News New Mexico: 01/12/12

N.M Hikers: First a Marriage Proposal Then a Rescue

From latimes.com -Russell Vandemeer’s plan to propose to his girlfriend started out pretty well. He and Karen Renshaw took their three dogs -- Stitch, Suzy and Griswald -- on a hike Monday at White Sands National Monument. Amid the sweep of white dunes in southern New Mexico, Vandemeer asked Renshaw to marry him. She said yes. Then they couldn’t find their way back to their car. Somehow, the Oklahoma couple had enough of a cellphone signal to call a relative, who contacted park officials just before sunset, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. The resulting nighttime search party included two U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters from Texas’ Ft. Bliss and a F-22 Raptor from New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base. Using infrared equipment, the Raptor pilot spotted the couple, the paper said. Then the helicopters scooped up Vandemeer, Renshaw and their dogs. The couple invited the rescuers to their upcoming wedding. More News New Mexico

N.M. Lawmakers Introduce New Education Bill

From kob.com -Some New Mexico state legislators have proposed a bill that would make some big changes to early childhood education. The bill was introduced today by Democratic lawmakers Linda Lopez, Rick Miera, and several others involved with public education. They said bill will focus on early intervention for low-scoring students. Students would be tracked early on from Kindergarten through 8th grade. If they need help, their school or district can create a team to decide what that specific child needs. It could be a tutor or special program that would basically tailor their education to help them get up to speed. The bill would also give the power to hold students back a grade to the parent. More News New Mexico

Economist Sees Slow N.M. Growth in 2012

From krqe.com -The body language of some of the business leaders gathered at New Mexico's 7th Annual Economic Outlook Conference looked like they were expecting an economic apocalypse in 2012.
But Lee Reynis, director of the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said there's plenty to like in the year ahead even if it isn't necessarily exciting. "I see slow growth as probably the best that we're going to see," said Reynis. "I don't think that's necessarily bad." Reynis pointed to solid growth in the state's mining and gas industries as a big positive sign adding she expects tourism to keep expanding in New Mexico. More News New Mexico

NM Project to Link Power Grids Lines up Partners

From abcnews.com -The partnerships with Mitsui and Co. and the European Power Exchange will ensure access to a large talent pool and funding for the next three phases of development for the Tres Amigas SuperStation in eastern New Mexico, said Tres Amigas president and chief executive Phillip Harris. Harris has spent the last week meeting in Santa Fe with Mitsui officials about details of the project. Construction is set to begin this summer, and officials expect the transmission hub to be operational in 2015. Harris said there is international interest in the success of a U.S. hub that would allow electricity to flow more freely between grids, and in the development of a trading system that could work seamlessly in a global market. More News New Mexico

N.M. Worker Allegedly Fired For Speaking Spanish to Immigrants

From koat.com -Latino legal advocacy group has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a New Mexico woman who says she was fired after complaining of discrimination against Latino immigrants seeking driver's licenses. The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund announced the lawsuit Thursday in Albuquerque and said the woman, Laura Montano, was fired from the state's Department of Motor Vehicles when she raised objections to an effort to block illegal immigrants from obtaining driver's licenses. According to the lawsuit, Montano was told not to speak Spanish to foreign nationals who were told they had to provide new residency requirements to keep licenses.

Bankrupt Solyndra seeking to pay bonuses

From the Washington Times.com - Now seems an unlikely time for handing out bonuses at bankrupt Solyndra LLC, but that’s the plan of company attorneys intending to dole out up to a half-million dollars to persuade key employees to stay put. Nearly two dozen Solyndra employees could receive bonuses ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 each under a proposal filed by Solyndra’s attorneys in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware. The attorneys say the extra money will add motivation at a time when workers at the solar company have little job security and more responsibilities because so many of their colleagues have been fired. Read more

"Military Cuts"

Courtesy of Conservativedailynews.com

janice2012.us

Biggest Illegal Immigrant Fraud Case in US History

From nytimes.com via thegatewaypundit.com - Fifty people have been accused of conspiring to sell the identities of hundreds of Puerto Ricans to illegal immigrants on the American mainland in the largest single fraud case ever for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the authorities said Wednesday. Hundreds of birth certificates, Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses were sold for up to $2,500 a set as part of a black market based in Puerto Rico that had operated since at least 2009, according to John Morton, the agency director. The ring consisted of suppliers, runners and brokers, who made coded phone calls asking for “skirts” for female customers and “pants” for males in specific “sizes,” which referred to ages and identities sought, according to the agency. More News New Mexico

PNM Files to Recover Huge Outlays for "Renewables"

New Mexico state goverment, formerly under the command and control of Governor Bill Richardson, managed to pass legislation that micro-managed the electrical utilities in the state. With his policies Richardson forced the state's electricity providers to spend millions of dollars on very expensive "renewables." It seems that hundreds of thousands of consumers are going to have to foot the bill for enabling their government to require expensive energy sources to replace efficient energy sources.
Earlier this week Public Service Company of New Mexico, which is the state's largest electric utility, filed with state regulators for approval to add a new line item to customers' bills. The request will enable the company to recover costs for building government's so-called mandatory "renewable" energy production facilities.

"Newt Fights Back"

Courtesy of Conservativedailynews.com

janice2012.us

Flags at Half Staff Today for Pernell Herrera

Pernell Herrera

Governor Susana Martinez has ordered flags flown at half-staff from sunrise to sundown today in honor of Sergeant Pernell Herrera of the New Mexico National Guard. Sgt. Herrera, of Espanola, passed away after suffering cardiac arrest while serving in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan on December 31st. Sgt. Herrera was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the Meritorious Service Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He is survived by his mother Dolores Quintana, his brother Arthur Herrera, and his two children, Alicia and Julian Herrera. Funeral services for Herrera will be held today in Espanola.

Sen. Lopez Rep. Miera Will Talk Education Today

Linda Lopez

In a press release Wedensday morning NM Senator Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo11) and Representative Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo11), gave early indications that they will be lining up against the Governor's proposal to stop the discredited practice of "social promotion" in public schools. The pair will hold a press conference today at 12:00 p.m. in the roundhouse. In the press release the Albuquerque lawmakers said:

"In the upcoming legislative session, we will introduce legislation concerning early childhood education and an alternative to retaining students without parental involvement in the process, said Representative Miera. "Family involvement throughout the education process is paramount for student success. Our approach gives support for reading and math in all grades with special emphasis on K-8," said Senator Lopez.

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