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Jan. 7 First News: A Victory For Fracking Opponents: BLM Postpones NM Oil+Gas Lease Sale (Listen)

The Bureau of Land Management has postponed an oil and gas lease sale for a handful of parcels in northwestern New Mexico, saying more time is needed to review public comments. The federal agency says three of the parcels will be considered again during the October sale. The remaining two will be put off while the agency reviews the potential environmental effects of managing an expected shale oil boom in the San Juan Basin. Environmentalists contend the leases would have opened the door for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, before the agency updates its management plan. In October, a coalition of groups asked the BLM to stop approving new drilling permits in the basin over concerns that the cumulative effects could harm the environment and cultural sites such as Chaco Canyon.

Authorities say an Indian Health Services physician has been arrested on federal child pornography charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office says 61-year-old Thomas Murray is accused of transporting, distributing and possessing visual depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Murray's preliminary hearing is scheduled for today. Federal prosecutors say Murray moved to New Mexico in October to take a job as a general practitioner with Indian Health Services at Acoma Pueblo. The FBI began investigating Murray in December after receiving a report from the state attorney general's office. Investigators uncovered an IP address linked to Murray's home that was allegedly being used to download and distribute pornographic images. The FBI arrested Murray and searched his home on Monday.

Federal authorities say they're investigating the latest cyberattack on the Albuquerque Journal. The newspaper's Twitter account was hijacked Tuesday morning. Someone replaced the profile- picture with an image that expressed support for Islamic militants. Numerous posts followed, including photos of driver's licenses belonging to New Mexico residents, inmate profiles and warnings to residents that their confidential information was at risk. By midday, the newspaper's account was restored. FBI spokesman Frank Fisher confirmed Tuesday that the agency was looking into the case. It marks the second time in less than two weeks that the newspaper was targeted by hackers. Its website was taken down for several hours on Christmas Eve when someone replaced the newspaper's main story with material that expressed support for Islamic State extremists.

In less than two weeks, the New Mexico Legislature will begin its 2015 session. As a preview, KSFR is discussing with a few veteran lawmakers some of the issues likely to be considered during the 60-day session, when all matters of public policy can be considered under the New Mexico Constitution.

Sandia Park Republican State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort joined the State Senate in 1997 representing the 19th district. Her district covers a swath of small communities in Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Sandoval and Torrance Counties

One priority for Wilson Beffort is cracking down on non-compliance by the trucking industry when it comes to paying the weight-distance taxes trucking firms are assessed.

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Wilson-Beffort says the problem with the trucking taxes is lack of enforcement by the under-funded Motor Transport Police whose mission is to ensure the safe and legal operation of commercial motor vehicles and to prevent the introduction of illicit contraband into New Mexico while facilitating trade.

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Sandia Park Senator, Sue Wilson-Beffort.

Another New Mexico legislator wants to prohibit some public school activity fees. According to the Albuquerque Journal Senator Craig Brandt says he believes public school fees violate the New Mexico Constitution's guarantee of a free public education. The Rio Rancho Republican is sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session to prohibit fees for such things as laboratory classes, fine arts education, physical education and special education and use of libraries. According to Brandt's office, the bill would not apply to fees for school clubs, athletic teams, parking passes or replacement of lost or damaged items. Spokeswoman Monica Armenta of Albuquerque Public Schools says school officials aren't familiar with the bill and cannot comment on it. Brandt is a former Rio Rancho Public Schools board member

Patients and employees on one floor of an Albuquerque hospital were briefly evacuated because of a reported smoke odor. Albuquerque Fire Department officials say firefighters didn't smell smoke but instead noticed an electrical odor on the ninth floor of the downtown Lovelace Hospital on Tuesday afternoon. They say a melted motor in the HVAC system was discovered. There were no injuries and all patients and employees later returned to the ninth floor.

Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today through tomorrow, the high today, 36, it’ll climb to 44 tomorrow. Tonight, expect partly cloudy skies with the overnight low down to 22.