100 Year Low Temperatures Cause 79 Deaths in Eastern Europe, Global Warming Proponents are Undeterred

Guardian - Rescue helicopters evacuated dozens of people from snow-blocked villages in Serbia and Bosnia and airlifted in emergency food and medicine as a severe cold spell kept eastern Europe in an icy grip.
The death toll from the cold snap rose to 79 across the region, with emergency crews working overtime as temperatures sank to -32.5C (-26.5F) in some areas. Parts of the Black Sea froze near the Romanian coastline and rare snow fell on Croatian islands in the Adriatic Sea. In Bulgaria, 16 towns recorded their lowest temperatures since records began 100 years ago.
In central Serbia, helicopters pulled out 12 people, including nine who went to a funeral but then could not get back over icy, snow-choked roads. Two people froze to death in the snow while two others are missing, bringing the country's death toll to five.
"The situation is dramatic, the snow is up to five metres high in some areas, you can only see rooftops," said Dr Milorad Dramacanin, who participated in the helicopter evacuations.
One of the evacuees was an elderly woman who had fallen into a coma. She survived after being airlifted to hospital. Read full story here: News New Mexico

100 Year Low Temperatures Cause 79 Deaths in Eastern Europe, Global Warming Proponents are Undeterred

Film on Bin Laden Killing to Shoot in NM

NM Business Journal - A film version of the story behind the killing of Osama Bin Laden will be shot in New Mexico. “Code Name: Geronimo” will begin shooting this month in Santa Fe, according to the New Mexico Film Office. The film tells the story of the group of Navy SEALS who conducted the mission to kill Bin Laden in Pakistan, related blow-by-blow last summer in the New Yorker. Tony Mark, a New Mexico resident and the producer of “The Hurt Locker,” will produce, along with Nicolas Chartier and Zev Foreman. John Stockwell will direct the film. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Film on Bin Laden Killing to Shoot in NM

Say it Ain't So, Joe (Parker)

KOAT TV - International competition is threatening New Mexico's chile, and officials said Wednesday chile from China might be in locals' next burrito.
The New Mexico Chile Association said countries like China are trying to corner some chile markets. Currently, imports account for 82 percent of the U.S. consumption of chile, officials said. New Mexico is the leading state for chile production, with tens of thousands of acres of cultivation and more than 2,000 varieties of chiles. However, NMCA said in the past 10 years, the number of acres harvested in New Mexico has decreased by more than 60 percent.
But Mick's Chile Fix owner Mick Sweiss said his restaurant buys only New Mexico chile. "(Chile) is indigenous to New Mexico. I can't even imagine buying from China. They don't know anything about green chili the New Mexico style," Sweiss said. Sweiss said cheaper imported chile will never be served at his restaurant. "I would rather pay an extra dollar or two for my New Mexican chili," Sweiss said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Say it Ain't So, Joe (Parker)

Sanchez is Blocking Education Reforms

Hanna Skandera

For Bill Richardson, the leadership in the state Senate was willing to pass virtually every bill he submitted without amendment. And in New Mexico spending on education skyrocketed during the Richardson years. New Mexico now ranks 18th in spending per student. Unfortunately results produced by the system have not kept up with funding. There is a consensus within the population that real reform, not more money, should be the approach to the problem.
Along came the 2010 election. Governor Susana Martinez won a sizeable majority while carrying the aggressive education reform banner. Polls suggest Martinez is one of the most popular governors in the nation and voters want reforms.

Michael Sanchez

Early in 2011 the governor nominated Hanna Skandera to help her lead the battle to reform education. Unfortunately the same leadership that has had a stranglehold on education for years refuses to even address Skandera’s confirmation let alone reform failing processes in the system.

Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, working behind the scenes with those benefitting from the status quo in education, seems determined to submarine the governor’s education nominee and never provide her with a confirmation hearing. It is an example of what is truly wrong in New Mexico politics when one party controls the legislature for more than eighty years.

Sanchez is Blocking Education Reforms

Groundhog Day!

Groundhog Day!

Fireworks Bill Bogging Down in Senate

KOB TV - A bill giving the governor and mayors around the state power to ban fireworks may be losing steam in the Roundhouse. The bill moved from one committee to the next this week, but without a “due pass.” That means lawmakers could add or take items out of the bill before it is voted.
This past summer, the City of Albuquerque shut down the Bosque, trails, access to the river, and many parts of the foothills. Mayor Richard Berry tapped out his legal abilities to protect the Bosque from fire. The one thing he couldn’t do was declare an outright ban of firework sales.
"We got this great natural resource we call the Bosque. If something happens there it would take generations for it to come back," Berry said.
State lawmakers have been debating Senate Bill 5, which gives the authority to Governor Susana Martinez, mayors, or county officials to ban fireworks if weather conditions get dangerous. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Fireworks Bill Bogging Down in Senate

"Birther Talk"

  Courtesy of Conservativedailynews.com



janice2012.us

Immigrant license bill faces test

From KRQE-TV.com - SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Republican Gov. Susana Martinez and her allies are making another appeal to the Legislature to overturn a New Mexico law allowing driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. The House Judiciary Committee is to consider legislation on Wednesday that Democrats are offering as an alternative to the governor's proposal. The Democratic-backed measure continues to allow driver's licenses to illegal immigrants but for only two years before needing renewal. Currently, licenses can last four or eight years. The proposal also will cancel licenses previously issued to foreign nationals if they fail to renew them within two years. Martinez opposes that bill, contending it's a public safety risk to grant licenses to illegal immigrants. Read more

Immigrant license bill faces test

Marcantel confirmed at Corrections, Lopez defends news releases

Gregg Marcantel

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Two days after the chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee questioned the suitability of Gregg Marcantel to serve as the Secretary of the Corrections Department, the 51-year-old law enforcement veteran was endorsed for confirmation on an 8-1 vote Wednesday (Feb. 1). “What I was confused on is why someone wouldn’t first talk to me if they had any questions they have before you send out a press release,” Marcantel said after the confirmation hearing, which came after committee chair Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) sent out a series of news releases saying Marcantel’s responses to the committee’s vetting process “have identified issues that cannot be ignored.” The initial news release cited Marcantell’s alleged involvement in a number of incidents but two subsequent news releases eliminated references to some of the claims. On Tuesday (Jan. 31), Gov. Susana Martinez criticized Sen. Lopez, saying, “I’m extremely frustrated that politics has taken over the Roundhouse. How someone with such a great reputation in law enforcement and with what ease a letter is sent out [the news release] being critical of someone who has such a great career in law enforcement.” But Sen. Lopez, who was the lone committee member to vote against Marcantel’s appointment on Wednesday, was adamant about her vote. Read more

Marcantel confirmed at Corrections, Lopez defends news releases

Homeowners spot cougar in Alto

Here Kitty Kitty

From the Ruidoso News.com - Another mountain lion, or perhaps the same one seen two months ago, has been observed around homes in Alto Lakes. Pictures of the cougar show it next to a home, in a back yard and trekking along a driveway. The sighting happened a couple of weeks ago. A mountain lion that spent some time in the High Mesa Drive and Lake Shore Drive area of Alto Lakes in November and December was never caught by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department. A trap had been set to capture the lion, which showed no real fear of people.  "We extended the kill permit for that one," Mark Holguin, an officer with the department said Thursday. "We tried a couple of different things trying to call it in in the Alto area and we were unsuccessful." Holguin said the department had not received any more recent calls about mountain lions in that area until contacted by the Ruidoso News. Game and Fish Department District Supervisor Ben Byrd said when people see a cougar in residential areas they should notify the department. "If it's really acclimated to being around people, it may act like this," Holguin said of the large cat's apparent comfort with people. "In the grand scheme of things, it is pretty unusual, but if it's the same lion that's used to people then it's not too unusual in that regard." Holguin suggested that people who go for walks should do so in pairs because there is increased safety in numbers. He also recommended not allowing pets to roam around outside at night. Read more

Homeowners spot cougar in Alto