Conceal carry permits double in NM

Government records show that more than twice as many concealed carry permits were issued in New Mexico last year when state and federal policymakers considered whether to tighten firearms laws. 

The Department of Public Safety issued 10,601 licenses in 2013 compared with 4,793 the previous year, according to state records obtained by The Associated Press. 

The state issued an average of about 4,500 licenses annually from 2008 to 2012. 

Firearms instructors attribute last year's license increase partly to a push by the Legislature and Congress for new gun laws, including stricter criminal background checks on people who buy firearms and proposals to ban military-style assault weapons.

Information from The AP. 

Conceal carry permits double in NM

Fire in Isleta Pueblo

Isleta Pueblo fire crews, with assistance from New Mexico State Police, Valencia County and Bosque Farms, fought one of the first big fires of 2014 Sunday night. 

As of 9:30 Sunday evening, the fire burned 30 acres of grassland, though it did not threaten any homes or other structures. Fifty crew members fought for hours to keep it contained. 

Investigators are still working to learn what started the fire Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m. 

Smoke billowed high, making it visible across the Albuquerque metro and warning residents of the fire season to come.

 Although the fire did not threaten any structures, the pueblo set up an evacuation site at the recreation center just in case.

Fire in Isleta Pueblo

Senate to vote on Hanna Skandera

From KOB-TV.com - by Jen Samp, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Governor Susana Martinez handpicked Hanna Skandera and ever since has been by her side. Three times now, the senate has failed to take a vote, which would officially confirm Skandera as the education secretary.
     Skandera self-proclaimed the title "education secretary” on her official website, the governor gave her the title “Secretary-Designate” until she is confirmed. “I think we need to have a vote and I think we should have had one before now", said Democratic State Senator and majority whip Tim Keller
     He argues Skandera is not credentialed for the big job. She worked as a senior policy adviser to the U.S Education Secretary and was a deputy commissioner for Florida's education system, but she has never been a teacher.“Our constitution says clearly you need a qualified educator and for better or worse regardless of her ideas I don't believe she meets the criteria,” said Sen. Keller.

     A statement from the Department of Education reads: “Secretary Skandera has broad support from education leaders and business leaders throughout New Mexico. She is well-qualified for a position she has held for three years now and if she wasn’t, the senate would have taken action long ago. Last year, Senator Lopez staged a politically motivated and prolonged political circus at taxpayer expense that did nothing to help improve student achievement in New Mexico. Secretary Skandera looks forward to a fair confirmation process.”
     Last year, the confirmation hearing on Skandera lasted for hours. Political insiders think if the Senate takes a vote, she would get the confirmation. But political games are not new to the Roundhouse. More

Senate to vote on Hanna Skandera

Swickard: Jobs only occur when businesses flourish

© 2014 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “There is one and only one social responsibility of business: to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud” Milton Friedman

     The 2014 New Mexico Legislature is coming to an end of its 30-day session. There have been lots of controversies aimed at getting the members of the Legislature reelected in November but little else to help the people who need help the most: unemployed and underemployed New Mexicans.

     The every other year 30-day legislative session in New Mexico concentrates on a state budget and anything else that catches the governor’s fancy. Me, I fancy jobs because jobs make New Mexico strong and we are not strong in our business sector.

     For most people there are many more advantages to jobs than unemployment. Sure, with unemployment Democrats can throw palliative money at voters for the purpose of getting votes. They stand before cameras talking about helping New Mexico families. It gets them reelected but the people remain unemployed.

     The underlying issue to what ails New Mexico is that the New Mexico State government along with County and Municipalities are not doing the right things to support businesses in this state. So businesses are not hiring enough New Mexicans for our economy to improve.

     More so, the least likely to be employed are the least skilled since we have minimum wage laws which prohibit businesses from dealing honestly with potential employees. Businesses should be able to compensate employees by what the employee can do for the business.

     New Mexico needs to lose the notion that government knows best for the citizens and let the citizens make their own economic decisions. The marketplace will bring prosperity to New Mexico if New Mexico confines its interference to making sure, as Milton Friedman says, “business…engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud.” Read full column

Swickard: Jobs only occur when businesses flourish

Education secretary issue heads to Senate

Hanna Skandera - Public Education Department

From KRQE-TV.com - ANTA FE (KRQE) – A plan to get rid of New Mexico’s education secretary is headed to the Senate floor after a panel approved it. Democrat Michael Padilla’s constitutional amendment would create an elected state board of education with an appointed superintendent to manage New Mexico’s education system.
     That’s how the system used to work until 2003 when voters chose the current system. Republicans claim Democrats are backing the idea because they don’t like Gov. Susana Martinez’s current education appointee Hanna Skandera.
     Padilla denies that. He says he wants to take politics out of education, give voters more input, and create more stability. “It allows for a state superintendent that’s appointed by a state board of education that represents the people to be in place for a month or 28 years. I mean, if they’re doing a good job, they’ll keep their job. If they’re not doing a good job, they’ll be out of there,” said Padilla, D-Albuquerque.
     Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Rancho, said, “When they had it before, besides one superintendent, they were switching every two to three years. So it’s not going to bring the continuity they claim is their purpose.”. More

Education secretary issue heads to Senate

NM student rank below national average in AP tests

New Mexico high school students ranked below the national average on Advanced Placement tests last year. But the scores have improved over the past decade, and New Mexico had the highest percentage of Hispanic and low income students who passed the tests. 

The 10th annual report from the College Board shows 43 percent of Hispanic students in New Mexico who took an AP test scored three points or more - the highest percent nationally. 

 At 53 percent, New Mexico also has the highest number of Hispanic high school students, and 46 percent of them took an AP test. Nearly 40 percent of low income students in New Mexico who took an AP test passed. 

Overall, 12 percent of New Mexico students passed, compared to a national average of 20 percent.

Information from The AP. 

NM student rank below national average in AP tests

AG's office says Gov. helicopter use was legal

Gov. Martinez

A senior official of the state Attorney General's Office says Gov. Susana Martinez didn't break the law when she flew on a State Police helicopter to avoid missing a commercial flight to attend political fundraisers in Texas in 2011.

However, General Counsel R. David Peterson also says it would be appropriate for Martinez to reimburse the state the $800 that the flight cost taxpayers. 

The Albuquerque Journal reports that Martinez says she doesn't plan to do that. Her campaign spokesman has said the helicopter flight was proper because Martinez stayed at a Board of Finance meeting that ran late.

The Attorney General's Office looked into the matter because of a complaint by a political advocacy group, ProgressNow New Mexico. 

AG's office says Gov. helicopter use was legal

Voluntary recall on Bueno green chile

Bueno Foods has announced a voluntary recall of its frozen non-ready-to-eat green chile. 

According to the company, the measure is being taken due to the possibilty of low levels of the listeria bacteria being present in the product.

 In a press release, Bueno Foods President Jackie Baca said, “Bueno is taking this action because we are committed to providing a safe food supply to our customers.  We pride ourselves as having some of the highest health and safety standards in the industry and are taking this action as a precaution.” 

The company states that no other products are being affected by the recall.

 For more information, call Bueno Foods at 505-243-2722, extention 127, or visit their website at buenofoods.com. 

Voluntary recall on Bueno green chile

Marijuana proposal likely dead this year

A proposal to let New Mexico voters decide whether to legalize recreational marijuana has stalled in committee and is likely dead for the year. 

The state Senate Rules Committee voted 5-5 on Tuesday against sending the constitutional amendment to another committee for consideration. 

The proposal would have made it legal for adults 21 and over to possess and use marijuana. 

The plan likely would have faced difficulty in the Legislature. And Sen. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, an Albuquerque Democrat who sponsored the measure, says he sees little chance of the issue being revived this session. But he says he will try again next year. Colorado and Washington state have legalized marijuana. 

Pot stores opened in Colorado last month, and sales should start in Washington later this year.

Information from The AP. 

Marijuana proposal likely dead this year

FBI offering reward to find people pointing lasers at planes

From KOB-TV.com - The FBI is offering big money to anyone who has information on people who are pointing bright lasers at planes. It's a growing and dangerous trend called "laser striking." In a reenactment video given to KOB Eyewitness News 4 from the FBI, you can see a green light beaming from a laser. 

     It's so bright that the pilot used his arms to block it; a distraction that could cause the pilot to lose control. "[If] you take the eyes away from a pilot, you've basically put the whole crew in danger- the passengers of the aircraft and folks on the ground as well. So having my eyesight is very important and we take this very, very seriously," said Steve Jangelis, a pilot.

     On Tuesday morning at the Albuquerque Sunport, the FBI announced a reward of up to $10,000 for anyone who has information on people who aim lasers at planes. In Albuquerque, the FBI and FAA saw 27 laser strikes in 2013; almost double from the year before.
     The jump puts Albuquerque on a list of just 11 other cities, including New York City and L.A., where laser striking is happening. If you're caught, the FBI said, you can face up to 5 years in prison.
The FBI said it can be hard catching the "laser strikers", that's why they're offering the reward, hoping people will speak up. If you have information, call the Albuquerque FBI at 505-889-1300 More

FBI offering reward to find people pointing lasers at planes