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July 15 First News: Senator Udall Pushing For Federal Action To Prevent Future Data Thefts (Listen)

In a conference-call with New Mexico reporters Tuesday, Senator Tom Udall commented on the recent data breaches that compromised millions of federal employees’ personal information, including background check information on employees at the state’s national laboratories.  Udall announced that he and his Democratic Senate colleague are pushing the federal Office of Personnel Management to take steps to minimize harm and to take specific actions to prevent cyber-theft. *****071515-Udall-2 :18*****Udall also encouraged New Mexico federal workers  to visit the office of Personnel Management’s website for information on its update credit monitoring services and other protections.
Public Service Company of New Mexico, the state's largest electric provider, says rejection of its proposal by New Mexico regulators will lead to the complete closure of a coal-fired power plant that provides power to two- million customers in the Southwest. PNM officials on Tuesday reiterated the consequences if the state Public Regulation Commission does not approve a plan that calls for shutting down half of the plant to meet a federal mandate for reducing haze-causing pollution. The utility wants to replace the lost power with a combination of coal, natural gas, nuclear and solar sources. In filings made this week with the commission, opponents accuse PNM of exaggerating the potential fallout. They also asked regulators to make public key agreements that concern the plant's future.

The Rio Rancho school board has unanimously passed a policy for random drug testing of students in grades eight through 12 who play on district sports teams. The Albuquerque Journal reports Rio Rancho Public Schools is the first public school district in the metro area to drug test its athletes. District officials will inform parents of the policy during the annual mandatory meeting Cleveland and Rio Ranch high schools hold for the parents of all athletes at the beginning of each school year. Students will be tested for include alcohol, opiates, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, methadone and barbiturates. The tests will be done on school grounds with the results sent to a lab and returned within two days. Students who test positive would be suspended for 20 consecutive activity days.

The City of Santa Fe is looking for members of its Sustainable Santa Fe Commission. A city news release says it’s now accepting letters of interest from those interested in serving on the panel. The Commission advises the City Council on the programs, policies and projects that help to improve the city’s environment as well as the health and quality of life of the people of Santa Fe. More information is available on the city’s website.

New Mexico State Police say they’ve received numerous reports from citizens advising they received a phone call and informed they had a warrant for their arrest and were required to pay— over the phone— a warrant fee to clear it all up.  The return phone number from the caller displays a New Mexico State Police District office line. NMSP want the public to be aware that any such requests are a scam, and is investigating these calls as a criminal matter.  State Police are also reminding the public that no government or law enforcement agency would ever make such contact and request money to be paid. If you receive such a call, call the State Police.

Governor Susana Martinez has appointed former District Attorney Matthew Chandler to a vacant state district court seat. The Governor’s office making the announcement Tuesday. Martinez also appointed Emilio Chavez of Ranchos de Taos to the Eighth District Court and Patrick Cordell of Flora Vista to San Juan County Magistrate Court. Chandler was the top prosecutor for a two-county district in eastern New Mexico before stepping down to start a private law practice.

He also served as a special prosecutor in a 2014 shooting case involving a Roswell middle school student and ran against Gary King for attorney general in 2010. Martinez nominated Chandler to the University Of New Mexico Board Of Regents earlier this year, but the state Senate rejected that nomination. The fight prompted another regent to resign in protest.

Police in Roswell have apologized to a family after officers failed to locate a body during a search of a missing woman's home only to find it days later. The police department says steps will be taken to ensure future searches are carried out in a thorough manner.

Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny skies today with a 40-percent chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms and the high reaching 81. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low dipping to 58 and a 20-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow: Partly sunny with a high of 84 and a 20-percent chance for precipitation.