New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez will open this year’s 60-day session of the New Mexico Legislature with her “State of the State” speech to members of both chambers at noon today. As the 2016 New Mexico Legislative Session gets started, Republican Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez is playing down partisan differences. *****012015-Sanchez-2 :20***** But things are very different at the Roundhouse this year—Republicans have for the first time in 60-years, a majority in the State House. However, Sanchez says he’s confident the new Republican majority in the lower chamber is committed to working across party lines. I asked the Lieutenant Governor what he thinks will be the major issues of contention between Republicans and Democrats this session. *****012015-Sanchez-3 :48***** Education promises to also be an area of partisan disagreement. Sanchez says the state is now spending more on public education than ever before, but many Democrats and New Mexico educators take issue with several of the Governor’s proposed policy changes.
A champion of Chicano land-rights claims and leader of a group that raided the Rio Arriba County courthouse nearly 50 years ago—ReiesLopez-Tijerina, has died at age 88. Family representatives say says the prominent activist died Monday at an El Paso hospital, of natural cases. In 1967, Tijerina and followers raided the courthouse in Tierra Amarilla to attempt a citizen's arrest of the district attorney after eight members of Tijerina's group had been arrested over land grant protests. During the raid, the group shot and wounded a state police officer and jailer, beat a deputy, and took the sheriff and a reporter hostage before escaping to the Kit Carson National Forest.
A former northern New Mexico sheriff convicted in a road rage incident is seeking a delay in his sentencing while he seeks a new trial. Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff Tommy Rodella is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow for his September convictions on charges of brandishing a firearm and depriving a motorist of his rights during a March incident. Rodella's lawyers on Friday requested a new trial and cited that request as grounds for postponing the sentencing. Federal prosecutors oppose both requests. Rodella faces a mandatory seven years in prison on the firearm count and up to 10 additional years on the rights count. A federal judge has scheduled a hearing later today in Albuquerque on both requests. Rio Arriba County Commissioners removed Rodella from office in October.
Operators of a storied Santa Fe resort say it's unknown how long a major renovation project will take. The New Mexican reports that Bishop's Lodge Ranch, Resort & Spa remains open despite having to close several of its major amenities. Atlanta-based HRV Hotel Partners bought the resort last August. HRV partner Richard Holland said Saturday he hopes to nail down a completion date soon. The ranch-style resort laid-off 35 workers and temporarily shut down it spa and restaurant January fifth. Holland says the resort hopes to hire back as many as possible once the renovations are done. Situated in the foothills between Santa Fe and Tesuque, the 317-acre property was settled 150 years ago by Bishop Jean Baptiste Lamy.
The public will be able to share input about a proposal to increase admission for White Sands National Monument. The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that a month-long public comment period for the proposed fee hikes ends Feb. 13. A National Park Service news release says the changes would make admission charges would be per vehicle, not per person. The proposal calls for changing the admission from $3 per person to $20 per vehicle. Every vehicle would have to pay $20 no matter how many passengers were present. Officials say the plan would bring revenue that would help pay for future park improvements. National monument Superintendent Marie FríasSauter says officials are committed to keeping White Sands affordable and the fee increase is still a good value.
A storm system is expected to bring significant snowfall to parts of New Mexico during the next several days. The National Weather Service says mild weather early in the week will change dramatically Tuesday through Thursday as a cold front begins a trend toward much lower temperatures. And the forecasters say a reinforcing shot of colder air tomorrow will lower temperatures enough to allow for snow. The weather service says snow will begin falling Wednesday morning across northern and northeastern New Mexico. Snow is then expected to spread southward Wednesday evening through at least midday Thursday. Much of the snow will be along and east of the central mountain chain, but areas from the Rio Grande Valley westward may also get some.
Santa Fe Weather: Calling for increasing cloudiness today with the high, 48. Tonight: mostly cloudy with a slight chance for snow after 11pm and the overnight low, 28. Tomorrow: Cloudy with a 50-percent chance of snow and the high near 37.