Police make unexpected arrests in Albuquerque hotel

From KOB-TV.com - By: Danielle Todesco, KOB Eyewitness News 4 - Albuquerque police found something they never expected while looking for drug trafficking at a local motel.  Police said they nabbed several people here illegally who were trying to get New Mexico licenses. Albuquerque police were working with Homeland Security investigators on a tip called in from motel managers about suspicious activity. It is a partnership that Albuquerque police have worked out with hotels and motels along I-40 and I-25. The managers are on the lookout for anything that looks like drug activity and Albuquerque Police Department detectives pick it up from there. Officer Robert Gibbs said that is exactly what happened Monday. A motel manager called them, and when they arrived, police said they found several people here illegally from Guatemala and El Salvador.  "It just sort of fell into our lap. We weren't looking for that specifically," Officer Gibbs said. "That's not the purpose of what we do with this type of investigations that we run. It just so happens that we were lucky and had Homeland Security Investigators that assisted us in facilitating the investigation." Seven people were arrested, according to Gibbs. Read more

Police make unexpected arrests in Albuquerque hotel

Swickard: A possible slide toward one branch government

Commentary by Michael Swickard, Ph.D. - The more I watch Congress, the less power Congress seems to have. They get face time on the networks talking but not acting as a Congress. Remember, there are three equal branches of government which in theory hold each other in balance. But in the last three years this Congress has stopped functioning. Their primary role is the federal budget. But no federal budget has been passed in three years. Our Country languishes in a neverland of uncertainty while Congress does not do its duty.  It seems we have a one branch government or the makings of one. The only branch taking charge of things is the Executive Branch. The Supreme Court is set to rule on Healthcare, but the buzz is that if they rule against the Executive Branch, the Executive Branch will institute the intent of the legislation via Executive findings and agency rules. That would make the Judicial and Legislative Branches of Government irrelevant. No one seems concerned about the concentration of power in one branch.  Read column

Swickard: A possible slide toward one branch government

Richardson Expose a MUST READ

You may purchase a copy here. Author Harvey Yates Jr. sent News New Mexico a copy of Governor Richardson and Crony Capitalism; Contorting New Mexico’s Oil and Gas Exploration Industry. The book is a well researched, extensively documented expose of the incredible price New Mexicans paid to have Bill Richardson in charge of the state for two terms. Specifically, in his book Yates documents the incredible financial damage to public education, the state budget, state employees, taxpayers, and the reputation for free enterprise here due to rules and regulations designed to prop up some businesses while destroying others.
The Yates book is also instructive within the bigger scheme of public policy nightmares. As Yates describes the processes that unfolded in New Mexico the reader will gains a faster recognition of exactly how entrepreneurial capitalists who create real jobs can actually be methodically replaced by what Yates call nursery occupants.
Everything Yates describes in his book explains how Richardson took actions to the detriment of employment rates and living standards in New Mexico. These same insidious processes are a threat all over America.
The book is available at Intermedia Publishing Group. The website is intermedia.com. Governor Richardson and Crony Capitalism is a quick and fascinating read. The work is complete with illustrations, graphs, footnotes, and pie charts. Yates does a fantastic job of helping the reader grasp the magnitude of the damage done by crony capitalism in the state of New Mexico.

For anyone wanting an in depth understanding of how Bill Richardson’s ambitious political machine set the state back many decades and also who are some of the major exploiters of the Richardson’s system were, the Yates book is a must read.

Richardson Expose a MUST READ

Painkiller use on rise in N.M.

Alamogordo Daily News - Sales of highly controlled prescription painkillers -- oxycodone, morphine and methadone -- increased 111.5 percent between 2001 and 2010. The overdose rate for the same prescription drugs also increased statewide by 61.8 percent. A recent report released by the New Mexico Department of Health indicates oxycodone sales led with more than 1,074 pounds sold in 2010 while hydrocodone was second with 441 pounds, followed by morphine with 396 pounds sold. Since 2007, the overdose death rate from prescription drugs like oxycodone, morphine and methadone has exceeded the death rate from illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Otero and Lincoln counties were fourth in the state's 13-digit zip codes in 2010. The prescription sales rate was 23.7 grams per 100 people in 2010, which is the same for the statewide increase for the same period. Otero County had eight overdose deaths in 2008, 15 in 2009 and nine in 2010 for a total of 32 deaths for the three-year period -- the latest data available. Otero County was 14th statewide in overdoses while Lincoln County was 21st. Read More News New Mexico

Painkiller use on rise in N.M.

Former State Employee Tries to Sandbag Martinez, Claims She Was Fired for Recommending Condoms

Susana Martinez

KOAT TV - A former state employee said on Tuesday that she was forced to resign just hours after she talked to Action 7 News about condoms.
Gov. Susana Martinez said the allegations are not true and she agreed with Erin Bouquin's statements made on air.
"What is the Department of Health trying to tell kids?" asked Action 7 reporter Christie Ileto.
"Use condoms," Bouquin answered. "Condoms are very important in controlling sexually transmitted diseases. I like the ABCs: abstinence, be faithful and birth control."
The department's former chief medical officer claimed her comments got her fired, but the governor stepped up Tuesday night to say that's not true. "There was nothing she said that I disagree with during her television interview," Martinez said. Read full story here: News New Mexico

Former State Employee Tries to Sandbag Martinez, Claims She Was Fired for Recommending Condoms

Courtesy of Conservative Daily News

     

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Precautionary evacuation for fire in southwest NM

From KOB-TV.com - A precautionary evacuation is underway in Willow Creek, near Glenwood. The Whitewater Fire in the Gila Wilderness has grown to 1,100 acres, and as of Tuesday afternoon, remains zero percent contained. Fire crews are going door-to-door and recommending that residents should evacuate. Officials have said only about eight or nine people live in the area full time, and there are many other vacation homes in the area. Fire crews are also being pulled back from the area for their safety. The fire was detected on Wednesday, May 16, approximately five miles southwest of the Willow Creek. It is burning in steep, rugged terrain. Read more

Precautionary evacuation for fire in southwest NM

NM governor to honor law officers, public workers

Susana Martinez

Las Cruces Sun-News - New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez will be kicking off a week of events to honor law enforcement officers, public employees and other heroes. Martinez will start Tuesday by presenting awards to recognize the actions of 10 people during last summer's Las Conchas fire, the largest in the state's recorded history.

The governor will speak later in the week at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony in Santa Fe, paying tribute to the 193 peace officers who have died in the line of duty. A new centennial memorial will also be unveiled. The 83rd class of the New Mexico State Police Academy is set to graduate on Friday. The governor will attend the ceremony. She'll wrap up heroes week next Monday by speaking at the Memorial Day ceremony at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Read More News New Mexico

NM governor to honor law officers, public workers

Injury-related deaths highest in New Mexico, says study

CBS - New Mexico residents, be warned: New statistics show that the state has the highest rate of injury-related deaths in the country at 97.8 fatalities per 100,000 people. A new report by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation called "The Facts Hurt: A State-By-State Injury Prevention Policy" ranks states on injury safety by the number of injury-related deaths and the number of laws put in place that can prevent these catastrophes from happening. Which states aren't doing their utmost to protect their residents from injuries? According to the report, the states that scored the lowest on injury prevention goes to Ohio and Montana. Researchers determined if states met criteria for 10 laws and regulations that can prevent common injuries, including legislation on seat belts, drunk driving, motorcycle or bicycle helmets, booster seats, intimate partner violence, teen dating violence, concussions, prescription drug monitoring programs and "ecodes" (injury codes that help track emergency room trends to guide prevention strategies). Montana and Ohio only had two of the 10 on the books. Read More News New Mexico

Injury-related deaths highest in New Mexico, says study

Breaking Bad’s final season kicks off in July

Courtesy Breaking Bad

New Mexico Business Weekly - The wait soon will be over for “Breaking Bad” fans. AMC will begin running the fifth and final season on July 15 of the cable television show that is filmed and set in Albuquerque and which has garnered numerous awards. The Los Angeles Times reports that this might prove a bit of a tease for fans, however. AMC will run half of the final season this summer, and finish it with the final eight episodes in summer 2013. The show centers around Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who has nabbed several Emmy Awards for the role, as a chemistry teacher who uses his cancer diagnosis as justification to become a drug kingpin who makes high-quality meth. Along the way, his well-intentioned, but horrible choices, have severe impacts on those around him, particularly his partner in crime, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul. Paul also has earned Emmy Awards for his role. Albuquerque is everywhere in the series, and there is no doubt it’s often not a flattering picture. I attended a journalism workshop in Phoenix in January with people from all over the country. One attendee told me that the only thing he knew about Albuquerque was “Breaking Bad.” I admit that gave me pause. Read More News New Mexico

Breaking Bad’s final season kicks off in July