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8/27/09Sierra Electric Cooperative will build substation and 6.5 miles of power lines at Spaceport America The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has approved an agreement to pay Sierra Electric Cooperative about $5.5 million for the cooperative to build a substation and some 6.5 miles of power lines to provide electricity infrastructure at the state-owned spaceport in southern Sierra County, the Las Cruces Sun-News reported. The newspaper said that according to the contract approved Wednesday, the $5.5 million figure is an estimate only. The following article added by poster:8/14/09 New Mexico’s revenue projections show we’re short $433M, economists say   Revenue estimates...

Sen. Jeff Bingaman said Monday that he would support using a controversial budget maneuver called reconciliation to pass a major overhaul of health care policy this year if the Senate can't reach a bipartisan deal. The New Mexico Democrat, speaking to an audience of about 200 at a forum in Albuquerque, said he would prefer to pass a bill supported by both Democrats and Republicans. But he said he would vote to use the annual budget reconciliation bill — which requires only 51 votes in the Senate and is not subject to a filibuster — if that is the only...

The elk in New Mexico are big and beautiful — a hunter's dream, a landowner's nightmare. Property owners across the state long have complained about wildlife overrunning their private land and destroying crops. But the problem is boiling over in the Sierra Nacimiento in northern New Mexico, where ranchers say they're being ignored and wildlife managers aren't doing enough to curb the damage or compensate them. Some frustrated property owners say they are considering a last resort: shooting the hungry animals. "We enjoy the elk. We don't mind the elk being around but we cannot feed the elk. If it...

RUIDOSO — Sen. Tom Udall encountered jeers and hoots of derision Tuesday when he told hundreds of people here that creating a government-run health plan would not add to the federal deficit. But even some of the New Mexico Democrat's critics gave him credit for showing up in conservative-leaning Ruidoso to take questions on health care. A standing-room only crowd of more than 400 people, mostly from Lincoln County, packed into a large conference room at the Ruidoso Convention Center to quiz, and sometimes grill, the freshman senator from Santa Fe.~~snip~~ ...the first question — about the impact of Democratic...

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former high-ranking members of his administration won't be criminally charged in a yearlong federal investigation into pay-to-play allegations involving one of the Democratic governor's large political donors, someone familiar with the case said.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former high-ranking members of his administration won't be criminally charged in a yearlong federal investigation into pay-to-play allegations involving one of the Democratic governor's large political donors, someone familiar with the case said. The decision not to pursue indictments was made by top Justice Department officials, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who asked not to be identified because federal officials had not disclosed results of the probe. "It's over. There's nothing. It was killed in Washington," the person told The Associated Press. A federal grand jury began an investigation in 2008...

Police said a man was arrested on Monday for his 22nd drunken driving offense—and his blood-alcohol content tested almost five times higher than New Mexico's legal limit. State Police Lt. Eric Garcia said an officer pulled up to a car parked along a highway and found a 51-year-old man on the ground near his vehicle. "He was coherent," Garcia said. "He showed signs of slurred speech, as might be normal for any DWI arrest, which led the officer to believe he might be driving under the influence." Garcia said the suspect had to be taken by ambulance to Christus St....

Video showing how the "clunkers" that were traded in for a new car are disabled by destroying the engine. http://abqjournal.magnify.net/video/Killing-the-Clunkers

Elected officials in New Mexico are renewing calls for an ethics overhaul after the state's attorney general this week unveiled the latest in a long string of political-corruption cases. Longtime Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, who left office in 2006, has been indicted on 50 felony counts of embezzlement, tax evasion and money laundering in an alleged scheme to siphon off at least hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal election funds. Ms. Vigil-Giron, a Democrat who served three four-year terms as secretary of state, is accused of colluding with a political consultant and two Democratic lobbyists -- also under...

Congressman Martin Heinrich hosted a large town hall meeting on health care reform Saturday afternoon, and while there was plenty of yelling on both sides, things stayed relatively civil. Around 700 to 800 people gathered at the UNM Continuing Education center Saturday to discuss health care reform.

The political director for the Republican Party of New Mexico quit his post this week after only two months on the job, but not before taking some parting shots at his former employers. Sergio Garcia wrote in his resignation letter, turned in Tuesday night, that "destructive forces" within the state GOP had undermined his credibility and stifled his opinions. "I have come to the realization that the current environment is no longer conducive for moving forward with any strategic plan of positioning the party for the future. I can no longer justify earning a paycheck from our donors for leading...

Voters in the 1st Congressional District seem to be fairly evenly divided on key health care proposals pending in Congress, said Rep. Martin Heinrich, who faces some of those voters today at a town hall meeting in Albuquerque. But Heinrich, a freshman Democrat from Albuquerque, said provisions to force insurance companies to cover everyone enjoy widespread support because "those things are important and common sense." Proposals such as organizing a government-run insurance company are much more controversial, even among members of Congress, Heinrich told Journal editors and reporters earlier this week. Heinrich said he supports the so-called public option ...

Freshman House members, even those who are part of the Democratic majority, lack the kind of seniority that is typically needed to have big-league clout. Yet those who represent partisan swing districts — and Democrat Martin Heinrich of New Mexico’s Albuquerque-based 1st is one of those — are likely to face strong challenges in their re-election campaigns. So they have to have something to show their constituents for their first-term efforts.

Some New Mexico auto dealers have backed out of the cash-for-clunkers program and more may do so as the federal government takes its time providing cash reimbursements. Dealers across the state are owed more than $3.6 million, according to a dealers' group which says that so far Uncle Sam has only written three checks totaling about $14,000.

Former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Democratic Party consultant Armando Gutierrez and lobbyists Elizabeth and Joseph Carl Kupfer were indicted Wednesday on 50 counts each of conspiracy, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering over $100,000 and other charges for alleged acts occurring from 2004 through 2006.... The charges relate to the office’s use of federal election monies under the Help America Vote Act.

Former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, Democratic Party consultant Armando Gutierrez and lobbyists Elizabeth and Joseph Carl Kupfer were indicted Wednesday on 50 counts each of conspiracy, fraud, embezzlement, money laundering over $100,000 and other charges for alleged acts occurring from 2004 through 2006. The four, who are named in separate indictments filed Wednesday afternoon in Bernalillo County District court, also are charged with making or permitting false public vouchers, making or taking kickbacks and tampering with evidence.

Two North Korean diplomats are in Santa Fe and will meet with Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday. A spokesman for Richardson said a delegation from the North Korean mission to the United Nations will meet at the governor's mansion for a daylong meeting but the topic was not disclosed. The North Koreans had requested the visit, but the governor's office said Richardson will not be negotiating nor will he be representing the Obama administration. The delegation, which includes Minister Myong Gil Kim and Councilor Jong Ho Paek, also are scheduled to receive briefings on renewable energy initiatives in New Mexico...

U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan will face his constituents Monday in a town hall event covering America's fiery debate du jour: health care reform. The meeting will start at 7 p.m. at Santa Fe's Unitarian Church, 107 W. Barcelona Road. The church has room for about 180 people. The event will feature a panel discussion including two Santa Fe health professionals, followed by a question and answer period. ~~snip~~ In an interview with the Journal, Lujan — a Democrat from Santa Fe — said he's behind the proposed public health care option being batted back and forth between party members...

Health Care Town Hall Hosted By Representative Martin Heinrich When: Saturday, August 22, 2009, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. Where: UNM Continuing Education Building, 1634 University Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131

I believe that too many citizens — among them certain specific segments of the media and some politicians — lack respect for both our borders and for our nation’s Border Patrol Agents. There is a collective blindness to the realities of what our Border Patrol Agents face at the borders, both South and North. To paraphrase myself, our borders and our Border Patrol Agents get no respect. About 4,000 people packed a memorial service for Border Patrol Agent Robert Rosas, who was shot and killed at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, 2009. Photo courtesy of Brad J. Mellon,...

<p>On 04 August 2009 the PGR will undertake the delivery of a casket flag from Michael Alan Gare's military honors, completed here in CA, to his daughter in FL. We will transfer the flag from rider to rider like a pony express. We will start on 04 Aug 2009 at 0900 PDT.</p>

The Third Congressional District of New Mexico now has an official signatory of the ATR Taxpayer Protection Pledge. Recently, Republican challenger Mr. Adam Kokesh signed the ATR Pledge becoming the first candidate in the race to do so. Cook Political Report classifies the seat as a D+7 on the PVI index. The seat is currently held by Democratic Congressman Ben Lujan, who was elected in 2008. Though the PVI index favors the incumbent, there is certainly a long way to go in this contest. As a pledge signer, Mr. Kokesh has made a commitment to the taxpayers in New Mexico...

While Gov. Bill Richardson's office said the possibility remains that there won't be a special session, key legislative leaders say it's hard to imagine balancing this year's budget without one. Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, said the state is likely to face a shortfall for the current fiscal year of between $300 million and $400 million. "Personal and corporate taxes are down," he said. "Gross receipts are tanking, and natural gas prices are still very anemic. At this stage, I don't think we can avoid it (a special session)." According to CNNMoney.com, a June study by the...

A company that provides uniformed guards for Los Alamos National Laboratory, SOC Los Alamos, plans to cut up to 18 jobs. The action is being taken because of a reduction in funding

The U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, is warning Americans to be aware of a “new spike in cartel-related violence” around the border state of Chihuahua and recommended travelers avoid the northwestern portion in particular. “Drug cartels and associated criminal elements have retaliated violently against individuals who speak out against them or who they otherwise view to be a threat to their organization, regardless of the individuals' citizenship. The U.S. Consulate General urges all Americans to exercise a high degree of caution when traveling to Ciudad Juarez and within the state Chihuahua,” read the text of the message issued July...

SACARMENTO, CA - A national "Tea Party Express" tour (website: www.TeaPartyExpress.org ) will conduct a series of 35 tea party rallies across the country 35 days from now. The "Tea Party Express" will rally Americans to oppose the current policies of higher deficit spending, higher taxes, bailouts and quasi-socialistic government policies. Starting in California on August 28th, the caravan will travel eastward towards its final destination of the massive 9/12/09 Taxpayer March on D.C. The "Tea Party Express" is a project of the Our Country Deserves Better Committee, one of the nation's largest conservative political action committees. What started out...

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - The former Marine who contends he acted in self-defense when he killed a burglary suspect was just trying to do the right thing, his wife told News 13 Monday. Heather Sanchez said she was in shock when she heard about the July 4 shooting. Her husband, Luke Sanchez, was arrested on an open count of murder and has since bonded out of jail. The shooting ignited a public debate over whether Sanchez was acting as a vigilante or as a good citizen who defended himself when one of the burglars attacked him. "I have received so...

This weekend's popular Santa Fe International Folk Art Market on Museum Hill does more than keep traditional skills alive. "We are helping Palestinian women who live in refugee camps in the Gaza Strip increase their income to ... Sulafa provides materials and training to 500 refugee women in Gaza... Ghulam Sarwar of Pakistan began decorating a white Santa Fe municipal truck with flamboyantly painted birds and symbols, part of the truck artistry ... Rana, Sarwar and the other truck artists were awarded a UNESCO seal of excellence award for handicrafts ... organizers had an easier time getting people from Palestine...

The link is to an audo clip of the 911 call. It is pretty graphic. I could not hear the shot, it probably went beyond the capability of the cell phone mike, and just was blanked out.

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - The debate engulfing Belen since Luke Sanchez was arrested for killing a suspected burglar Saturday is whether he was protecting the community or acting as a vigilante. Sanchez, 38, was arrest after a confrontation outside Enchantment Propane business led to the shooting death of Gary Gabaldón Saturday night. Gabaldón has a history of violent crimes, and Sanchez told police he acting in self-defense. Sanchez said he was out buying fireworks when he saw Gabaldón and another man looking suspicious outside the business. While on the phone with 911 he said Gabaldón attacked him leaving him no...

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 Former Marine charged in shooting death Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com Luke Sanchez of Belen pleads not guilty to single count, magistrate sets bond at $100,000 Former Marine Luke Sanchez pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge of murder after he fatally shot a burglary suspect Saturday night. His lawyer, Ray Twohig said it "looks very much like self-defense." The District Attorney's office said: "Regardless of how the defense sees the case, a man is still dead — shot by the defendant." Sanchez, 38, of Belen was arrested on Saturday after he allegedly shot...

Luke Sanchez in court Monday911 tapes in a deadly shooting that has sparked a huge debate over self-defense shed more light on what happened the night Luke Sanchez shot Gary Gabaldon. Supporters, who are trying to get the murder charge against Sanchez dropped, say he was defending himself against a man who attacked with a weapon—and that he was just following the dispatcher's orders to get a license plate number. But was that the case? On the tapes, you can hear a frantic Luke Sanchez tell the 911 operator he had just shot a suspected burglar. He goes on to...

It might be the start of a New Mexico political campaign season dominated by talk of ethics. With a blast of the icy air from inside the state Supreme Court's front door, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish stepped out into the summer heat Thursday and made it clear that it would take a while to outline her lengthy proposal to revamp ethics laws. "You might want to get into the shade," she told reporters gathered on the front steps. And a while it took. Denish, a second-term lieutenant governor, will seek the state's top executive post in 2010, in the wake...

New Mexico, Colorado and Texas are applying for federal funds to study the viability of a high-speed rail system from El Paso through New Mexico to Denver. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Sen. Tom Udall, DN.M., said Thursday the three states will submit a joint pre-application Friday for up to $5 million to pay for the study. Congress has authorized up to 11 high-speed rail corridors nationwide.

The global-warming debate is shifting from science to economics. For years, the fight over the Earth's rising temperature has been mostly over what's causing it: fossil-fuel emissions or natural factors beyond man's control. Now, some of the country's biggest industrial companies are acknowledging that fossil fuels are a major culprit whose emissions should be cut significantly over time. A growing number of these companies are pushing for a mandatory emissions limit, or "cap." Some see a lucrative new market in clean-energy technologies. Many figure a regulation is politically inevitable and they want to be in the room when it's negotiated,...

Al Gore’s campaign against global warming is shifting into high gear. Reporters and commentators follow his every move and bombard the public with notice of his activities and opinions. But while the mainstream media promote his ideas about the state of planet Earth, they are mostly silent about the dramatic impact his economic proposals would have on America. And journalists routinely ignore evidence that he may personally benefit from his programs. Would the romance fizzle if Gore’s followers realized how much their man stands to gain? Earlier this year Gore experienced a notable public relations debacle. The Tennessee Center for...

A Belen man is charged with murder after investigators say he admitted to shooting a burglary suspect. He claims he acted in self-defense. Luke Sanchez, 38, was allegedly driving by a business near his home Saturday night, when he saw two men robbing the place. That's when Sanchez said he decided to take matters into his own hands to protect the community and help law enforcement, but that help left Sanchez facing a murder charge. Valencia County Sheriff Rene Rivera said Luke Sanchez has been frustrated after being robbed several times in recent months. "Sometimes you have to know the...

A Belen man is charged with murder after investigators say he admitted to shooting a burglary suspect. He claims he acted in self-defense. Luke Sanchez, 38, was allegedly driving by a business near his home Saturday night, when he saw two men robbing the place. That's when Sanchez said he decided to take matters into his own hands to protect the community and help law enforcement, but that help left Sanchez facing a murder charge. Valencia County Sheriff Rene Rivera said Luke Sanchez has been frustrated after being robbed several times in recent months. "Sometimes you have to know the...

HOBBS, N.M. (AP) - Steve Pearce of Hobbs, who represented New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District for three terms, wants the job again. Pearce announced Monday he is signing paperwork to seek the Republican nomination for the seat he gave up last year to run for the U.S. Senate. Pearce did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment. Last week, he said that he was trying to decide whether to run for governor or Congress, but would do what was best for the Republican Party. Pearce lost in November to Democrat Tom Udall to fill the seat being vacated by longtime...

A bizarre shooting in Belen leaves a former corrections officer dead, and a former Marine in jail charged with his murder. The shooting is once again raising debate over what's considered self defense. The brother of the person who was shot and the suspect's friend each have very different opinions about what happened. The incident happened around 10:15 Saturday night at Enchantment Propane. Evidence of a break-in was still visible on Sunday. The murder that happened in the midst of the burglary is likely going to extend a long-standing debate for years to come. Louie Gabaldon still has a lot...

BELEN, N.M. -- A Belen man is facing murder charges after deputies said he chased down two burglary suspects and then shot and killed one of them. The incident happened near Highway 314 and Gabaldon Road at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. Authorities said 38-year-old Luke Sanchez somehow knew a business was getting robbed and took matters into his own hands. "As you can see, they had a good time," said Gerald Schell, manager of Enchanted Propane. When Schell showed up to his place of business Sunday morning, he said he found the place ransacked. Sheriff's deputies said two men are...

Albuquerque Tea Party was due to start at 4 pm and run until 6. By 2 pm we had lots of people there signing petitions, filling out postcards and 'notices of termination' to their elected officials and waving homemade signs! We had a few speeches - nothing major (no big names were on hand). There was a band, some lively music, many renditions of the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless the USA, some good barbecue and fun had by all. Not sure how many people showed up but there were large crowds for most of the time we were...

The Rainbow Gathering and the U.S. Forest Service continue to trade charges over the festival that is expected to draw 10,000 people to a Northern New Mexico forest by Independence Day. More than 200 people so far have had to travel 240 miles round-trip from the site in the Santa Fe National Forest near Cuba, N.M., to Albuquerque to see U.S. Chief Magistrate Lorenzo Garcia ... Forest Service spokeswoman Denise Ottaviano said only six of the arrests have been for felonies — assault on a federal officer, theft of government property, damage to government property and conspiracy. Seized drugs, she...

WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is developing plans to seek up to 1,500 National Guard volunteers to step up the military's counter-drug efforts along the Mexican border, senior administration officials said Monday.

1. Alaska 2. Maine 3. New Mexico 4. Arkansas 5. Texas 6. Missouri 7. Oregon 8. Idaho 9. Virginia 10. Wyoming

Rio Rancho police arrested the head of the Santa Fe Police Department's Internal Affairs Division early Sunday morning and charged him with aggravated drunken driving, according to a police report. Lt. Stephen Ryan, 44, was pulled over about 1:40 a.m. at the intersection of Golf Course Road and Southern Boulevard in Rio Rancho after an officer saw his 2002 Toyota Tundra pickup weaving, the report says. He was charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated and failure to maintain a traffic lane after Ryan refused to take a breath test, according to the report. Ryan was placed on administrative leave Monday...

One minute they were a bunch of carefree teenagers headed to somebody's house to “hang out.” The next minute four of them were dead, one critically injured and others on their cell phones describing for dispatchers the horrific crash scene east of Santa Fe. “Tell someone to get out here. It's really bad. I mean, half the (expletive) car is gone,” pleads Mikhail McReynolds, the first caller to reach dispatchers. “I think people might be dead.” Kate Klein, Alyssa Trouw, an Julian Martinez, all 16, and Rose Simmons 15 were killed shortly after midnight Sunday when the Subaru in which...

Authorities have recorded more than 370 incidents, including 120 violation notices, in the past week as people flock to the Santa Fe National Forest ... between 10,000 and 12,000 people are expected to attend the gathering from July 1-7. Forest Service spokesman Lawrence Lujan says most of the violation notices handed out since June 14 are related to alcohol, and drug and traffic violations. Some of the people who were issued notices were required to appear Monday in federal court in Albuquerque.

Three men who allegedly stormed into a West Side Denny's over the weekend and killed a 34-year-old cook were in the United States illegally, and one had been deported less than a year ago after an arrest. Pablo Ortiz, who police say is a member of the notorious Salvadoran gang MS-13, was arrested in Albuquerque in May 2008 on suspicion of DWI. After a judge found him guilty, Ortiz spent 46 days at the Metropolitan Detention Center. He was released on July 7. -SNIP- Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "put him on a plane and sent him back to El...

Federal wildlife managers have decided to allow an endangered Mexican gray wolf that has been linked to four livestock killings to remain in the wild in southwestern New Mexico. Despite a policy that allows the agency to remove a wolf from the wild after three livestock kills in one year, Tuggle said in a memo to the coordinator of the Mexican gray wolf recovery program ... Tuggle requested in his memo that the recovery program's interagency field team continue to monitor the San Mateo pack and try to prevent any further livestock kills by the pack.