Swickard: All we get from our goldmine is the shaft

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. Most people in New Mexico care about a lot of things. They have the requisite concern about the endangered species along with a clean and fertile Mother Earth. They signed on to Earth Day when Global Cooling was the concern, and then signed on to the Global Warming alarmists.
     What we know for sure is that the solution to everything from Global Cooling to Global Warming is to put the government in charge and stop doing as much capitalism. America hears loud and clear when the voices of environmentalism shout, “Whatever you do, stop making money to save the planet.”

     Most Americans are unaware that the millions upon millions of dollars wasted in environmental causes come in one form or another from their pockets. Each wolf, owl, lizard and New Mexico jumping mouse takes money from each American, regardless of if we agree to the theft.
     Know this: our nation is a lesser nation because it cannot be energy independent and still comply with all the political agendas. We need not import another drop of oil or gas if we so desire. Take New Mexico for example: it is rich in potential for oil and gas. However, while some of the oil and gas is being harvested, much of that potential is not being used. This is thanks to lots of political action which seeks to shut down oil and gas rather than expand it.
     More so, it is not obvious that if the oil and gas production along with other extractives was to increase significantly New Mexico could match Alaska with a dividend paid to citizens instead of New Mexicans paying state income taxes. We could get a check rather than send a check. Read full column

Swickard: All we get from our goldmine is the shaft

APS discusses transgender guidelines

Wednesday evening, The Albuquerque Public Schools school board discussed a rough draft of possible guidelines for managing issues involving transgender students enrolled in the district. 

APS says right now, there are 12 transgender students in the district of nearly 90,000. 

APS Policy Analyst Carrie Menapace proposed initial guidelines. Those guidelines were based off insight from the district’s Transgender Task Force, as well as research on decisions made in other associations. 

The guidelines include requiring a court order to change a student’s name in school records, and a birth certificate to change the student’s gender in school records. 

They also suggest providing an alternative, gender-neutral bathroom and locker room for students. 

APS says the guidelines are a work in progress. 

APS discusses transgender guidelines

Navajo Nation gets wireless internet

The Navajo Nation has opened an $8 million data center that will make wireless Internet available to 70 percent of the reservation's population. 

The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority has partnered with a wholesale wireless provider to upgrade telecommunications services on the Navajo Nation. The tribe has majority ownership of the venture, NTUA Wireless LLC., while Commnet Wireless owns the rest. 

The Farmington Daily Times reports that the data center in Shiprock opened on Tuesday, with officials opening up a laptop and quickly connecting to the Internet. 

NTUA spokeswoman Deenise Becenti says the broadband project is in the final testing phases and Internet service should be available to residents later this year.

Navajo Nation gets wireless internet

NM chile industry stabilized after years of decline

From the Carlsbad Current-Argus - By Diana Alba Soular - In the early '90s, chile was king in New Mexico. The state's favorite crop, in its many varieties, hit an all-time high in 1992 of 34,500 acres harvested. But that was before a landmark international free trade agreement, NAFTA, took effect, gradually slashing tariffs on products moving between the United States and its closest neighbors.
     New Mexico chile farmers and experts recall that the state's once-robust jalepeño industry took a sharp nosedive in the late '90s, as farming of the crop shifted to Mexico. Some of the fresh green-chile farming, too, followed, though the decline hasn't been as severe, experts said.
     About a decade ago, chile's future in New Mexico seemed especially bleak, said Stephanie Walker, Cooperative Extension specialist at New Mexico State University. "We had chile flooding the market from all parts of the world," she said. "Those were probably the darkest days." Other competitors, such as China, ramped up farming of red chile, which has a much longer shelf life and hence can be shipped farther than green chile with no problems, experts said.
     The declining acreage in New Mexico continued throughout the 2000s. Last year, acreage harvested totaled about 9,600 -- about a 70 percent drop from the record high.But some experts and farmers say the industry appears to have stabilized in recent years and may even be on the uptick. But some farmers of the crop said they still face a spectrum of hurdles, such as a shrinking pool of field laborers and continued pressure from foreign competitors, that create uncertainty about the future. More

NM chile industry stabilized after years of decline

USS New Mexico submarine returns from deployment

From KOB-TV.com - GROTON, Conn. -- A Navy submarine named for New Mexico returned from deployment Monday after conducting national security operations abroad.
     Under the command of Commander George Perez, USS New Mexico transited more than 34,000 miles over the course of six months while conducting national security operations in the European region.
     "New Mexico's performance on her inaugural deployment was exemplary," Perez said. "I could not be more proud of the way the crew, families, friends and supporters of New Mexico came together over this last year to make this first deployment a success."
     This was the first deployment for more 70 than percent of the boat's crew members.
     New Mexico was commissioned March 27, 2010 and is the second Navy vessel to be named for the 47th state. More

USS New Mexico submarine returns from deployment

NMSU gets algae research funding

Research into the potential of algae-based fuel is getting a $5 million boost from the U.S. Department of Energy.

New Mexico State University recently announced the funding, saying it will go to a research effort aimed at improving fuel that's compatible with existing refineries.

 NMSU is working on the project along with Los Alamos, Argonne and Pacific Northwest national laboratories, Washington State and Michigan State universities and four companies. 

Key goals of the project are to improve the yields and stability of algal biomass and cultivation systems while also improving oil content at harvest. 

NMSU officials say the award follows other federal funding announcements for the university's algal bioenergy team, including money for the algal cultivation test bed at the Fabian Garcia Science Center.

NMSU gets algae research funding

Catwalk trail reopens

A scenic tourist attraction in southwestern New Mexico has reopened after repairs required by a rock fall. 

The Gila National Forest says the Catwalk Trail underwent repairs required by damage from a June 2 rock fall. The repairs included blasting to remove an outcrop and then removal of rock debris. 

The Catwalk is a trail within Whitewater Canyon. Part of the trail is suspended on the side of a cliff in the canyon The trail is only open until 1 p.m. daily. 

Forest officials say that's because of the continued threat of unpredictable monsoon thunderstorms causing flooding of low crossings of New Mexico Highway 174.

Catwalk trail reopens

First human plague case this year

The New Mexico Department of Health has confirmed the first human case of plague this year. 

State health officials said Monday a 15-year-old boy from Torrance County currently is hospitalized in stable condition. His name hasn't been released. 

Health officials say an environmental investigation will take place at the teen's home to look for ongoing risk to others in the area.

 Plague is a bacterial disease of rodents and is generally transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. It can also be transmitted by direct contact with infected animals, including rodents, wildlife and pets. 

There was one human case of plague in New Mexico last year, a 78-year-old man from Torrance County.

 There were two cases in 2011 and none in 2010.

First human plague case this year

Marita Noon - Ronald Reagan: The Sagebrush Rebel

Commentary by Marita Noon - “An economy in distress, vast natural resources locked up with no plans to put them to use, and a regulatory regime that inhibits the development of resources and the creation of jobs.” Sound familiar? These words were written by William Perry Pendley, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy and Minerals at the Department of the Interior under Ronald Reagan. They describe the America that Reagan encountered when he became president in 1981. But, they could just as well be about 2013.
     In his new book, Sagebrush Rebel: Reagan’s battle with environmental extremists and why it matters today, Pendley points to the similarities of the economic climate that both Reagan and Obama had to take on at the start of their presidencies—but their approach to addressing the problems have been very different, as have been the results.
     The campaigning Senator Obama had it right. In a January 15, 2008, interview, Obama said: “I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America ... He put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. …government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think he tapped into what people were already feeling. Which is we want clarity, we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing.”
     In the same interview Obama said he shared personal similarities to Reagan. While he does like to compare himself to Reagan (just search: “Obama compares himself to Ronald Reagan”), the contrast on energy policy couldn't be more stark. Pendley explains that Reagan adhered to the “human exceptionalism paradigm”—which asserted that “human technological ingenuity can continually improve the human situation.” Coming before Reagan, Carter embraced an “environmental paradigm”—that placed environmental limits on growth. Carter’s America is the one about which Obama stated: “…we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing.” Yet, Obama has followed Carter’s direction, not Reagan’s and the results are Carter’s, not Reagan’s.Read full column

Marita Noon - Ronald Reagan: The Sagebrush Rebel

NM hunters must pay child support

From KRQE-TV.com - Millions of dollars are owed to New Mexico children for child support, and a new system is making it easier for children to actually see that money. If parents don't pay up, they will now be denied hunting and fishing licenses in the state. New Mexico is a hub for big game hunting and fishing. And for many, the incentive to hunt may be enough to help make good in supporting their kids.
     Applying for a hunting or fishing license is now easy online. "Now they can just go directly to our website, and they can fill that all out by themselves and then they can also print their license right there in real time," said Rachel Shockley, spokesperson for New Mexico Game and Fish.
     The process may be simple, but those who haven't paid child support will come across a screen blocking them from doing so because their names have been flagged. Matt Kennicott of the New Mexico Human Services Department believes this system will help kids receive the help they deserve.
     "I think it would definitely serve as a good incentive knowing how much people like to go out there and hunt to get their child support paid off so they can receive their licenses. It would definitely be a motivator," Kennicott said.  According to the Child Support Enforcement Division, more than $17 million is owed for child support across the state. In one case, someone owes more than $321,000 in child support.
     A long list of bench warrants show the number of cases outstanding. "We've got I think just over 600 outstanding warrants right now," said Kennicott.  Friday was the last day of amnesty week, where people could take care of delinquent payments and get their bench warrants cleared. Soon law enforcement across the state will begin warrant round-ups and start making arrests.
     Game and Fish officials said this is the second most effective way of bringing in collections, next to the New Mexico Department of Motor Vehicle's license suspension program. More

NM hunters must pay child support