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Dec. 17 First News: Santa Fe Burglaries Continue Downward Trend (Listen)

The Santa Fe Police Department has announced that combined property crimes totaled only 72 last month. SFPD Spokeswoman Celina Espinoza says the Department has made battling property crimes a top priority in recent years. *****121714-Espinoza-2 :30***** Espinoza also credits the City’s “LEAD,” or “Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion” program for the drop in crimes. *****121714-Espinoza-3 :26***** Espinoza says the 72 November burglaries represents the lowest number on record since 2003, when the department began its current record-keeping method. 

The Bernalillo County Commission on Tuesday appointed Stephanie Maez to fill the District 21 State House of Representatives seat in Albuquerque— the seat being vacated with the appointment of Representative Mimi Stewart to the State Senate.  The Senate seat became vacant with November’s election of Senator Tim Keller to the New Mexico State Auditor’s post. A news release from the State House says that Representative-appointee Maez has an extensive history advocating on behalf of New Mexico’s working families. As a teen mother, Maez learned first-hand the challenges facing struggling families in the community. In response to the appointment Maez said, quote: “I am incredibly humbled by this appointment and grateful for the opportunity to be a champion for our community in this new role. 

Two New Mexico lawmakers have launched a new effort to repeal a state law that allows immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally to obtain driver's licenses. Representative. Paul Pacheco, of Albuquerque, and Representative.-elect Andy Nunez, of Hatch, pre-filed a proposal Tuesday just as Republicans were preparing to take control of the House. Pacheco and Nunez are both Republicans. Previously, similar repeal measures have failed though Governor Susana Martinez says she would have signed the legislation. Marcela Diaz, executive director of the Santa Fe-based Somos Un Pueblo Unido, called the proposal "anti-family." She says it would hurt parents who are working to support their U.S.-born children. The move comes as California is preparing to issue similar driver's licenses starting January second..

U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich have joined the Senate in confirming native New Mexican EstevanLópez, as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. López, who previously served as the Director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, replaces former Commissioner and fellow New Mexican, Michael Connor, who was confirmed as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior in February. López currently serves as the principal deputy commissioner of Reclamation, where he manages the bureau's day-to-day operations. With a one-billion dollar annual budget, the Bureau of Reclamation manages, develops and protects water and related resources. It is the largest wholesale water supplier in the United States, and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power.

A Tennessee woman accused of running from New Mexico State Police with her five children in her van was back in the Taos County Courthouse Tuesday. Oriana Ferrell’s story caught national attention last year, when dashcam video was released that showed bullets flying at her van as she drove off. Ferrell was in court for her arraignment after a grand jury re-indicted her on charges of child abuse, drug paraphernalia, and aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer. She pleaded not guilty. Ferrell said following her indictment, quote, "I'm very disappointed that the charges were re-filed," Judge Sarah Backus let the single mother, who homeschools all five of her children, out on her own recognizance. Ferrell is expected to appear in court again in January

Regulators who oversee New Mexico's horse racing industry are grappling with a significant enforcement backlog after adopting tougher sanctions and boosting testing for illicit drugs. Racing Commission Director Vince Mares told members of the Legislative Finance Committee on Tuesday it could take until mid-2016 for the panel to clear its backlog of cases against owners and trainers accused of violating state racing and doping rules. Mares says the bottleneck comes when cases are challenged in court, a process that can take a year. Defendants often win the right to keep racing while the findings are appealed. Racing officials say that has created a perception that the state isn't doing anything to crack down on cheaters. Commission and court data show there were 500 drug violations since 2012.

The Santa Fe Weather forecast is calling for snow showers likely, mainly after 11am. It’ll be mostly cloudy with the high near 39 and a 60-percent chance for snow. Tonight: scattered snow showers, mainly before 11pm and mostly cloudy skies with the overnight low 27. Tomorrow: Partly sunny with a 20-percent chance for snow showers and tomorrow’s high, 38.