Animal Control confiscates about 24 boa constrictors

From KOAT-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Two dozen dangerous snakes have been confiscated by Animal Control. The snakes were being sold illegally on the side of the road and on Craigslist. Albuquerque’s Animal Control found two dozen red-tail boa constrictors someone was breeding.
     “He had three boas of his own, one male and two females,” said Sharen Westhoff, an Animal Control officer. “(He) ended up with them in the same tank together, which created boa babies.” That is against permit laws. In Albuquerque, private citizens can’t sell boa constrictors.
     A "for sale" sign stuck in the middle of the sidewalk was used to advertise the snake sale. They were sold at $70 per snake. Had all the snakes been sold, the owner would have made close to $2,000.
     Animal Control found more "up for sale" signs among couches and collectibles on Craigslist. The person selling the snakes has yet to be caught. “Snakes of any variety can be incredibly dangerous,” said Westhoff. “They will bite, especially when feeling threatened.”
     The snakes were confiscated and are at an aquarium. They are headed for a reptile rescue. More

Animal Control confiscates about 24 boa constrictors

Santa Fe bans plastic bags

Santa Fe has become the latest in a growing number of cities to ban plastic grocery bags. 

The ban, which covers carrier bags thinner than 2.25 mils, will take effect in six months. Ron Trujillo was the sole dissenter on the council, which passed the measure by a 7-1 vote. 

 Paper bags, containing 40 percent recycled materials, would still be available, but shoppers would have to pay 10 cents for them. The fee would be waived for people who receive food assistance such as food stamps. 

The ban will not apply to restaurants or food banks, and grocery stores will still be able to supply smaller plastic bags for bulk items such as meat, produce and bakery goods. And they will still be able to sell garbage bags. 

The measure also allows the Environmental Services Division to provide reusable bags to low-income families.

Santa Fe bans plastic bags

ABQ abortion ban will likely go to vote

Albuquerque voters could, and likely will, vote on an abortion ban by November. 

The city clerk verified that anti-abortion protestors collected enough valid signatures – a little more than 12,000 – on a petition that prevent women from having an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

 In the last month, protestors from all over the country have criticized the city and the State of New Mexico for not having any bans on abortion.  Some protestors compared the city to Auschwitz – a concentration camp that existed during the Holocaust.

 Organizer Elisa Martinez said nearly 27,000 people signed the petition. 

Amy Bailey, Albuquerque’s city clerk, said city council members have two weeks to vote on the legislation as written, or they could turn it over to voters. She said a special election could cost roughly $600,000.

 If the mayoral election in October leads to a runoff in November, Bailey said the abortion issue could end up on the November ballot.

ABQ abortion ban will likely go to vote

More counties begin to issue same sex marriage licenses

Following the actions of three other counties in the state, the Valencia, San Miguel County and Taos county clerks have decided to issue marriage licenses to gay couples. 

San Miguel County Clerk Melanie Rivera confirmed she ordered new licenses from the printer, but said she is now issuing "Spouse and Spouse" licenses that have been manually altered starting on Tuesday. 

According to Valencia County Clerk Peggy Carabajal, paper stock for the licenses have already been ordered. They plan to change software to print "Spouse and Spouse" instead of "Bride and Groom" as soon as the paper arrives tomorrow morning. 

Taos District Judge Jeff McElroy said the county clerk will likely not contest the decision in court and will begin issuing same sex marriage licenses soon.

More counties begin to issue same sex marriage licenses