Another national report is out, this one
showing New Mexico at the bottom of the list when it comes to overall child well-being. For the first time New Mexico has fallen behind Mississippi for the bottom slot on that study. It comes from the Kids Count data book. Dr. Veronica Garcia is head of the advocacy group New Mexico Voices for Chidlren and says it all boils down to poverty
A movement is developing to increase the minimum wage throughout Santa Fe County to the city level of $10.51 an hour. Organizers tell the Journal North they are circulating a petition that could go to the county commission. The so-called Living Wage in Santa Fe is the second highest in the nation, just behind San Francisco. At present, minimum wage workers in the county make $7.50 an hour.
The Jaroso fire east of Espanola continues to smolder but hasn’t grown much since early last week. It stands at 3,900 acres. But it remains inaccessible by firefighters. Meanwhile a fire burning near Del Norte, Colorado, more than doubled in size over the weekend to more than 70,000 acres.
This week is the anniversary of the 2011 Las Conchas fire in the Los Alamos area. It burned more than 150,000 acres and forced residents of Los Alamos and workers at the national lab to evacuate. We’ll recount events on At Noon today on KSFR News.
Gov. Susana Martinez is asking pueblo leaders to help prevent forest fires by banning fireworks on their reservations. KOAT-TV says so far Santa Clara and Santa Ana have agreed. Martinez is also working to get cooperation from the other 20 pueblos.
Long-time KSFR show host Diego Mulligan has died following a long illness. The Journey Home was Santa Fe’s longest continuing daily talk show. Diego Mulligan is survived by his wife Jennifer and children Mikhaila, Joss and Jaden.