Google—not Facebook— has closed a deal to buy New Mexico’s Titan Aerospace. Last month, Facebook originally showed interest in the drone-making company, and planned to spend 60- million dollars on the company. KRQE-TV reports the social media giant ended up buying a UK-based drone maker for just one-third of that. Titan officials say they’re passionate believers in the potential for technology—in this case, atmospheric satellites—to improve people’s lives.
A round-the-clock hotline for people to report illegal drug activity to Santa Fe Police is now available. The hotline: 428-3737 is the work of City Councilor Bill Dimas. *****041514-Dimas-1 :30*****Dimas, who lost his daughter to drug addiction, knows well the problems caused by illegal drug use and says he’s made it a personal priority to attack drug dealers and make them know they’re not welcome in Santa Fe. Callers are asked to provide as much specific detail as possible, and can remain anonymous.
Santa Fe road crews have started a 130-day project aimed at improving the way students get to school. The project is part of the federal "Safe Routes to School" program, which encourages students to walk and bike to school. Improvements include better sidewalks, crosswalks and medians. KOB-TV reports that crews began working near Sweeney Elementary School Monday, where they will continue today. They will move to Aspen Elementary School for the rest of the week.
Democratic Gubernatorial hopeful Alan Webber reports raising more than 800-thosuand dollars for his campaign for governor. But before you say “wow,” consider that half of that total came from Webber’s own bank account. Webber is among five Democrats seeking the party's nomination to run against Republican Governor Martinez.
Meantime, Governor Martinez has raised one-and-a-half million dollars for her re-election over the last six months. The Martinez campaign reported cash-on-hand of more than four-million bucks. Monday was the deadline for state office candidates to file campaign finance reports with the secretary of state's office. Martinez is unopposed in the June second primary.
A group of New Mexico judges have filed a lawsuit in the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking to overturn Governor Susana Martinez’s veto of a proposed eight-percent pay hike for them. The Governor used her line-item veto to strike the raise from the state budget. Published reports quote an attorney representing the jilted justices saying the Governor’s action “ignored the system of checks and balances,” and indicates Martinez said she might have supported a three-percent raise like all the other state employees are receiving.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny, with a high near 60. Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.