public forums.
The Senate approved of Pirtle's bill in March but it died while before a House committee.
WIPP Workers May Go On Strike – Carlsbad Current-Argus, Santa Fe New Mexican
The union representing workers at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in southern New Mexico could strike if they don’t get a wage increase.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that Rick Fuentes, the president of the local United Steelworkers, said workers voted on a strike authorization but he also said he’s hoping to avoid that scenario.
Contract negotiations have been extended five times. Fuentes said the Nuclear Waste Partnership has offered an increase but it doesn’t take into account increased expenses, such as medical costs. He said workers are also getting paid less than sub-contractors brought in as part of the cleanup.
The plant has been closed for more than a year following a radiation release that stemmed from a chemical reaction among waste improperly packed inside a drum at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
New Mexico Seeks Comments On Jet Fuel Cleanup Plan – Associated Press
The New Mexico Environment Department has drafted a plan for 2016 that will guide cleanup of a massive plume of jet fuel at the edge of Albuquerque.
Cleanup began in earnest about two years ago. Tons of soil have been removed, and more than 16 million gallons of contamination have been extracted and treated since June.
The plan calls for the installation of more monitoring and extraction wells. The treatment system also would be expanded to 800 gallons per minute.
The public has through Jan. 15 to comment.
First detected in 1999, the leak at a fueling station at Kirtland Air Force Base was believed to have been seeping into the ground for decades. Estimates of the amount of fuel spilled have ranged from 6 million to 24 million gallons.
UNM Grapples With Higher Costs, No New Revenue – Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
University of New Mexico officials are looking at ways to bridge a multimillion-dollar gap in the budget.
The Albuquerque Journal reports the university's associate vice president of planning, budget and analysis Andrew Cullen told members of the board of regents Friday that no new revenue is anticipated as fixed costs increase by an expected $3.5 million.
Budget issues are expected to be impacted by falling oil and gas tax revenue as well. The state draws on those funds for the university's budget.
Falling enrollment is also impacting the budget. University President Bob Frank said a program that encourages students to graduate faster is good for enrollees, but has caused revenue to fall by $1.5 million.
The university is evaluating about 100 vacant positions. Regents may cut those unfilled roles.
UNM Increases Graduation Rate – Albuquerque Journal
More students are graduating from the University of New Mexico and they’re doing so more quickly.
The Albuquerque Journal reports this has led to decreased costs for students and the university and a revamping of remedial courses also means students progress more quickly toward their degrees.
The school’s cost of a bachelor’s degree has dropped from about $90,000 to $70,000. For students, a six-year degree costs about $95,000 in tuition and lost wages, while a four-year degree costs about $27,000.
UNM reduced the number of credits required to graduate to put it in line with colleges across the region and the country. And if students graduate in four years, their final semester is free.
The time UNM students take to finish a four-year degree still lags national rates. However, officials said some 37 percent of its entrants are non-traditional students and many come from families where they are the first to attend college.
Wind Farm In Roosevelt County Nears Completion – Portales News-Tribune, Associated Press
A wind farm in Roosevelt County is nearing completion.
The Portales News-Tribune reports about half of the 125 turbines on the Roosevelt Wind Project are producing electricity. All turbines will be commercially operational by the end of 2015.
The second half of the project, called the Milo Wind Project, consists of about 25 wind turbines expected to be operating by the end of January 2016.
About 250 megawatts of power would be produced on the Roosevelt side to be sold to Xcel Energy. The Milo project's 50 megawatts of produced power will be put up for sale in the Southwest Power Pool open market.
One turbine can power 1,000 homes.
Officials expect the last of the turbine parts to be delivered Thursday.