Thursday marked the 73rd Anniversary of the surrender by U-S and Philippine troops to Japanese forces on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, a sad occasion that carries with it history and an especially large toll on New Mexico.
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As the ceremony continued, Lt Governor Sanchez read Governor Martinez’s proclamation honoring the Bataan death march and its survivors. Following the reading, the white flag of surrender was lowered and replaced on the staff by the American flag.
Following the ceremony, the scene shifted to an unveiling of Bataan Death March artifacts in the Bataan memorial building, which was formerly the New Mexico State Capitol.Of the 18-hundred New Mexico troops stationed on the Bataan Peninsula, only half survived the tortuous march and time in prisoner of war camps until they were liberated when World War Two ended.
The New Mexico State Police is seeking the public’s assistance in the investigation of a hit and run crash which resulted in severe injuries to an eighteen year old male from Santa Fe. A news release says that last Friday morning, Christian Diaz was walking the pilgrimage along State Road 503 to El Santuario de Chimayó. He was struck by a vehicle driving northbound on State Road 503 near milepost 2. Witnesses on scene described the hit and run vehicle as a white, early to middle-2000 year model Toyota pickup, possibly a Tacoma model. The New Mexico State Police is actively investigating this incident. Debris left at the scene indicates the hit and run vehicle sustained as a result of the crash damage to the front passenger area of the vehicle, including a broken head lamp. If you have information on this crash, you’re asked to call the State Police.
A Santa Fe School District Deputy Superintendent is among three finalists for the chief of the Albuquerque Public Schools. Almudena Abeyta joins Michael Cardona and Luis Valentino as those chosen from a pool of six semi-finalists for the APS post. Cardona is the chief school officer for the Houston Independent Schools. Valentino is the associate superintendent/chief academic officer for the San Francisco Unified School District.
New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez has signed a six-point-two billion dollar budget that boosts spending for education, child welfare, public safety and economic development. Martinez and lawmakers shared some of the same priorities during the session and the budget calls for a nearly 37 million dollar bump for education initiatives. She signed the bill Thursday calling it a "responsible budget that invests heavily in creating jobs and educating our children." It includes pay raises for new teachers. Most department budgets remain flat. In an otherwise rancorous 60-day legislative session, the budget bill sailed through both the GOP-controlled House and Democrat-controlled Senate without much partisan bickering. Plunging oil prices slashed new revenues the state expected to have for the next fiscal year and forced legislators to pare down spending plans.
A judge has removed the prosecutor from the case of two Albuquerque police officers charged in the shooting death of a homeless man last year. Defense lawyers wanted prosecutor Kari Brandenburg disqualified because they believe she has a conflict of interest. Second Judicial District Court Judge Alisa Hadfield agreed in a ruling Thursday. A special prosecutor will be appointed to handle the case of officers Dominque Perez and Keith Sandy. They face murder charges in the death of a homeless camper last year who was carrying two small knives during a standoff that ended in gunfire. The killing occurred during a year in which police shootings gained attention and prompted protests nationwide. Perez's attorney, Luis Robles, says he's hopeful a new prosecutor will take a fresh look at the evidence.
The state Court of Appeals has upheld regulations that govern groundwater pollution by copper mines. The court says the regulations do not violate the state's Water Quality Act as alleged by the state attorney general, environmentalists and a ranch owned by Ted Turner. New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ryan Flynn said Thursday that the regulations are the most stringent of any copper producing state in the West. They were approved in September 2013 and include new engineering requirements for handling leftover rock, leach piles, tanks and pipelines. The watchdog groups and Turner's Ladder Ranch had argued that the regulations give mining companies too much leeway to pollute groundwater. The appellate court says those claims are unfounded. The court rejected a bid last year to put the regulations on hold while it considered the appeal.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny today with the high, 63. Expect partly cloudy skies tonight with the overnight low, 37. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and a high of 67.