News

A move to promote urban agriculture in Santa Fe has been approved by the city's Public Works and Land Use Committee. The resolution would have the City collaborate with local non-profit organizations to create farm stands, which would sell fresh produce from community gardens and orchards. The matter is headed to full city council at the end of the month and has already received support from the Sustainable Santa Fe Commission and the Food Policy Council.

In today's features: HUD gives $5.4 million to New Mexico Public Housing Authorities; a Santa Fe County resident has found a way to beat the high, free-market cost of propane; Santa Fe Police are providing public access to their "Hot Sheets."  Those items plus 60 Seconds With Christopher Hagen.

Governor Susana Martinez has announced the creation of a 70,000 acre, bi-national, master-planned community around the Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo border crossing. It’s the first of its kind venture to encompass two countries with infrastructure development for world-wide business relocations. Martinez noted the favorable location as the mid-way point between seaports in Long Beach, California and Houston, Texas. Chihuahua, Mexico Governor César Duarte also welcomes the project that will likely see launch of a pilot program of a Dual Customs Clearance facility between the U.S. and Mexico.

In today's features, we speak with the union rep for Christus St.Vincent's nurses and the ongoing tussle over staffing levels at the hospital.  We also hear about the health hazards presented by molds that have begun to appear as a result of our monsoonal moisture.  And a look at the Santa Fe County Assessor's office and their door-to-door survey. And some local mariachis are headed to China. Those items plus 60 Seconds with Christopher Hagen.

Ending weeks of speculation, Santa Fe City Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger has officially declared her candidacy for mayor in next year’s municipal election. She made her announcement before a group of friends and supporters gathered at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center Thursday.

In features, we speak with the utilities engineer moderating public meetings for the proposed $200 million Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System. And we also speak with a LANL researcher on the relatively new field of biology known as epigenetics.  Those items plus 60 Seconds with Christopher Hagen.

A report from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation shows New Mexico has one of the lowest rates of hospital usage in the nation.  It ranks 44th, with just 84 hospital admissions per 1,000 residents. The online Albuquerque Business First notes the national average is 112 per 1,000. New Mexico's numbers are also low for the number of patient days spent in hospitals.  They're pegged at 414 for every 1000 patients versus 600 nationwide. Washington, DC tops the list with more than 1500 in-patient days per 1,000 residents.

In today's features, we speak with the state Human Services Department offering temporary amnesty to those citizens owing back childhood support payments. We also talk at length about prairie dogs as a Los Lunas gunstore launches a killing contest. Those items and more plus 60 Seconds with Christopher Hagen.

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Pending final approval, Santa Fe Public School teachers and staff are poised to get an overall 1.5% pay raise, the first such hike in six years. The newly-negotiated salary increase of one-half a percent comes atop a 1% increase approved back in May.  The tentative agreement between the district and the National Education Association-Santa Fe represents the highest average salary increase in New Mexico. In contrast,  the Santa Fe Public School district remains one of the state’s lowest funded on a per student basis.

In today's features, we speak with childhood welfare advocates New Mexico Voices for Children and how coming federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will further harm our state's children, already classified as the most food needy in the nation.  We also explore the dearth of minority organ donors in our state and what can be done to correct the situation.  Those items and more...plus 60 Seconds with Christopher Hagen.

Downtown Santa Fe’s postal office may be moving to the Sanbusco Center as the cash-strapped US Postal Service prepares to leave its current location on Federal Place.  Today’s New Mexican reports the move to Sanbusco was indicated in a Postal Service letter sent to Mayor David Coss. The mayor has a 30-day period during which he could voice disapproval of the proposed move. Coss says he won’t oppose the plan as Sanbusco would still be a downtown location.

In features, we speak with State Senator Ortiz y Pino about the ongoing dust-up with NM mental health providers having their Medicaid payments suspended due to irregular audit findings.  Santa Fe County Clerk Geraldine Salazar offers a primer in "ranked choice voting" soon to be used by Santa Feans.  Those items and more including 60 Seconds with Christopher Hagen.

 Not opening today is Valley Meat Company’s horse slaughterhouse.  Heading into the weekend, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order against the Roswell facility, saying the USDA-approved operation must first perform necessary environmental impact reviews. Horse-slaughtering enterprises in the US ceased back in 2007. The judge’s order sidelines not only the New Mexico operation but a similar one preparing to open in Iowa.

In features, we talk about Santa Fe's plans for a treatment-rather-than-jail approach for some low-level drug offenders. And as the number of new law school applicants decreases, the dean of UNM Law School talks about approached to change that.  Those items and more, plus 60 Seconds with Christopher Hagen.