New Mexican named National Science Foundation Director

France Cordova

An internationally recognized astrophysicist with ties to New Mexico has been tapped to serve as the next director of the National Science Foundation. 

The nomination of France Cordova was approved by the U.S. Senate this week. 

Cordova, a Santa Fe resident, is a former president of Purdue University. She's also on the governing board of the Smithsonian Institution and she worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory between 1979 and 1989. 

With an annual budget of more than $7 billion, the foundation provides funding for more than one-fifth of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities.

New Mexican named National Science Foundation Director

Sunland Inc. plant to be auctioned off

A New Mexico peanut-butter processing plant that went bankrupt after a salmonella outbreak shuttered its operations and prompted a nationwide recall last year is headed to the auction block. 

The reserve price for all bidders in Thursday's auction is $18.5 million. That's the amount California-based Ready Roast Nut Co. already has offered to buy the defunct Sunland Inc. plant. The sale seemed imminent when a bankruptcy trustee backed Ready Roast's offer. 

But the Clovis News Journal reports another potential buyer has emerged. A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge has scheduled a hearing Friday to accept or reject the best bid in the auction. 

Sunland attorneys had valued the company's total assets at $50 million when it sought bankruptcy protection last fall. It owes its three major secured creditors about $14 million.

Information from The AP.

Sunland Inc. plant to be auctioned off

Former Bernalillo County employee accused of stealing fuel

From KOB-TV.com - By: Jeffery Gordon, KOB.com - A former Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation worker is accused of using county gas cards to ring up thousands of dollars’ worth of fuel.
     Nicholas Jones appeared in court on Sunday.
     According to a police document, Jones used gas cards meant for county vehicles to purchase more than $6,500 worth of fuel.
     Many of the purchases happened at Murphy’s Station on Sunshine West Plaza Drive SW in Albuquerque. More

Former Bernalillo County employee accused of stealing fuel

Swickard: Freedom from losing our freedoms

© 2014 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. In President Franklin Roosevelt’s 1941 State of the Union speech he spoke of four freedoms: these were the freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear. Two of those: speech and worship are in the Bill of Rights and two: the freedom from want and fear, were not realistic.

     There is no way government can inure citizens from want and fear. FDR said in his first inauguration in 1933, “The only things we have to fear is fear itself.” What about the notion government can guarantee citizens freedom from want?

     FDR’s Four Freedoms have been in the public eye for several generations. The freedom from want has shaped public expectations such as Minimum Wage and the War on Poverty. Government cannot give each citizen all that they want.

     In the year 2014 there could be a new Four Freedoms: Freedom from losing all of our Bill of Rights. Freedom to not have unusual concerns about food supplies, energy and the ability of our military to protect us. Next we need the freedom to have public education that is focused on the students and not the adults and which is not used for propaganda. Finally I would want the freedom from tyranny by our police and bureaucrats. 

     The intention of the founders of our country by passing the Bill of Rights was for government to be limited in how it could handle citizens. Inch by inch courts have interpreted the Constitution to mean exactly opposite of what it originally meant. When a section says… Congress shall make no laws… it is now interpreted to mean …Congress shall make laws… go figure.

      More so, little by little each right in the Bill of Rights has been repealed without a vote of Congress or the people. Do not let anyone kid you, when the police come you are considered in our society guilty until proven innocent even if we mouth the words the other way. Read full column

Swickard: Freedom from losing our freedoms

Pearce: MIT study validates concerns over SunZia

From KOAT-TV.com - ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Congressman Steve Pearce says a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study on the potential impacts of the SunZia transmission line on White Sands Missile Range validates concerns over the project.

     The Hobbs Republican told reporters Tuesday on a conference call the study proves key U.S. Department of Defense concerns that the proposed 500-mile transmission project could interfere with missile tests. He says a proposed transmission line would be harmful to White Sands Missile Range and Holloman Air Force Base.
      That assessment counters the study's interpretation from SunZia project manager Tom Wray. He pointed to the study that said, although electromagnetic interference could affect certain missile guidance systems, no problems would occur if missiles remain at least 200 feet from lines.
     Pearce recommended the line be moved farther north or buried underground. More

Pearce: MIT study validates concerns over SunZia

Pardoned felons now eligible to obtain concealed gun licenses

From KOB-TV.com - By: Stuart Dyson, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - The door is open for any New Mexico convicted felon who gets a pardon to get a concealed-carry handgun license.
     The state’s Attorney General has issued an official legal opinion saying a pardon from the governor erases the felony conviction. That means the former criminal can apply for a concealed-carry permit just like anybody with a clean record.
     “The case law here in New Mexico really indicates that a pardon really does make it like the felony essentially didn’t occur,” said Gary King. “People who’ve been convicted of a felony and who receive a pardon from the governor would be eligible to get a concealed carry permit.”
     Albuquerque’s new Police Chief Gorden Eden requested an opinion from the Attorney General on the issue about a year ago, when he the state’s Secretary of Public safety. King said it’s a good thing for New Mexico governors to keep in mind when they’re considering pardons.
     “I would think that there might be some concern that certain felons might cause the state to want to not allow that person to ever carry a firearm again, whether they got a pardon or not,” King said.
     Gov. Martinez has issued only a couple of pardons at this point, a spokesman said, and they were for elderly and ill people. Gov. Bill Richardson only issued a handful in his two terms. More

Pardoned felons now eligible to obtain concealed gun licenses

Wealthy environmentalists push Democrat Harry Reid to lean-in to green energy

Commentary by Marita Noon - Democrats have decided to lean-in, not back-away, from so-called clean energy. Despite the embarrassing history of government-funded green-energy failures, “wealthy environmentalists are pushing Democrats to take bolder positions on climate change”—and global warming, as an issue, provides the impetus for more green-energy spending.
     The Boston Globe reported on a recent “summit between Washington’s liberal elite and San Francisco’s climate intelligensia” that included “Senate majority leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, six other senators, and … Al Gore.” The Globe points to new efforts by Democrats to “make global warming a central issue during the midterms.”
     Reid has, according to the Globe, “pledged to allot time to anyone who wants to discuss climate change at party lunches or on the Senate floor.” He needs to keep the ruse alive because he is connected to more than $3 billion in Energy Department green-energy deals that helped him get reelected in 2010—behavior that has earned him the moniker: “one of America’s most corrupt politicians.”
     Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), has planned an all-night talkathon on the subject that will take place on Monday, March 10—about which Boxer said: “So many Senators coming together for an all-night session shows our commitment to wake up Congress to the dangers of climate change.” According to a press release from the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, 28 Senators will be participating—slightly more than one quarter of the Senate.
     Apparently they don’t want to miss out on the $100 million in campaign cash the “wealthy environmentalists” have committed to cooperative candidates—while also “threatening to withhold money from candidates in swing states who support the Keystone oil pipeline.” Read full column

Wealthy environmentalists push Democrat Harry Reid to lean-in to green energy

Sen. Howie Morales earns top spot on primary ballot

Howie Morales

Sen. Howie Morales of Silver City has earned the top spot on the Democratic primary ballot in the race for governor. 

Morales received 29 percent of delegate votes at Saturday's pre-primary nominating convention at Laguna Pueblo. Santa Fe businessman Alan Webber finished with 21 percent, according to unofficial results. Longtime government administrator Lawrence Rael got 20 percent. Attorney General Gary King and Sen. Linda Lopez of Albuquerque didn't get the necessary 20 percent support to earn an automatic spot on the June primary election ballot. 

However, King and Lopez can still get on the ballot by submitting extra signatures on nominating petitions to the secretary of state. 

Candidates will appear on the primary ballot based on their performance, with Morales listed first.

Information from The AP. 

Sen. Howie Morales earns top spot on primary ballot

Gov. approves emergency medication in schools

New Mexico schools will now be able to stock emergency medication to treat students who suffer asthma attacks or allergic reactions. 

Gov. Susana Martinez is expected to sign Senate Bill 75 into law Sunday at the American Lung Association's Albuquerque office. 

The legislation will allow school nurses to administer the medication even to students who don't have a prescription. Supporters say this will help quickly treat children who haven't been diagnosed with a respiratory problem but suffer an asthma attack at school. 

However, those who have asthma often carry their medications.

Information from The AP. 

Gov. approves emergency medication in schools

Background checks required for first responders

Paramedics and other emergency medical service providers in New Mexico will now be required to go through criminal background checks. 

Gov. Susana Martinez signed into law Saturday a Senate bill that mandates the background checks be done before the state licenses an applicant or renews a license for paramedics or emergency medical technicians. 

Supporters of the measure say large cities already do background screenings for fire departments and ambulance companies. They say, however, it's not enforced in smaller communities and rural areas.

 The background checks take effect July 1.

Background checks required for first responders