SpaceX coming to Spaceport America

  Governor Susana Martinez has announced that Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, or SpaceX, has signed a three-year agreement to lease land and facilities at Spaceport America to conduct the next phase of flight testing for its reusable rocket program. 

The company will be a new tenant at Spaceport America, the state-owned commercial launch site located in southern New Mexico. 

 SpaceX has completed its first series of successful, low-altitude tests of the “Grasshopper” vehicle in McGregor, Texas and is proceeding to the next phase of development that includes testing in New Mexico. 

With Grasshopper, SpaceX engineers are creating technology that will enable a rocket to return to the launch pad intact for a vertical landing, rather than burning up upon reentry in the Earth’s atmosphere.

SpaceX coming to Spaceport America

Teenagers having a hard time finding work

From KOB-TV.com - By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - It’s hard to be a teenager looking for work in New Mexico these days. The teen unemployment rate here is almost 19 percent, more than twice as bad as the jobless rate for grownups.
     We paid a visit to Rain Tunnel Car Spa at Central and Rio Grande in Old Town, expecting to find some teenage workers. Wrong. You don’t find many teenagers working in the car wash industry now, with some notable exceptions. One of them is working at Rain Tunnel. Xavier Rojo is 18, and he’s a stud at Rain Tunnel – the drive-off man. But just about everybody else is over 21. Owner Buck Buckner says teenagers, especially high school teenagers, just aren’t a good fit. “Because we’re a daytime business those hours are very limited for the teenager,” Buckner told us during a very busy lunch hour at the Rain Tunnel. “He has to come in and report at 3, and probably by 5:30 winter hours we close, and 6 o’clock summer hours we close. He’s off the clock, so it shortens his hours.”
     Xavier is a student at CNM, where he’s studying automotive technology and design. His job fits his school schedule. “They were hiring and I just kept coming back and trying my hardest,” Xavier said while wipingdown a newly washed car. “You keep applying yourself and you go out there and look for jobs and you can find one. We’re in a tough economy but I believe you can really find a job if you really work hard, no matter what job it is.”
     New Mexico’s 19 percent teenage jobless rate is actually way better than most states. The national average is just over 24 percent. In California and South Carolina it’s 33 percent! So for once we’re not in the bottom ten! Read more

Teenagers having a hard time finding work

It is now President Garrey Carruthers

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. A few weeks ago my column looked at what some said was already a decision by the New Mexico State University Regents to hire Garrey Carruthers as the next President of New Mexico State University. The Regents by law had to go through the open hiring process and so they did with five finalists. But I suspect they were already leaning toward Carruthers. I wrote:
    “The Regents … must select someone who reflects and will defend NMSU’s tradition and missions. Unless the Regents want to change that mission in the future, the next president needs to know his or her way around the Ag Barns.”
     It became official when the Regents announced this week that Dean of the NMSU College of Business Garrey Carruthers is the next NMSU President. I applaud the decision for three reasons: first, he will hit the ground running and not take a year to get up to speed. Secondly, he understands NMSU’s mission and traditions. Finally, he is well liked and respected on the campus and around the state.
     Other than one president in the 1950s who was only in Las Cruces a couple of years I have known all the NMSU presidents back to Hugh Milton who was selected before World War II. Most have been extraordinary.
     Several, however, were not good and the chaos they caused was regrettable. Having the wrong person in charge as was shown with the last president caused lots of turmoil and intrigue. The last president did not like the smell of the Ag Barns. It is regrettable she was selected in the first place.
     Carruthers does know his way around the Ag Barns and especially understands the Land-Grant mission. In the coming years those parts of the university that make NMSU unique will receive the priority they deserve. Further, Higher Education is changing and it takes a visionary to navigate the changes, holding on to what is important and taking advantage of the new opportunities. Read column

It is now President Garrey Carruthers

Lesser prairie chicken doesn't get federal protection

From the Alamogordo Daily News - by Milan Simonich, Texas-New Mexico Newspapers - SANTA FE -- Those seeking federal protection for a rare bird of the Southwest say they lost an important round Friday at the hands of the Obama administration. A conservation group said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yielded to industrial interests by proposing a special rule harmful to the lesser prairie chicken's chances of survival.     Jay Lininger of the Center for Biological Diversity said the rule that would decrease the U.S. Endangered Species Act's normal protections for the prairie chicken. Similar rules lessened protection for polar bears and have been proposed for wolverines, he said. "We're disappointed the service is using a rule that is supposed to enhance wildlife conservation to lock the lesser prairie chicken into small areas of habitat, preclude their recovery and give blanket approval to industrial activities that are pushing them to extinction," Lininger said.      U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce took the opposite position. He said the plan by the Fish and Wildlife Service made good sense, and he questioned the motives of the Center for Biological Diversity.     Pearce, R-Hobbs, said the federal rule in question had proven to be an effective tool in prioritizing species management. "Unfortunately, CBD is consistent in their disdain for this approach. I have to assume this is the case because it could lead to the actual recovery of the species, which is not good for their sue-and-settle agenda that lines the pockets of their attorneys," Pearce said. read story

Lesser prairie chicken doesn't get federal protection

Gov. tightens control of capital improvement projects

Gov. Susana Martinez's administration is tightening controls over capital improvement financing by requiring that local governments, school districts and others in New Mexico have a current audit before state money is released for a project.

 Martinez issued an executive order on Thursday to ensure that capital project financing goes only to governmental organizations that have completed their annual audits and corrected any problems identified by auditors. 

The administration developed the new guidelines after reviewing this year's $215 million in capital projects and determining that some were for governmental groups late in submitting financial audits required under current law.

Gov. tightens control of capital improvement projects

NM Drought worst in the nation

New Mexico is currently experiencing the worst drought in the country according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

 In just the past week the percentage of New Mexico under extreme drought shot up from 4 percent to 25 percent. The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows the state blanketed in red. This is the third consecutive year of historic drought nationwide.

 In the southwest New Mexico and Texas have been hit the hardest. Average rainfall in New Mexico is down by more than half.

 For cattle ranchers that means high feed costs and reducing their herd size. Farmers across the region are switching to crops that require less water like cotton. 

Also the danger of wildfire will only intensify as high winds and hot temperatures combine in the coming weeks.

NM Drought worst in the nation

NMSU to announce new president Monday

New Mexico State University's next president is set to be announced next week.  

Regents plan tentatively to reveal their pick on Monday. 

Finalists include NMSU business dean and former Gov. Garrey Carruthers, former Texas Tech University president Guy Bailey, former University of Nevada, Las Vegas president David Ashley, former Texas A&M University president Elsa Murano and University of Colorado Denver Dean Daniel Howard. 

Regents chair Mike Cheney says the bulk of deliberations about the candidates will happen today.

NMSU to announce new president Monday

Fire in Sandia Mountains

There is a fire burning in the Sandia mountains four miles southeast of Bernalillo.

 The fire, which has been named the Piedra Fire, is approximately 50 acres in size, according to Fire Information Officer Karen Takai. 

The fire, which began around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, is burning in ponderosa pine and fir. Several spot fires to the east of the main fire have been located. The cause of the fire is unknown. Officials say no structures are in danger and the cause of the blaze near the historic village of Placitas is unknown. 

Hotshot crews and Bureau of Indian Affairs crews are onsite, helicopters are making bucket drops, and two air tankers and two air support modules are at the fire. 

As a precaution, Loop Road has been closed has the Piedra Lisa trail at the south end off of the FR 333. 

Albuquerque health officials issued a health alert due to wildfire smoke until Friday morning.

Fire in Sandia Mountains

What it means to be an American

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “We have not passed on what it means to be an American to the next generation.” Dennis Prager on the biggest threat to our countryWhen people ask my fears for the future I quote Dennis Prager. My future and the future of my country are the same. But the America to which I was born is not the same country today. My grandparents would not recognize this country. Over the last fifty years our unique American values have been intentionally destroyed.

These next generations have not been taught what it means to be an American. They are not conversant with the American value systems of their grandparents. Therefore, lacking a grounding in American values, they feel free to adopt values from Europe or Asia.

When I was a child the purpose of our country was understood. Also there were obligations each American had to our country. I grew up understanding the sacrifices made so I could have liberty and the obligations of a free country. I understood that America became America by the ideals of personal liberty, responsibility and that our country was and is guided by a higher power. 

Years ago I had a clear picture of our country as to purpose: protect the world and ourselves from evil. Live a God-Fearing life and to make sure this country gave equal opportunity to every citizen. During my lifetime the words, “…Under God…” were added to the Pledge of Allegiance. 

 Starting in the 1960s, however, came the attack from within on American values. Over these last five decades God is no longer welcome in our schools and workplaces. God is no longer centric to our country. We did not seem to notice this loss of a core value in our society. It changed without a vote and without the consent of the governed. Next went our liberty. A coincidence? 

 During the Civil War President Abraham Lincoln wrote: “...I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” Read column

What it means to be an American

Neighbors react to home invasion shooting

From KOB-TV.com - By: Maria Guerrero, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - A South Valley Homeowner apparently decided to take matters into his own hands and shot a suspected intruder early Wednesday morning.

     "No I didn't hear it," said Juanita Balulis as she walked down her driveway. Balulis said she had no idea there was a crime scene right down the street from her home. "That's really scary," she said looking at the police tape.
     Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 5300 block of Southfort Drive early Wednesday morning. They found a man in a home with a gunshot wound to the chest.
     Investigators say the homeowner told them the man broke into his home so he shot the intruder. Deputies say the intruder, who they are not naming, even drove up to the home in his black car. The sheriff’s office had the suspect’s car, which has a license plate, towed from the home.
     Neighbors described the homeowner as a good man with a wife and a little girl. "They are really good neighbors. Very calm," said Chaviera. “I love this area out here,” said Balulis. “I moved here from Virginia. I've liked it so far but now I don't know if i'm going to like it too much anymore after this or not.”
     The suspected intruder wasn’t killed. He’s still in the hospital after being shot and is the only person facing charges right now. The sheriff’s office says the suspect could be charged with burglary. The homeowner isn’t facing any charges at this point. Read more

Neighbors react to home invasion shooting