The labor contract between Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center and the union that represents hundreds of its nurses and medical technicians expires at midnight. On Wednesday the union floated a proposal—Union President Fonda Osborne: *****073114-Osborn-2 :13***** The pay Osborn’s referring to there is expressed in incentive pay. In a published statement, Hospital spokesman Arturo Delgado said, quote: “We remain committed to bargaining in good faith. At this time, however, we don’t believe there is a need to return to the table to accomplish that goal given the nature of the proposal and the thorough bargaining history to date.”
A Santa Fe man has been sentenced to 6 ½ years in federal prison for his role in a crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Federal prosecutor say 24-year-old Michael Jaramillo also was sentenced Wednesday to four years of supervised release after he serves his prison term. Jaramillo was among five men indicted in April 2013 on narcotics and firearms charges as the result of a federal investigation. Authorities say Jaramillo was part of an organization that manufactured and distributed crack cocaine in Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties between March 2012 and April 2013. Jaramillo entered a guilty plea in the case four months ago. Two of the other defendants also pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing while the other two have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The New Mexico Department of Corrections Secretary Gregg Marcantel is asking state residents to "shed blood" in the war against drunken driving. Marcantel announcing Wednesday that the department is launching a statewide blood drive to call attention the physical pain DWI is causing the state. Marcantel said he got the idea for the blood drive after seeing the damaged patrol car of State Police Office Carlos Verdugo from a June DWI crash. *****073014-Marcantel-1 :19***** Marcantel says officer Verdugo survived but was he seriously injured and needed blood.
A long-time activist has donated his posters from the civil rights era to the Center for Southwest Research and Special Collections. The University of New Mexico recently announced it has acquired a new collection of activist posters collected by Allen Cooper. Officials say the collection offers a rare look into civil rights activism in New Mexico, the American Indian Movement, and anti-Vietnam War causes around the Southwest. The Albuquerque-born Cooper worked with a number of civil rights organizations throughout his career, including the Congress of Racial Equality, the Black Panther Party and Students for a Democratic Society. Cooper, who’s 75, is currently writing a memoir.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today and tonight with scattered showers and thunderstorms with a high near 75 and the overnight low, 57. There’s a 30-percent chance for precipitation today—it rises to 50-percent tonight. Tomorrow expect mostly cloudy skies with scattered showers and thunderstorms with a igh of 75 and a 60-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms.