Roswell Horse slaughter house passes inspection

The attorney for a proposed horse slaughterhouse in southeastern New Mexico says a federal inspection Tuesday went well and the plant hopes to be in business soon.  

Attorney Blair Dunn says agriculture officials found no issues at Valley Meat Co. and told the owners they are recommending a grant of inspection be issued immediately. Dunn says he expects final approval for the plant to come in a matter of days. 

Valley Meat Co. has become ground zero for an emotional, national debate over a return to domestic horse slaughter. 

The company hopes the inspection ends a yearlong political drama that has left it idle and made owner Rick De Los Santos and his wife, Sarah, targets of vandalism and death threats.

Roswell Horse slaughter house passes inspection

NM Supreme Court to hear arguments in water case

The New Mexico Supreme Court will hear arguments next week in a case challenging the state's ability to pump groundwater in southeastern New Mexico.

 The state has been pumping water from wells between Artesia and Carlsbad to augment flows in the Pecos River. The pumping is part of a drought management strategy aimed at delivering water to downstream users in New Mexico and Texas. 

Other users are complaining that the state's pumping has lowered the area's water table. 

The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a lower court ruling challenging the state's process for transferring water rights to the well field.

NM Supreme Court to hear arguments in water case

LULAC faults NMSU in presidential search

A civil rights group is faulting New Mexico State University for not including them in the advisory and selection process of naming a new president. 

The New Mexico League of United Latin American Citizens said in a letter Monday that it was being excluded and faulted NMSU for the low number of Latinos on the school's board of regents.

 Paul "Pablo" Martinez told the board of regents in a letter that LULAC was included with the recent selection of University of New Mexico President Bob Frank. 

NMSU spokeswoman Julie Hughes says the board has received LULAC's letter and is in the process of responding. 

Community forums of the five presidential finalists began this week. 

LULAC faults NMSU in presidential search

Hanna Skandera on News New Mexico Wednesday

NewsNM - Swickard - We will be talking public education with Hanna Skandera, the Public Education Department Secretary Designate at 7:00 a.m. If you have questions, please use our feedback link to send them. The hosts will be Michael Swickard and Bob Endlich.

Hanna Skandera on News New Mexico Wednesday

APD to increase service aides

The Albuquerque Police Department plans to increase its ranks of police service aides -- civilian employees who aren't sworn police officers but who perform some of the same duties. 

Chief Ray Schultz says the department wants to increase the number of aides to 60 from the current 21. 

According to the Albuquerque Journal, Albuquerque's police service aides write initial reports on some crimes and collect some basic evidence. Aides don't carry guns while on duty and don't have arrest power. 

Schultz says hiring more aides will free up regular officers to respond to more serious situations faster and create an apprentice program for aides to become regular officers.

APD to increase service aides

NM delegates reintroduce Columbine-Hondo legislation

Members of New Mexico's congressional delegations are trying again to designate the 45,000-acre Columbine-Hondo area in Taos County as wilderness. 

Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both Democrats, on Monday reintroduced legislation to give the area permanent wilderness status. A companion bill is expected to be introduced in the House Tuesday by Rep. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat who represents northern New Mexico. 

Located in the Carson National Forest, the Columbine-Hondo has been managed as a "Wilderness Study Area" since 1980. The Columbine-Hondo includes lush forests and alpine meadows that are home elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, and bighorn sheep.

 Udall and Heinrich say giving the area permanent wilderness status will increase profitable tourism opportunities and provide for continued traditional land uses, such as hunting and grazing.

NM delegates reintroduce Columbine-Hondo legislation

State Dems’ chief to step down

From the Santa Fe New Mexican - by Steve Terrell - At the end of the month, Javier Gonzales will step down as state chairman of the Democratic Party. But, Gonzales insists, he will not be leaving politics. However, he’s not necessarily thinking about some behind-the-scenes, party-elder position. In fact, Gonzales said in a recent interview, he’s considering running for some elected office.
     “I was raised believing in public service,” Gonzales said. “I’ll probably spend the summer evaluating options that I might have, whether it be on the elected side or other, and make a decision at that point. I certainly don’t plan on leaving politics.” He declined to say which office or offices he’s considering running for.
     Back in the mid-1990s, when he was serving on the Santa Fe County Commission, Gonzales made little secret that he was interested in running for Congress. But now he says that’s not on his horizon, as long as incumbent U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján, a Democrat, holds the seat. Luján, Gonzales said, is a longtime friend and former schoolmate.
     He said serving in an elected office isn’t the only way to “influence good outcomes for your state.” He said his work on the Board of Regents for New Mexico State University is one example. In the recent interview, Gonzales talked about his tenure as party chairman — the high points and the low — as well as the immediate future of the Democratic Party, which next year faces the task of trying to unseat a popular Republican governor in Susana Martinez. Read more

State Dems’ chief to step down

Government of the government by the government for the government

© 2013 Michael Swickard, Ph.D.  Nearly a hundred years ago Walter Lippmann wrote about the sickness of an over-governed society. Good thing he is not alive today. He would find more than a sickness with today’s society. It is reasonable to ask: when is too much government really too much?             Early in the life of our country Thomas Jefferson wrote, “The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.” Especially in the last one hundred years our government really gained ground on liberty. We certainly see the distorting influences of too much government in our lives.   Americans are heading toward a society of tyranny. Perhaps we not living in a completely totalitarian society, but it is easy to answer: are we Americans heading toward more liberty or more tyranny? 

            When government tells us how many ounces of soda we can purchase at any one time, this is tyranny. Further, people in business tell horror stories about government workers who operate with the force of a dictator.

     What should government be doing? Walter Lippmann wrote, “In a free society the state does not administer the affairs of men. It administers justice among men who conduct their own affairs.” The legitimate role of government in a free society is focused only on justice and the defense of our nation both externally and internally. Read column

Government of the government by the government for the government

Campaign contribution limits increase

New Mexico's campaign contribution limits have increased, allowing candidates to accept larger amounts from donors. 

State law requires adjusting the contribution caps for inflation after each general election. 

For the 2014 elections, the secretary of state's office says candidates for statewide office, such as governor, can accept contributions from individuals of $5,200 per election — a total of $10,400 for primary and general election campaigns. The previous limit was $5,000 per election. Individuals can contribute $2,400 per election — up from $2,300 — to candidates for the Legislature and other non-statewide offices. 

Political action committees can contribute $5,200 per election to a candidate, up from $5,000.

Campaign contribution limits increase

Venture capital in NM down

A shortage of money for investments in business startups is being felt in New Mexico. 

The New Mexico Venture Capital Association reports that venture capital investment in New Mexico companies dropped by a third in 2012 from 2011. 

According to the Albuquerque Journal, venture capital investments in New Mexico totaled just under $40 million in 2012. That was down from just over $60 million in 2011, and the 2012 investment total is the lowest level for New Mexico since the recession in 2009. 

Michael Schafer of New Mexico Community Capital says forcing startups to cope with less investment capital could slow their growth and potentially make them less viable.

Venture capital in NM down