Education leaders propose new funding system

Higher education leaders in New Mexico are proposing a new system for state funding of universities and community colleges. 

The proposal was developed by a team of New Mexico State University administrators. It would have legislators provide colleges and universities with the schools' previous year's allocations but also add incentive funding to reward the schools for performances. 

Measurements for the performance-based funding could include completed student credit hours, total research funding and awarded degrees.

 The proposal has backing from two- and four-year schools across the state. Western New Mexico University Joseph Shepard says the agreement on the proposal is "monumental."

Education leaders propose new funding system

Virgin Galactic pushes back start date

Virgin Galactic has again pushed back its estimated start date for launching commercial flights from New Mexico's Spaceport America. And spaceport officials say they'll need more state money to make up for lost user fees and visitor revenue at the project. 

The spaceport's director, Christine Anderson, says she plans to ask the Legislature for $7 million to finish paving a road between the facility and Las Cruces because other expenses have eaten into her budget. 

The budget assumed that Virgin's space flights would begin in February 2014, but they're now slated for August. 

The spaceport's visitor center was expected to open at the end of this year, but the center and its theme-park style, space-related experiences is a year behind. 

Virgin Galactic pushes back start date

AG says NM could lose tobacco revenue

Gary King

Attorney General Gary King's office estimates New Mexico could lose from $12 million to $25 million next year from a nationwide settlement with tobacco companies. 

New Mexico is to collect about $39 million in tobacco payments this year and has received nearly $572 million since 1999. 

A legislative panel is to hear from King's office Wednesday about a reduction in revenues because of an arbitration ruling against New Mexico and five others states in September. A three-judge panel concluded the states didn't adequately enforce laws requiring smaller tobacco companies to pay certain fees if they weren't part of the 1998 settlement with major companies. 

New Mexico is using nearly $20 million in tobacco revenue this year for early childhood programs and to shore up a lottery-financed college scholarship program.

AG says NM could lose tobacco revenue

N.M. salsa company sues cranberry giant

From KRQE-TV.com - By Alex Goldsmith - ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Behind its North Valley restaurant, El Pinto's salsa factory is humming, churning out jars and jars of the spicy stuff. But El Pinto's twin owners say it's not the jars but new single-serving size plastic tubs that got them a big opportunity with cranberry giant Ocean Spray.
     Ocean Spray wanted to make 12 ounce plastic tubs of cranberry salsa and a cranberry relish and turned to El Pinto. "They were having difficulty doing it in their facility so they were looking for somebody that was capable of doing it," said El Pinto owner John Thomas.
     "They were supposed to buy 200,000 cases per year of this product for at least three years," said Michael Cadigan, El Pinto's attorney. So El Pinto says it sunk around $1 million in costs and a lot of time and effort buying and modifying machines to make the products and develop the recipes themselves.
     In April 2012, on the day when El Pinto was supposed to start cranking out Ocean Spray's products, a nasty storm hit and knocked out power to El Pinto's machines. According to a lawsuit filed by El Pinto against Ocean Spray, the cranberry company used that as a reason to back out of the deal claiming El Pinto violated the terms of their contract.
     But Cadigan tells KRQE News 13 he believes Ocean Spray had ulterior motives. "I think Ocean Spray found another company they wanted to do this project with, and they had to find a way to get rid of El Pinto," Cadigan said. "When they found a way to do it cheaper in Canada, they pulled out."
     The lawsuit also accuses Ocean Spray of sharing trade secrets with that new business partner including salsa recipes as well as salsa-making techniques. More

N.M. salsa company sues cranberry giant

David Clements on News New Mexico Wednesday

David Clements, Candidate for U.S. Senate

David Clements, Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate will be in the News New Mexico studio Wednesday, October 30, 2013 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 

     He is the former Assistant District Attorney and senior trial lawyer for the 6th Judicial District in southwestern New Mexico. He currently serves as the Dona Ana County Republican Party Chairman and 2nd Congressional District Vice-Chair of the New Mexico Republican Liberty Caucus.
     David is married to Erin and they are raising their 3yr old son Roland in Las Cruces. David received his bachelors degree at New Mexico State University in Kinesiology and his law degree from the University of New Mexico.

     If you have question for David, please submit them here.

David Clements on News New Mexico Wednesday

Alan Webber to run for Governor

Alan Webber

Santa Fe businessman and former magazine publisher Alan Webber has joined the race for governor, becoming the fourth Democratic candidate to take on Republican incumbent Susana Martinez. 

Webber said Monday in an interview that he's entering the race because New Mexico faces problems in creating good jobs and providing a quality education to children. Webber said "it's going to take new leadership in the governor's office to turn those things around." 

The 65-year-old Webber co-founded the business magazine Fast Company in the 1990s and later sold it. 

Webber joins Attorney General Gary King and state Sens. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque and Howie Morales of Silver City in seeking the Democratic nomination.

Alan Webber to run for Governor

APD releases names of officers injured in shootout

Albuquerque Police have released the names and conditions of the three officers wounded in Saturday's shootout.

 Ofc. Matthew Hannum was hired by APD in June 2004 as a PSA, and entered the police academy in July of 2006. Hannum was hospitalized and later released. 

Ofc. Eric Martinez was hired by APD in January of 2004. Martinez was grazed by bullet fragments and was treated on the scene. 

Ofc. Daniel Morales was hired in 2003. Morales remains hospitalized and is recovering from his injuries. 

BCSO deputy Robin Hopkins remains in intensive care as a result of her injuries. Doctors anticipate her to remain in the hospital for several weeks.

APD releases names of officers injured in shootout

Green Tea Not Welcome at Tea Party

Commentary by Marita Noon, www.energymakesamericagreat.org - Jobs. Enlarging the tax base. Market access. Energy choice. Fair compensation. Options. Make money. These words and phrases represent ideas or concepts that are attractive to Republicans, conservatives, limited-government and free-market supporters, and even fiscally minded Democrats—which is exactly why they are being used to get buy-in from these groups for something that is 180 degrees from their core values. This approach, I believe, is part of an organized plan by the left to hoodwink the right.
     If supporters of renewable energy, such as wind and solar, said it was heavily subsidized on both the state and federal level, had an artificial market created by government mandates, would help mitigate global warming, was the recipient of taxpayer dollars through Obama’s 2009 stimulus bill that funded projects like Solyndra, and was marred by cronyism, the right would run. Instead the wily tactics have won over a few Republicans with strong conservative résumés. Those sell-outs are working hard to bring their peers into the fold.
     Let this be a warning. While they may be hitting the right notes, they are singing the wrong song.
     I first became aware of this scheme back in July—then, I thought it was just an anomaly. The Georgia Tea Party Patriots, cofounded by Debbie Dooley, partnered with the Sierra Club in support of increased solar in the state. When I talked to her for a column I wrote addressing it, she told me it was all about choice. With a sneer, she called the utility company “a monopoly” and explained that solar would give them competition while consumers would get options. Recently Dooley found her way on to Fox News, where she touted the Green Tea Coalition and claimed to be battling “big energy.” Read full column

Green Tea Not Welcome at Tea Party

Three police officers wounded in shootout, suspect dead

From KOB-TV.com - By: Steve Mieczkowski, KOB.com - Two Albuquerque Police officers and one BCSO deputy were shot and wounded Saturday morning during a shootout. The events began when reports were received that a man was walking around with an AK-47 rifle near Broadway and Pacific. The man then shot an APD officer before leading police and BCSO deputies on a car chase through the North Valley.
Police report that the man continued to fire shots during the chase, wounding a second APD officer and a BCSO deputy. The suspected shooter was shot and pronounced dead at 4th Street and Montano.
One of the APD wounded officers has been released by police, and the other is still in surgery. The BCSO deputy is out of surgery and is in a medically induced coma. The identities of the three officers have not been released, and police have not identified the identity of the shooter. This has not happened at is available.
Also from KOB-TV
Governor Susana Martinez has talked to Albuquerque Police Chief Allen Banks and Sheriff Dan Houston to offer her support after Saturday’s shootout. The Governor told them State Police and the Department of Public Safety are on stand bye if they need any help.
In a statement Martinez added, "I ask all New Mexicans to join Chuck and me in keeping these officers and their loved ones in our prayers.” KOB.TV.com

Three police officers wounded in shootout, suspect dead

Swickard: Drink up America before the trouble begins

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “The real goal should be reduced government spending, rather than balanced budgets achieved by ever rising tax rates to cover ever rising spending.” Economist Thomas Sowell
     A certain kind of spending makes our country go round. It is when one American reaches into his or her pocket and trades money for something of value. Commerce among Americans was described by John Kennedy as “A rising tide raises all boats.” America got rich in comparison to the rest of the world by this commerce.
     Sandwiched into commerce was government which was initially a small part of the total picture. The total bite of all national, state and local taxes at the start of the 20th century was about three percent. Today it is 30 percent or higher. For that increase Americans got a robust military, roads, hospitals, fire stations and a first rate judicial system. These things make America great.
     Sadly, in the midst of these great improvements there are also many do-good projects. We have so many of them that we have out of control spending. We reached a tipping point where our government is making the extra revenue needed out of thin air since America can no longer borrow that much money.
     How much? Currently around 40% of all government spending is make-believe money. There is a notion that dollars created out of thin air by our government do no harm. This make-believe money is now the coin of the realm. But consider the problem of owning dollars not backed by anything of value.
     There is an old joke: a man walks into a bar and says, “Give me a drink before the trouble starts.” The bartender pours a drink. The man gulps that down and says, “Give me another drink before the trouble starts.” So the bartender pours another drink. The man gulps it down and the bartender asks, “When is the trouble going to start?” The man says, “As soon as you realize that I don’t have any money.”
     Drink up America, because the trouble is just about to begin. Read full column

Swickard: Drink up America before the trouble begins