The snow that fell Wednesday and overnight has prompted a number of delays today. The Santa Fe, Pojoaque Valley and Espanola schools, Santa Fe Community College and Santa Fe County Offices, Northern New Mexico Community College, Taos County Government, UNM-Taos and the Santa Fe Indian School are all on two-hour delayed schedules. Roads in the city of Santa Fe are snow-packed and slick—you’ll want to allow extra time on your morning travels today. (For the latest closing and delay information, click here: (http://www.kob.com/article/11727/index.shtml)
Officials say a small portion of the ceiling at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant—or WIPP— has collapsed. The U.S. Energy Department's Carlsbad Field Office says the damage was spotted by geotechnical workers during an inspection last week. The office announced the finding Wednesday, saying it highlighted the need for workers to continue with roof bolting operations at WIPP. Access to the area where the ceiling collapsed has been restricted since November, and no plant personnel were present at the time of the fall. Officials say the ceiling can be repaired. The repository has been closed since last February, when a container of waste from Los Alamos National Laboratory ruptured and contaminated 22 workers and parts of the underground storage area.
New Mexico Republicans have cleared the first hurdle in overhauling the House of Representatives. The new majority Republicans have passed a resolution that revamps committees by eliminating some and consolidating others. The resolution was approved with heavy Democratic opposition on Wednesday in the Committee on Rules and Order of Business. It must still go before the full House. Republican leaders say they want committees to be more time-efficient and that it's time for a change. Democrats oppose several provisions of the resolution and say the changes should be made after more discussion. Republicans are the majority party in the House for the first time in 60 years.
The New Mexico House of Representatives has unanimously approved the first bill of the 2015 session. Legislators passed the piece of legislation that funds the 60-day session on Wednesday. It is known as a "feed bill." A committee approved the measure Tuesday to provide nearly $9.4 million for session costs, including salaries for staff and expenses for legislators. Last year, legislators approved a $5.4 million measure but the session was only 30 days. House Majority Leader Nate Gentry, R-Albuquerque, said there was an increase in costs this year because of a spike in temporary employees who claim unemployment when the session ends. Gentry was granted an exemption to a House rule that requires bills be voted on a day after they are introduced on the floor. It will now go to the Senate.
The Tourism industry has long been a mainstay of New Mexico’s economy. State Tourism Secretary-designate Rebecca Latham says it’s a six-billion dollar industry that’s been growing, leading to the creation of more jobs. Latham says the Tourism Department now sees a big opportunity for growth as a result of recent lower gasoline prices. *****012115-Latham-1 :33***** Latham says since airline prices aren’t dropping, the Tourism Department sees the so-called “fly” markets of Denver, Phoenix, Dallas and Houston as potential “drive” markets as well.
Santa Fe Police are investigating a string of robberies in recent days. Police say the most recent occurred at 7:45 pm at the Baskin-Robbins in 18-hundred block Cerrillos Road Wednesday night. Meantime, officers are investigating two robberies believed to be committed by the same suspect Tuesday night. A news release says that a male who threatened to have a gun robbed the “Fill 'Er Up” gas station in the 26-hundred block of Cerrillos Road shortly after 5pm. Then about an hour later, the same suspect robbed Dollar General Store on Airport Road. Police say the suspect appears to be the same person who robbed both the Los Panchitos Mini Mart and an Airport- Road Subway restaurant last week. Police ask that if you have any information please call 505-428-3710.
Santa Fe Weather: Snow likely mainly before noon today—otherwise it will be mostly cloudy with the temperature expected to be steady around 23-degrees and we could get up to an inch of new snow. Today’s chance for precipitation is 60-percent. Tonight, it will be mostly clear with the low down to 11. Tomorrow: Sunny with the high near 35.