Vandals take down APD surveillance unit

From KRQE-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE  - Two vandals had to have known they were being watched by a clearly marked Albuquerque Police surveillance camera set up at a park. But that didn't stop two brazen criminals from walking right up and committing a crime. The mobile video surveillance trailer has cameras that stand roughly 30-foot in the air. Officer Robert Gibbs, of Albuquerque Police Department, said in this case, police were trying to capture an alleged flasher at the park.
     However, vandals sent that expensive surveillance tool to the ground Saturday. It's a camera that catches criminal activity when no one else appears to be watching. Video from APD's mobile surveillance trailer shows two vandals approaching the unit around 3:30 Saturday morning. The suspects check it out, then apparently try to knock it down.
     "This trailer is clearly marked with Albuquerque Police decals and markings," explained Gibbs. "These individuals had no regard to this property knowing that it belongs to the police, essentially the taxpayers. Also, it was set up for public safety."
     Although it took them several minutes, checking each side of the trailer, even climbing on top of it at one point, the two suspects eventually knocked the surveillance trailer down, causing thousands of dollars in damage. The mobile surveillance unit is worth nearly $70,000 and can be monitored 24-hours-a-day from APD's real time crime center. Read more

Vandals take down APD surveillance unit

Thanks and Devotion This Memorial Day

Commentary By Jackie Gingrich Cushman - If you were to suddenly appear this weekend at the numerous barbecues or pool parties, without any knowledge of our nation's history, it might be hard to understand the real meaning of Memorial Day. Is it a day to sell cars, clothes and mattresses? Is it a day off of work, a time to join with family and friends, and grill out?
     For our family, Memorial Day weekend marks the start of summer. School is out, and we transition from the school year to summer activities. But, oh, it is so much more.
     Memorial Day can be traced back to John Logan, who served as an Illinois congressman prior to the Civil War, then volunteered as a Union soldier and was promoted during the war to general. He issued an order in 1868 to honor those who died in the war. At that time, he was serving as commander in chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of former Union soldiers.
     "The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country," stated the order. "We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance," it said, adding that their deaths were "the cost of free and undivided republic."
     The Civil War was the most deadly war for Americans. More than 600,000 American soldiers died. That first year, approximately 5,000 people gathered at Arlington Cemetery to decorate the graves with American flags. Since then, the custom has grown and spread.
     Arlington Cemetery, located in Virginia, across the Potomac from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, is today the military graveyard of hundreds of thousands of United States soldiers. On a recent visit to our nation's capital, I had the opportunity to walk through the cemetery and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
     Walking through the cemetery, surrounded by thousands of small, white gravestones, perfectly aligned, row after row, it is easy to remember the sacrifice that has been made on our account. Soldiers have died. Families have lost sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and friends. There are miles and miles of trails through the cemetery.
      At home, at the beach or at the pool, taking time to reflect on the importance of Memorial Day may prove difficult to do amid the sales and BBQs, the day off from work. But we should all pause and remember -- to honor those who have given their lives for our country and to dedicate ourselves to living in a way that ensures their sacrifices were not in vain.Read full column

Thanks and Devotion This Memorial Day

Mescalero Apache leaders suspended

Fredrick Chino, Sr.

From the Alamogordo Daily News - by Dianne Stallings - MESCALERO -- Mescalero Apache Tribal President Frederick Chino Sr. and Vice President Sandra Platero were placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday by the tribal council. No wrongdoing is alleged.
     The action was taken to facilitate an operational and programmatic review of the tribe's activities over the next month, according to information from Acting President Alfred La Paz, who is a member of the tribal council and was serving as council secretary.
     "While the vote to place the president and vice president on leave was not unanimous, the tribal council will be working unanimously over the next month to ensure the smooth operation of tribal government," La Paz stated. "It is my understanding that a number of council members had concerns about the level of communication that existed between the president and the council."
     Frederick Chino Sr. took the oath of office as president in January 2012. He recently spoke of plans to provide future employment for tribal members. Those plans included allowing exploratory drilling in the Pajarito Mountain area for possible future mining of rare earth elements, as well as acquisition of U.S. Forest Service land to bring all of Ski Apache Resort into the reservation.
     Removal of tribal administration figures is not without precedent. After the death of longtime President Wendell Chino in 1998, his successor Paul Ortega and Vice President Oliver Enjady were removed months later. In that case, Sara Misquez, who had served as administrative assistant to the elder Chino, was installed as president.
     La Paz retired as a captain from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement division after a 30-year career. He has served on the tribal council since 2001. Read more

Mescalero Apache leaders suspended

State unveils new reading initiative

New Mexico children could win a trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom or ride in a hot air balloon with Gov. Susana Martinez under a program that state officials hope will encourage students to read when they aren't in school. 

The governor is to announce several reading contests on Wednesday in Albuquerque. 

The state is partnering with private and public organizations, including the city of Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Isotopes. 

The governor's office says the goal is to prevent a drop in the reading proficiency of students during the summer months. 

Among the top prizes for winning students is an expense-paid family trip to Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida, throwing a pitch at an Isotopes baseball game and serving as a junior zookeeper at Albuquerque's zoo.

State unveils new reading initiative

Gov. named to health care task force

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez has been named to a National Governors Association task force on health care. 

The organization announced Tuesday the panel will consider how states can improve the delivery of quality health care while controlling the costs of Medicaid, a program jointly financed by states and the federal government to provide medical services for the needy. 

Other members of the task force on health care sustainability are governors from Oregon, Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas, California, New York, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Maryland and Nevada. 

The Martinez administration has asked the federal government to approve an overhaul of New Mexico's Medicaid program, which provides health care for a fourth of the state's population. 

One goal is to better coordinate medical care in hopes of making New Mexicans healthier.

Gov. named to health care task force

Oil production up in NM

Oil production in New Mexico has increased by nearly 50 percent over the last three years, making it one of five western states that have helped boost national production over the last three years. 

Statistics from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show onshore oil production increased nationally by more than 2 million barrels a day — or nearly two-thirds — between February 2010 and February 2013.

North Dakota and Texas have been the driving forces, but New Mexico along with Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah account for 15 percent of the growth.

Oil production up in NM

NM's potential for twisters higher in eastern plains

From KOB-TV.com - By: Jill Galus, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Tornadoes are not as common in New Mexico as they are in Oklahoma, but they do happen here. A severe tornado ripped through Clovis about six years ago, but still remains one of the most destructive tornadoes the state has ever seen, killing two people.
     Jennifer Palucki with the National Weather Service said, a tornado like that can, and probably will, happen again somewhere in our state. The eastern plains of New Mexico are considered the on-ramp to tornado alley. "The fact that we haven't seen it recently tends to take people by surprise," Palucki said.
     Since 1955 there have only been 9 years without a single reported tornado, according to weather experts. Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry said he remembers the last tornado to hit Albuquerque, back on July 14th, 1990. That is one of four to reportedly touch down in the city since 1985. "We didn't know until after the fact, but there was some noise involved as there always is with tornados and then we came out and found out the property across the street on San Pedro had been damaged severely," Berry said.
     Radar has improved tremendously since then. "We can tell the difference, whether it's hailing or raining or snowing, we can also see things like tornado debris balls," Palucki said. Without the moisture like in the midwest, it is unlikely to see a large magnitude tornado in New Mexico. Read more

NM's potential for twisters higher in eastern plains

Swickard: Give until it stops hurting

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D.  A friend in college was in a discussion group when someone said, “You must give until it hurts.” My friend corrected it to: “You must give until it stops hurting.” My, that is much better. With the tornado damage to Americans this week there is a divide in the discussions between: “Oh, just let the government take care of people in need because that is why we pay taxes,” and, “Here, my friend, I will help you.” 
Government, as it gets bigger, wants to be the entity that helps because it gives government a solid mission but we Americans were born to help each other. At least my generation was born that way. I am not saying there is not a place in a disaster for government. Goodness, there are always the needs of the many at the moment of disaster, but I am thinking of all the people in New Orleans and with Hurricane Sandy that sat and sat and sat waiting on the government. When Hurricane Katrina hit a friend of mine watched for a couple of hours on television and then, because he has a restaurant background, got a big truck and lots of supplies along with a generator. He and a couple friends headed down to New Orleans and parked in a closed Wal-Mart parking lot. For a week my friend served coffee and pancakes to the great relief of the people in the area. After a while the government got going but at the time of the disaster there was a schism between the Republican President and the Democrat Governor and Mayor of New Orleans. They initially told the president that they did not want help so when they changed their minds it was several days into the crisis. But in the middle of all that politics my friend made coffee, gave out bottles of water and served up pancakes to the grateful citizens. Then, with the big truck empty, he and his friends came home. On the way home they prayed that others would help because that is what we do, we give until it stops hurting. Read column

Swickard: Give until it stops hurting

Small Fla. city wonders who won Powerball jackpot

From KOB-TV.com - By TAMARA LUSH and BARBARA RODRIGUEZ - (AP) ZEPHYR HILLS, Fla. - Some lucky person walked into a Publix supermarket in suburban Florida over the past few days and bought a ticket now worth an estimated $590.5 million _ the highest Powerball jackpot in history.
     Whoever has the ticket had not come forward as of Sunday afternoon. "This would be the sixth Florida Powerball winner and right now, it’s the sole winner of the largest ever Powerball jackpot," Florida Lottery executive Cindy O’Connell told The Associated Press. "We’re delighted right now that we have the sole winner."
     Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said that there are a lot of rumors about who won, but the store doesn’t know. "We’re excited for the winner or winners," she said. O’Connell said Florida has had more Powerball winners than any other state but did not give any indication whether anyone had stepped forward with the winning ticket in Saturday’s drawing.
     But plenty of people in Zephyrhills _ population 13,337 _ are wondering whether it’s someone they know. Zephyrhills is a small city in Pasco County, about 30 miles northeast of downtown Tampa. Once a rural farming town, it’s now known as a hotbed for skydiving activity, and the home to large retiree mobile home parks and Zephyrhills bottled water.
     And now, one lucky lottery ticket. Read more

Small Fla. city wonders who won Powerball jackpot

US Interior Department sets new rule for ‘fracking’

From Capitol Report New Mexico - The new boss at the U.S. Department of the Interior has established a new rule for hydraulic fracturing (commonly called “fracking”) on federal lands that seems to have pleased neither environmentalists nor oil and gas producers. According to the Associated Press, new Interior secretary Sally Jewell and the Obama administration announced Thursday (May 16) that companies that drill for oil and natural gas on federal lands will be required to disclose publicly the chemicals used in fracking operations. Not surprisingly, oil and gas producers complained about the ruling, saying it’s unnecessary.
     But at least one environmental group complained too, saying the decision is a watered-down version of an earlier proposal. “It is clear what happened: the Bureau of Land Management caved to the wealthy and powerful oil and gas industry and left the public to fend for itself,” Jessica Ennis, a spokeswoman for the environmental group Earthjustice told AP. A big reason for the complaint from environmentalists hinges on the ruling calling for disclosure of chemicals to go to a group called FracFocus, a voluntary site where companies self-report.
     According to the Interior Department, domestic production from more than 92,000 oil and gas wells on public lands accounts for about 13 percent of the nation’s natural gas production and 5 percent of U.S. oil production. In an Interior report last year, oil and gas activity on BLM-managed lands in New Mexico was linked to 47,807 direct jobs and $10.9 billion in direct output. Read more

US Interior Department sets new rule for ‘fracking’