Chesapeake to Sell Lease Holdings to Boost Gas Liquids

From bizjournals.com -Chesapeake Energy Corp. Chesapeake Energy Corp.Latest from The Business JournalsChesapeake looks to sell Texas, New Mexico fields for BReport: Chesapeake Energy's plan reflects desperationChesapeake gas driller sets B assets saleFollow thisis preparing to sell up to $12 billion of its oil and gas fields and other assets in New Mexico and Texas. But while the company is significantly reducing its dry-gas production, it plans to boost gas liquid and oil output in New Mexico and elsewhere. The Oklahoma company, which is the second-largest U.S. natural gas producer, announced Feb. 13 it would consider the sale of all its Permian Basin assets, where it owns 1.5 million net acres of lease holdings, if it received a compelling offer. The leasehold sales, along with the divestment of other assets and sale of $1.3 billion in senior notes, could generate up to $12 billion in capital to improve cash flow and help finance gas-liquid and oil production, according to the company.  More News New Mexico

Chesapeake to Sell Lease Holdings to Boost Gas Liquids

Eisenhower's "Secret Meetings" With Aliens

President Eisenhower

From dailymail - Former American President Dwight D. Eisenhower had three secret meetings with aliens, a former US government consultant has claimed. The 34th President of the United States met the extra terrestrials at a remote air base in New Mexico in 1954, according to lecturer and author Timothy Good.  Eisenhower and other FBI officials are said to have organised the showdown with the space creatures by sending out 'telepathic messages'  More News New Mexico

Eisenhower's "Secret Meetings" With Aliens

Molina Healthcare Appoints Former N.M. Governor Garrey Carruthers to Board of Directors

 Garrey Carruthers

From marketwatch.com -Molina Healthcare, Inc. today announced that Garrey E. Carruthers, a former Governor of New Mexico, has been elected to serve as a director by the Company's Board of Directors. Dr. Carruthers will fill an existing vacancy in Class I of the Board. "Governor Carruthers' extensive experience in health care, in government, and in business gives him a unique perspective and insight into our company," said J. Mario Molina, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Molina Healthcare, Inc. "During this exciting time of growth and change in our industry, he will be a true asset for the Company and a great addition to our Board."   More News New Mexico

Molina Healthcare Appoints Former N.M. Governor Garrey Carruthers to Board of Directors

Donor Pulls $1M Donation For New Field

From krqe.com -One of the largest donors in the effort to renovate the University of New Mexico’s baseball field has pulled his money out of the project after being “dragged through the mud.”  Johnny Cope had hoped to sit in the newly renovated field, named after him, and enjoy a Lobo baseball game but Governor Martinez’s pressure to keep his name off the field has prompted Cope to withdraw his donations from the project.  More News New Mexico

Donor Pulls $1M Donation For New Field

“Social promotion” bill sponsor thwarted on House floor

From Capitol Report New Mexico - Speaker of the House Ben Luján played some hardball politics on Tuesday night (Feb. 14) and Mary Helen Garcia got brushed back. At the end of the House floor session at a little after 8 p.m., Rep. Garcia (D-Las Cruces) took the microphone from her seat and asked to be recognized. The reason? Her bill — one of the so-called “social promotion” bills that Gov. Susana Martinez approves of — had not been heard on the House floor and with the 30-day session winding down, Rep. Garcia wanted it debated in the hopes that it can pass the House. But as Garcia asked to be recognized, Majority Floor Leader W. Ken Martinez (D-Grants) leaped to his feet and grabbed his own microphone and called for the House to be recessed for the night. Garcia still called to be recognized but Speaker Luján (D-Nambé) ignored her, recognized Martinez and closed down the House for the night. Read more

“Social promotion” bill sponsor thwarted on House floor

N.M. Officials Eye Up Gay Marriage License

From koat.com -New Mexico officials say they are preparing for gay couples across the state who may try to obtain marriage licenses on Valentine's Day. Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver says her office has been notified by advocates of gay marriage that demonstrations are planned for Valentine's Day wedding ceremonies. The office said officials are expecting that some gay couples will try to get marriage licenses to protest the state's law prohibiting gay marriage. Oliver says the office has been advised that New Mexico law prohibits county clerks from issuing such licenses.  More News New Mexico

N.M. Officials Eye Up Gay Marriage License

N.M. Mom and Third Grader Stop Runaway Bus

From foxnews.com -An alert New Mexico mother sprang into action Monday morning when she watched a school bus roll past her waiting children and was told by one of her kids, “something’s not right with our bus driver,” KOAT.com reported. Rhonda Carlsen, the parent whose children attend Seven Bar Elementary School in Albuquerque, ran with the bus packed with frightened kids and pounded on its door, trying to get the attention of a third-grader toward the front of the bus. The bus driver appeared to be having some kind of seizure, the station reported. She instructed the student to pull on a lever near the driver’s seat, the station reported. The student successfully opened the door and she ran into the bus and hit the brakes and turned off the ignition, the station reported.  More News New Mexico

N.M. Mom and Third Grader Stop Runaway Bus

Governor Signs New Hay Transportation Legislation

From therepublic.com -Gov. Susana Martinez has signed legislation that clears the way for oversized loads of hay to be transported on state roads. The legislation signed into law Tuesday was aimed at easing the strain that drought has placed on both ranchers and their livestock over the past year. Martinez says agriculture is the backbone of New Mexico 's economy and farmers and ranchers need the right tools to keep their operations going. Range conditions around New Mexico have been dismal because of a lack of moisture, and hay has become a hot commodity as a result.  More News New Mexico

Governor Signs New Hay Transportation Legislation

KOAT: APS Redistricting Plans Overturned

From KOAT-TV.com -  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The New Mexico Senate overturned the controversial Albuquerque Public School District's redistricting map, giving hope to those wanting a new west side district.  The Senate Rules Committee said under state law, it had the right to approve redistricting plans for large metropolitan districts like APS.  But later that day, APS School Board President Paula Maes said the Senate had no right to do that, saying the district could continue with the new map because buried in the constitution was another law stating the legislation has no authority to vote on school redistricting.  "What it basically means is that our map that we approved two weeks ago stands as is," said Maes.  This means the west side will continue to have to full school board districts and a third made up of more than 50 percent of west side residents. Read more

KOAT: APS Redistricting Plans Overturned

N.M. Senate Approves Income Tax Change

From sacbee.com -The Senate has approved a proposal to lower New Mexico's corporate income tax rate but change the tax treatment of large corporations with income from operations nationwide.
The measure passed the Senate on a 28-13 vote on Monday and was sent to the House. Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, says the legislation will help stop "big box retailers" from avoiding taxes by shifting part of their income to out-of-state subsidiaries. The proposal will require certain corporations to combine the income from their nationwide operations in determining how much is subject to taxation in New Mexico.  Opponents say the change will increase taxes on large chain retailers and could cause them to reduce their New Mexico operations.  The bill lowers the corporate tax rate to 7.5 percent from 7.6 percent.

N.M. Senate Approves Income Tax Change