Governor Susana Martinez has announced another round of cabinet changes, including a shift that will have the state's tourism chief leading the Children, Youth and Families Department. The governor's office announced Monday that the agency's current secretary, Yolanda Deines (Dines), will be stepping down. Tourism Secretary Monique Jacobson will be taking her place. Martinez says Jacobson is well known for producing results and has a strong desire to improve the well-being of New Mexico's children. The agency is in the midst of a massive reform effort aimed at changing the way child abuse and neglect cases are investigated. The reforms were prompted by the death of an Albuquerque boy who police say was kicked to death by his mother. The governor also named Barbara Damron to lead the Higher Education Department. Damron replaces Dr. Jose Z-Garcia, who has stepped down.
Santa Fe police are investigating two, unrelated fatal weekend heroin overdoses involving men in their early 20s and one non-fatal overdose from Monday morning. And tainted heroin is feared. SFPD Lt. Andrea Dobyns said, quoting: “at this time we are pretty concerned … that’s the first avenue we want to look into.” Dobyns says SFPD’s Street Crimes Unit was out “knocking on doors” and that police had received some tips. One victim, 27, was found dead at a local motel while the other, 22, was found dead at his home. The non-fatal victim from Monday morning is a man in his early 20s. Police are asking anyone with information on these incidents or who have concerns about any drug-related issues to call the Santa Fe Police Department Drug Tip Line at (505) 428-3737.
Santa Fe County has announced that its offices will close at noon tomorrow, and won’t resume regular business hours until Friday. Next week, Santa Fe County Offices will close at noon on Wednesday, New Year’s Eve-day, and won’t re-open until Friday. Santa Fe County Solid Waste Transfer Stations, however, will maintain regular business hours both tomorrow and next Wednesday.
Builders in New Mexico are watching how new immigration relief will affect their industry. The New Mexican reports that builders are working with immigrant advocates to determine just how many workers will benefit from coming changes. Builders recently sponsored a lunch forum with Marcela Diaz, executive director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, a Santa Fe-based immigrant- rights group. Advocates are holding legal workshops around the state to prepare immigrants who might be eligible for relief following President Barack Obama's announcement. Kim Shanahan, executive director of the Santa Fe Area Home Builders Association, says her group estimates that around 75 percent of the industry's workers are immigrants.
Work is underway on a new pilots' pavilion at Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Park. City officials held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday. They say the more-than two-million dollar project is expected to be done in time for the 2015 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The 12-thousand-square-foot building is named after Sid Cutter, the founder of the fiesta. Mayor Richard Berry says the project acknowledges the importance of Balloon Fiesta Park as the city's largest park and the host of the state's largest tourist event, which draws hundreds of pilots and thousands of visitors from around the world each year. Voters approved general obligation bonds in 2011 and 2013 to help pay for the pavilion.
The Navajo Nation had bitter debates when it was deciding whether to allow casinos on the reservation and if alcohol should be sold in them. The arguments focused on revenue and jobs on a reservation where half the workforce is unemployed. It's also a place where most arrests and pervasive social ills are linked to alcohol abuse. The same divisive discussions have resurfaced with the federal government's announcement that American Indian tribes can grow and sell marijuana. The split among Navajo leaders reflects divisions on reservations around the country. Despite its allure as a potential revenue booster, many tribes are inclined to avoid marijuana. It's a particularly sensitive discussion on reservations where alcoholism, poverty, crime and joblessness are rampant.
And, an Albuquerque woman got a holiday surprise when she went to pay the layaway bill for her four children's gifts — an anonymous person paid the tab. KOAT-TV reports that Lesley Corliss recently discovered her $500 layaway bill at the Toys R Us was paid in full. She says the manager told her that a secret shopper came in Friday morning and paid off all layaway remaining in the entire store. The overall bill: around $50,000. The unknown person bought Corliss' children a doll, Legos and Octonauts. Corliss says whoever the person is, she wants them to know the kind gestures mean a lot to her family.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with a 10-percent chance for snow before noon, today’s high, 32. Tonight: mostly clear and cold with the overnight low, 12. Tomorrow: sunny skies with a high of 34.