Despite speculation to the contrary, City Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger made clear Tuesdaythat she intends to stay in the Santa Fe mayoral race despite not qualifying for public campaign financing. Wurzburger says the lack of public funding will prompt her to assess how to campaign as a privately funded candidate. The three other candidates for mayor—City Councilors Patti Bushee and Bill Dimas—along with Javier Gonzales, qualified for public funding of their campaigns worth 60-thousand dollars each.
Governor Susana Martinez will ask state lawmakers next year to provide about two-and-a-half-million dollars to train more family practice physicians and nurse practitioners. In an effort to address New Mexico’s health care provider shortage, Martinez on Tuesday proposed to allow 24 additional nurse practitioners to be educated through a University of New Mexico program, boosting that number to 40. Nurse practitioners don't have to work under the supervision of a physician and can operate their own clinics. The funding also would provide for seven additional family practice residency positions.
An Albuquerque district court has granted a temporary stay of disciplinary action related to a mandatory flu shot policy for UNM Hospital employees. KOB-TV reports that under the preliminary injunction, employees cannot be disciplined or terminated if they choose not to get a flu shot. In October, the hospital sent employees a memo about the immunization policy and its exemptions. The memo warned employees could face possible termination if they didn't get a shot by December first. The injunction lasts until the UNM Labor-Management Board hears the hospital union's complaint on the issue.
The City of Santa Fe has issued two special permits for road obstruction and closures of city streets this week. The city says the lane obstruction will be on San Francisco Street in front of the IAIA Museum across from La Fonda while a crane will move a large sculpture today from 8-10 a.m. Tomorrow there will be a road closure from 1-4 p.m. on Cathedral between Water and San Francisco Streets. Workers will again be using a crane, this time to decorate the St. Francis Cathedral Basilica for the holidays.
As part of a protest against statewide education reforms, Albuquerque school board vice president Kathy Korte is asking parents to not allow their students to take mandated standardized tests. KRQE-TV reports that Korte, in a recent email, spelled-out how parents can opt of two. She told reporter Alex Goldsmith: *****Dec. 4 Korte-1 :09***** Public Education Department spokesman Larry Behrens responded by defending the increased tests. As to Korte’s boycott threat, he wrote, quote: "It’s unfortunate a select few feel accountability is a burden, however we believe most parents will not."
The Forest Service says it plans to start a prescribed burn today in the Santa Fe Watershed. It originally was to start on Tuesday. US-FS spokeswoman Denise Ottaviano says before USFS starts ignition on a prescribed fire, a number of factors are considered: *****Dec. 4 Ottaviano-1 :17***** Ottaviano says the forest service decided not to burn Tuesday because there was poor ventilation.
Santa Fe Weather: National Weather Service Meteorologist Todd Shoemake says we’re seeing an approaching vigorous upper-level trough of low pressure that will hit New Mexico later today bringing with it some snow: *****Dec. 4 Shoemake-1 :16***** The forecast calling for increasing clouds today with a high of 51 and breezy with gusts as high as 35 miles an hour, with a 20-percent chance for snow and rain showers. Snow is likely tonight mainly after 11pm, with low of 22 and a 60-percent chance for precipitation.
