Several 2014 New Mexico political campaigns enter their final day today, while those that win get to do it all over again and gear up for November’s general election. So it is on Primary election day—the polls are open until 7pm, and that’s when KSFR’s live coverage begins with segments at the top and bottom of the hours until 10:30pm.
Beginning June 16th, the Santa Fe Police Department will be led by Eric Garcia, who’s currently with the Espanola Police Department. Mayor Javier Gonzales announced Garcia’s appointment Monday. Garcia’s career includes 18-years with the New Mexico State Police. He succeeds Ray Rael, who retired as police chief earlier this year. Garcia will make a salary of 104-thousand dollars.
Protestors are being blamed for the cancellation of Monday’s Albuquerque city council meeting. Dozens pushed through the doors of the mayor’s office and organized a sit-in to express concerns about the Albuquerque Police Department. People could be seen holding up signs and there was also a heavy police presence. About a dozen of those protestors were loaded into a prisoner transport van and arrested.
New Mexico gets most of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, but state officials say that could change thanks to new federal guidelines aimed at reducing pollution. The Obama administration unveiled its proposal on Monday. It calls for curbing carbon dioxide emissions at power plants by nearly a third by 2030. Specific goals have been set for each state. The Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club’s spokeswoman Camilla Feibelman says the action is big news for New Mexicans: *****060314-Feibelman-1 (q: burning fossil fuels) :36***** Meantime, New Mexico’s largest utility has announced plans for greater reliance on solar energy and says its plans for renewable energy will meet the new state standard. Public Service Company of New Mexico—or PNM— says it will raise its solar capacity to 107 megawatts in 2015. The utility says its new solar projects will create construction jobs for qualified New Mexicans and thousands of dollars of new tax revenue for the counties where they are located. PNM is evaluating multiple sites in the central part of the state. The utility is also providing 300-megawatts of wind-generated power.
Chevron Mining Inc. has announced its closing its molybdenum mine in northern New Mexico due to low demand. The California-based company said Monday around 300 miners in Questa were given a 60-day notice of their layoffs as required by federal law. A Chevron spokeswoman says decision was "made after an intensive review of the economic viability of the mine." She says the price of the steel hardening element isn't covering the operation of the mine. The Questa mine has a history of boom and bust.
For some people, money isn't everything. Take Tim Dodge for example—KSFR's Dave Marash explains.
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Santa Fe Weather: Sunny and breezy today, with a high near 89. Tonight: Mostly clear and breezy, with a low around 58. Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 90.