ABQ Tortilla Co. sells for $8.8 million

From KOB-TV.com - The world’s biggest tortilla company has bought out Albuquerque Tortilla Company, owned and operated by a local family since 1987. Mission Foods, part of the multi-national Gruma Corporation, says it paid $8.8 million for the corn and flour tortilla portion of Albuquerque Tortilla’s business. The Martinez family will retain the company’s frozen food line under the Albuquerque Tortilla brand for now, but they expect to establish new brand names soon. The family thinks the future lies in the freezer. “ We still have the tamales, chile rellenos, all the chile, red and green of course,” said Chris Martinez. “A whole line of prepared foods for retal and food service.” The new company, called Authentic New Mexico, will aim for a national market for New Mexico food products. Read more

ABQ Tortilla Co. sells for $8.8 million

Pearce Seeks to End Wilderness Protection

Steve Pearce

From nmpolitics.net -U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., is backing a proposal that would end wilderness-like protections for about 32,700 acres of land in Doña Ana County, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting. The lands are currently designated as wilderness study areas and have all the protections for land granted the permanent wilderness designation – the federal government’s most restrictive. Mechanized vehicles aren’t allowed in wilderness areas, which is at the heart of the battle surrounding H.R. 1581. More News New Mexico

Pearce Seeks to End Wilderness Protection

Ben Ray Lujan Says No to Senate Run

From newmexicoindependent.com -U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján has told state Democratic party leaders that he will not run for Senate in 2012, according to a report from Politico on Monday. The strength of Senate candidate, and fellow member of Congress, Martin Heinrich’s candidacy was a factor in Luján’s decision. New Mexico blogger Joe Monahan said Monday morning that Luján told Farmington Democrats that he would instead run for a third term in the 3rd Congressional District. The seat is considered a safe Democratic seat.  More News New Mexico

Ben Ray Lujan Says No to Senate Run

NM Searching For a Few Good Inmates to Fight Fires

From fox43.com - With New Mexico's fire season promising to be brutal and unrelenting, state forestry officials want to increase their firefighting crews -- with prison inmates. The state has trained five crews, a total of 60 minimum-security inmates, that can be called on to fight fires at any time, said Dan Ware, a New Mexico State Forestry Department spokesman. State officials plan to recruit more inmates for this season. "Using inmates allows us to have high-quality hand crews at our disposal at a moment's notice to aid in firefighting," Ware said. He said saving New Mexico money in hard economic times is one benefit of the inmate work program. Inmates are paid about $1 an hour, compared to state forestry workers, who earn around $17 an hour fighting fires. "One of the goals of the program is rehabilitation, to give inmates training so when they're released they have something to fall back on," Ware said.  More News New Mexico

NM Searching For a Few Good Inmates to Fight Fires