A bipartisan group of mayors from across the country have unanimously approved a resolution calling on cities to use natural solutions to fight the impacts of climate change. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales was among the attendees as the U.S. Conference of Mayors as in Dallas took action on the topic Monday. Gonzales telling KSFR: *****062414-Gonzales-2 (q:across the country) :28***** The action is significant as Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided over how to deal with climate change.
The state Supreme Court has ruled that a court-appointed guardian for children cannot be sued by a parent in a custody dispute. The high court said Monday guardians ‘at litem’ have immunity from lawsuit related to their duties as an arm of the court in determining what's in the best interests of children who are the subject of a custody fight between parents. The justices also said the parent can't bring a lawsuit on behalf of a child because that would create a conflict of interest in the custody case. The court's unanimous ruling overturned a decision by the state Court of Appeals allowing a father to sue a Santa Fe lawyer serving as the guardian for his four children in divorce and custody proceedings that began in 2006.
Two years after a noted American Indian activist's death, his widow is suing Santa Fe’s Christus Health for negligence. KSFR's Kate Powell reports. *****062414-Means : *****
Text: The widow of the late American Indian activist and actor Russell Means is suing doctors and clinics associated with Christus St. Vincent Hospital alleging they ignored clear signs that Means had cancer over a series of visits in 2011. Mr. and Mrs. Means sought a second opinion at UCLA Medical Center later that year but Means died of esophageal cancer in October 2012 at the age of 72. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that Christus' attorneys have denied any wrongdoing on the hospital's part. Means was born in 1939 into the Oglala sub tribe of the Lakota People on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He rose to prominence in the seventies as a critic of injustices against American Indians, and survived thirteen assassination attempts over the course of his activist career. For KSFR, I'm Kate Powell
New Mexico state police have identified a driver accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly crash in Rio Arriba County. Sergeant Damyan Brown said Monday that 26-year-old Justin Romero faces two felony charges of homicide by vehicle and one charge of resisting an officer. Authorities say Romero, of El Rito, allegedly drove his Ford pickup north on U.S. Highway 84 last Thursday and crossed into the southbound lane, hitting a car head on. Police say 23-year-old Leo Gurule of Espanola and 45-year-old Carlos Archuleta of Santa Cruz were in the car and died at the scene. KOAT-TV reports that Romero is a detention officer at Rio Arriba County jail. Jail officials say Romero wasn't working the day of the crash and they are conducting their own investigation.
One thing you'll never hear said about New Mexico is, "Water, water everywhere." In our state, precious water is often shared from one location to another. Shannon Latham reports. *****IN: Latham std :40*****
TEXT: This week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin a 10-day block release of water from Santa Rosa Lake down the Pecos River to farmers in the Carlsbad Irrigation District. The lake level will drop, although there’s expected to be enough water left for recreational users. The Santa Rosa Communicator reports that the federal Bureau of Reclamation and the Interstate Stream Commission plan to establish a permanent “fish pool” at the reservoir to protect recreational use of the lake, and to sustain downstream habitats of the Pecos blunt nose shiner. Shank Cribbs, manager of the Santa Rosa Lake State Park office. says the latest release is expected to lower the lake’s elevation by about 10 vertical feet. For KSFR News, I'm Shannon Lathem.
Eight teams from around the Southwest will be putting their bomb squad robots to the test as part of a three-day competition at Los Alamos National Laboratory that starts today. The teams will be using their skills and their robots to search vehicles for explosive devices, recover stolen weapons and navigate obstacle courses. Other challenges include investigating possible homemade explosive labs, dealing with suicide bombers and using common tools to disable dangerous devices.
“As much as this pains me,” said Moriarty City Councilor Bobby Ortiz, “it's necessary." He's talking about the town's recently-passed ban on fireworks. KSFR's Dave Marash has the story.
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TEXT: Fireworks and fire season are not a good match. So says Governor Susana Martinez, and the Moriarty City Council agrees. The Edgewood Independent reports the council has banned both the use and sale of fireworks for at least the next 30 days, at the request of Moriarty Fire Chief Steve Spann. Joe Kyriacou and Alan Brandon, who own the Fireworks World Outlet and Wholesale Fireworks, respectively, said the ban hurts their businesses. "A noose around our necks," Kyriacou called it. There is an escape clause...if enough rain falls to lower the Moriarty area's extreme drought rating...the ban can be removed. For KSFR News, I'm Dave Marash.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly sunny today with a 20-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms and a high of 87. Tonight, Partly cloudy with the low 56 and a ten-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and a high of 87.