NM Woman Finds Euthanized Dog Alive With New Owner
N.M. Dad's Adoption Case Shakes Up Utah
N.M. Woman Heads to Trial for $2 Pumpkin Theft
Madoff Victim Helping N.M. Ponzi Victims
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| Bernie Madoff |
Eddy County senator will not seek third term
From the Carlsbad Current Argus - SANTA FE -- State Senator Vernon Asbill (R-District 34) has informed legislative leaders that he will not be seeking re-election to the N.M. Senate District 34 seat in Southeastern New Mexico. The retired educator is the ranking Republican member of the Senate Education Committee. He also serves on the Public Affairs Committee. He serves on four interim committees: Public School Capitol Outlay Oversight Task Force; Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Committee; Water and Natural Resources Committee; and, the Legislative Education Study Committee. He has been a senator since 2005.
150 years ago Feb 21st - Civil War Valverde battle in NM
A Civil War battle was fought 150 years ago today (February 21, 1862) in the Rio Grande valley halfway between Albuquerque and El Paso near Fort Craig. It is called the Battle of Valverde, so named for the village and river ford by that name. It was one of the biggest battles of the Civil War fought in the west. Confederate Brigadier General Henry Hopkins Sibley intended to invade New Mexico, defeat the Union forces, capture Santa Fe and then go west to conquer California thereby adding it to the Confederacy. His forces gathered in El Paso. Fort Craig, 140 miles north of El Paso was his first objective. The Federal army at Ft. Craig was under the command of Colonel Edward Canby. January 3, 1862, Sibley left El Paso with three regiments and one partial regiment of mounted Texans comprising 2,510 officers and men. Canby waited at Ft. Craig with 3,800 men, mostly infantry. Only 1,200 of Canby's men were seasoned soldiers. The remainder consisted of 2,000 New Mexican volunteers, 100 Colorado volunteers, and 500 militia. Kit Carson commanded the First Regiment of New Mexican volunteers almost entirely Hispanics. Sibley arrived fifteen miles south of Fort Craig February 13. Deciding Ft. Craig was too strong to be taken, Sibley deployed his men outside the fort hoping to lure the Federals into the open, but Canby, not trusting his volunteer troops, refused to attack. Sibley ordered the army to cross the Rio Grande and move up the eastern side of the river near the village ofValverde, six miles north of Fort Craig. February 21, Read the entire battle description
Sandia Wins, LANL Loses In Fed Nuke Proposal
Albuquerque Journal - The Obama administration wants to spend $3 billion on nuclear weapons work in New Mexico next year, but notably absent from its annual funding request to Congress is money for a plutonium lab at Los Alamos National Laboratory.After spending more than $600 million over nearly a decade without starting construction, the National Nuclear Security Administration on Monday asked Congress to indefinitely postpone work on the proposed new plutonium-handling building at LANL. However, funding for nuclear weapons work at Sandia National Laboratories would jump 30 percent next year under the budget proposal, primarily for refurbishing aging nuclear weapons. Read More News New Mexico. Albuquerque Journal subscription required
Sonic Booms: Sound of Freedom or Nuisance?
Pearce: Standing with New Mexicans
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| Steve Pearce |
By U.S. Congressman Steve Pearce - The surge of massive forest fires has been too common in the West in recent years. Mismanaged, overgrown forests have contributed to the spread of wildfires. Otero County has taken a stand against irresponsible forest management in their county. Officials have worked to give their residents safer communities and healthier forests. They said that “enough is enough” when it comes to the federal government’s mismanagement of the forest around Cloudcroft.
In June, the Otero County Commission voted to create an emergency plan, allowing the county to begin thinning the forest for fire prevention. They created an 80,000-acre plan, which they submitted to USFS, that calls for responsible management to protect local watershed and prevent fires that have threatened Cloudcroft for many years. This level of forest management is exactly what the Otero County Commission was trying to accomplish with the emergency tree cutting on September 17th near Cloudcroft. It was an historic day, marking the return of common-sense local resource management, and I commend their efforts and determination. In the days leading up to the event, an agreement was reached between the US Forest Service (USFS) and the County, stating that USFS would not interfere with the emergency plan. This breakthrough demonstrated that cooperation between local and federal governments is both possible and desirable.
Now, the federal government is attacking Otero County, and trying to stop actions that would prevent communities from going up in flames. USFS filed suit against the County Commission, claiming the County does not have the right to protect their homes, property and forests.
In the lawsuit, The United States of America v. Board of County Commissioners of the County of Otero and State of New Mexico, the federal government claims that federal law preempts the actions of the County. The lawsuit also seeks an injunction, halting Otero County’s efforts to make the forests safer.
There are two major problems with this lawsuit. The first and most important is that in the Constitution, the powers of the federal government are explicitly outlined and the Tenth Amendment states that all powers not given to the federal government belong to the states and to the people. The right of forest management is not given to the federal government. Therefore, it is reserved for the people and the states. Second, New Mexico law gives the County the right to manage these lands after an emergency declaration by the commission.
Otero County’s plan is legal, reasonable, and looks out for the safety of constituents. It does not call for clear cutting of the forests. Instead, it is a responsible plan to clear dead trees and underbrush that act as kindling when wildfires start.
I am not a proponent of clear cutting our forests; however, I am strongly in favor of healthy conservation through targeted forest management. Regular thinning of trees helps protect local watersheds, decreases the risk of fires, and provides a better forest for wildlife and the people of New Mexico. Otero County is on the right side of the law, and has worked diligently with USFS to ensure the safety of the county’s residents. Forest management cannot be handled in Washington alone; local resources are best managed local governments who better understand the needs and interests of their communities. This is a local issue that directly affects the safety and welfare of New Mexicans.
Commonsense solutions exist, and Otero County has been actively pursuing them. I will continue to stand with my fellow citizens to ensure the safety of our communities, economic growth and a clean environment.
To Sign or Not to Sign, That is the Question
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| Susana Martinez |
Lobos Surge to 22-4
Lions Club Gun Show a Smash Hit......Again
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