Santa Fe Councilors take fluoride issue off ballot

A group of Santa Fe city councilors who said they want voters to decide whether the city should add fluoride to drinking water no longer plans to put the issue on a ballot, Councilor Bill Dimas said Tuesday. But it’s still not clear what the next step in the city’s decision-making process will be. The city Finance Committee on Tuesday recommended approval of the most recent proposal from Councilor Chris Calvert, which would continue fluoridation for a period of three years. But the committee also voted Tuesday to stall a planned Oct. 30 public hearing so that the full City Council can also consider a proposal to stop adding fluoride immediately. Whichever decision is made, Calvert noted, most of the city’s water comes from a joint city/county Rio Grande diversion that is governed by a board of directors. That board would also have to vote to stop fluoridating water before the practice could be dropped. Dimas and Councilors Chris Rivera, Carmichael Dominguez and Ron Trujillo said two weeks ago that they wanted to put the issue before voters during the next municipal election in 2014. Dimas said at Tuesday’s committee meeting that the idea was no longer on the table. Councilors never formally introduced the ballot proposal in writing.

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Santa Fe Councilors take fluoride issue off ballot

Endeavor to fly over Las Cruces Thursday

Across southern New Mexico, where America's rocket program was born, space shuttle Endeavour will "thank" White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, and Las Cruces for years of support to the space program. Endeavour, atop a 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), will fly across Las Cruces skies sometime between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Thursday as part of its final flight from Kennedy Space Center to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The shuttle and SCA will fly at a low level, some where between 1,500 to 2,000 feet above the ground to give Las Crucens one last glimpse of the shuttle. "I'm definitely keeping my eyes open. (It will) be cool to see," said Jeremy Acosta, in a post on the Sun-News' Facebook page. Many Las Crucens are also making plans to watch the fly-over, even if it means taking an early lunch or a break from work. "I'll be working but (I'm) gonna keep an eye out for it," Emmanuel Gutierrez said. Carol Winnebago added, "We should have an awesome view of it on the East Mesa. I remember when it flew over a couple of years ago. What a surprise that was! This time I'll remember the camera." Jada Witmer is also eager to see Endeavour. "I just hope I can see it," she said. "And, I am hoping that the schools make an effort to get the kids out of the classrooms to see it." Endeavour and the SCA leave Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility today. The flight will leave Florida sometime between 4:45 and 6 a.m., and the departure can be seen on NASA TV. The shuttle and SCA will leave Houston early Thursday morning and fly to El Paso, where the SCA will refuel at Biggs Army Airfield. From there, Endeavour and the SCA will fly to WSMR's main post, White Sands Test Facility, and then over Las Cruces, before turning west and heading to California. "It should be visible from just about all points in Las Cruces," said WSMR spokeswoman Monte Marlin. "Just about everywhere in Las Cruces, folks should have a reasonable view."...

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Endeavor to fly over Las Cruces Thursday

ABQ council to weigh in on zoo fees

Mayor Richard Berry’s administration now acknowledges that it should have sought City Council approval before launching a plan to boost BioPark admission prices and use the money to tackle a maintenance backlog. John Soladay, Albuquerque’s chief operations officer, said the city budget ordinance requires a council-approved “appropriation” before proceeds from the fee increase can be spent. The administration had originally contended it didn’t need council approval for the plan, which Berry says is necessary to repair the BioPark and avoid laying off maintenance workers. The position change was disclosed this week after City Councilor Ken Sanchez demanded to know what authority the mayor had to change the fees unilaterally. He and Councilor Debbie O’Malley are proposing to roll back part of the fee hike. “I’m not sure who dropped the ball on their end,” Sanchez said, “but they should have read what’s required.” Soladay says the higher fees — $10 for basic admission, rather than $7 — will remain in place until the council takes formal action, probably next month. The administration, he maintains, has authority to set the admission prices. It just can’t spend revenue from the increase without council approval, Soladay said.

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ABQ council to weigh in on zoo fees

Martinez responds to Romney video

 Republican Gov. Susana Martinez says the "47 percent" mentioned by GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a video made public this week represents an important voting group. Martinez, the nation's only Latina governor and once mentioned as a vice presidential candidate, was asked Tuesday about the video during a stop in Albuquerque. The video shows Romney telling wealthy donors that almost half of all Americans "believe they are victims" entitled to extensive government support. Romney has said the comments weren't "elegantly stated" and they were spoken "off the cuff." Asked if she was offended by the comments, Martinez said New Mexico has many people who are living at the poverty level and their voters count just as much as anyone else. She says it's "a good thing" her state provides a safety net for those in poverty.

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Martinez responds to Romney video

Corrections Department revamps inmate work program

The New Mexico Department of Corrections is revamping its division that puts inmates to work. The department and the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management announced Tuesday a new partnership aimed at retooling the Corrections Industries Division. The division allows inmates to participate in public works projects, teaches inmates jobs skills and trains them to make furniture and textiles. Under the partnership, Anderson school students and professors will help corrections officials develop a business model for the division. The partnership is part of New Mexico Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel's broad efforts to reform the state's prison system. The department currently is conducting an audit of inmate records after a handful of inmates were mistakenly released early.

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Corrections Department revamps inmate work program

State short money for general election

 The secretary of state's office says it's facing a $1.4 million budget shortfall because of unexpected general election costs, but the financial squeeze won't prevent New Mexicans from casting ballots in November. Secretary of State Dianna Duran came up empty-handed Tuesday in asking the state Board of Finance for emergency funding for the costs of leased equipment that will print ballots at about 180 "voting convenience centers" in 15 counties. Those allow voters to go to a consolidated polling location most convenient to them rather than their traditional precinct-based voting site. A 2011 law allowed counties to establish the new voting locations but the state must pay for systems to print paper ballots on demand. Duran plans to ask the Legislature next year to cover the additional election costs.

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State short money for general election

Pot plants cleared from land in Torrance County

Torrance County Sheriff's deputies continue their search for the people they said are responsible for a massive pot operation, one the team spent all day Tuesday uprooting. Four hundred marijuana plants were uprooted and seized from a property in Torrance County after it was found by two people hunting Monday. The men told investigators that four men with assault rifles shot at them trying to protect the plants. "Where this plantation was very far away from anywhere a local could go or wander off to," said Torrance County Sheriff Heath White. And to stop another potentially volatile situation, officials spent the entire day clearing out all 401 plants from the area. "Today we just went up to the property, cleaned up all the plants, the root systems, irrigation, everything that was left on the property from the operation," said White, adding that it was quite an expensive, intricate operation. "These plants were cared for. There is a whole drip system, water system. Very intricate and a lot of money (was) spent on these plants. So right now we're breaking someone's heart by taking all these plants," said White. White didn't give any details about who the pot farmers are but did say there is still an active search for them.
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Pot plants cleared from land in Torrance County

New Mexico poorest state in the nation

It's a list no one wants to top, but New Mexico is. New Census numbers show the state is officially the poorest state in the country, with one out of every four families living in poverty. "I don't think this is a surprise to people in New Mexico. I think the problems are problems they live with every day," said Gerry Bradley of New Mexico voices for children. According to the US Census, in 2011 22 percent of our families were living in poverty compared to the national level which was 15 percent. Gerry Bradley researched the state's poverty numbers and offered one big reason why New Mexico is performing so poorly. "Everything that happens in the area of poverty it's going to ultimately be traced back to the labor market. If we're losing jobs, we're not going to be improving in our poverty standings," said Bradley. Bradley said before 2008, that 50th ranking was actually around 45th to or 44th. He also said the state's education budgets are being cut and public sector jobs are suffering. Bradley said the only way to fix the low rankings is to get the government to step in. So Action Seven News asked Gov. Susana Martinez to weigh in on the rankings and she sent in this response. "Reforming our education system to make it more accountable and responsive to struggling students must be the cornerstone of reducing poverty over time. And particularly given the stagnant national economy we currently have, New Mexico must be a state that is willing to reform our tax code and compete for jobs."
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New Mexico poorest state in the nation

Free admission at State Fair today

The New Mexico state fair is offering free gate admission all day Wednesday, Sept. 19.

State Fair General Manager Dan Mourning says the goal is to make the fair affordable to everyone.

"We want every New Mexican to be able to enjoy the event we've worked so hard to put together, and we understand that the economy is still pretty tough out there for most people in our state," said Mourning.

Regular price admission will be in place on Thursday, Sept. 20, but they are offering half-price all-day ride wristbands on that day only.

Parking is free everyday throughout the State Fair.

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Free admission at State Fair today

Martinez to Speak at Domenici Conference Today

Today Governor Susana Martinez will speak at the 2012 Domenici Public Policy Conference in Las Cruces. The conference is hosted by the Domenici Institute at New Mexico State University. The institute is named after Senator Pete Domenici, New Mexico’s longest-serving United States Senator. Governor Martinez will discuss the significant recent economic development in the border region as well as the state’s efforts to improve New Mexico’s business environment at 10:00 a.m. Martinez will make her remarks at the Las Cruces Convention Center, 680 East University Ave., Las Cruces

Martinez to Speak at Domenici Conference Today