Santa Fe's dropout rate is on the decline--Santa Fe Public Schools reported late last week that, according to data released by the state Public Education Department, The District's one year dropout rate was less-than three-percent last school year, a sharp drop from previous year's six-percent. The District says the result is SF-PS’s lowest one-year dropout rate in the past ten-years and below the statewide rate of four-point-seven-percent. The one-year dropout rate for 2012-2013 represents the percentage of students in grades seven-through-12 who either dropped out during that school year or who failed to return for the start of following school year, 2013-2014.
Environment Secretary Ryan Flynn says the state cannot move forward on the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant's request to open more storage space for radioactive waste from the nation's nuclear weapons program until more information is known about the recent events at the troubled facility. The nuclear waste repository near Carlsbad stopped taking all waste shipments after a February underground truck fire and radiation release nine days later, events which closed the plant. Officials have yet to get underground to figure out what caused the radiation release.
The New Mexico Film Foundation is seeking entries for a media project called “Life in New Mexico.” The Foundation's Ann Sterling says submissions must be three-minutes or less and sections of them will be compiled in a 10-minute film. *****032413-Sterling-1 :29***** Sterling says final product will bring attention to the post-production segment of the New Mexico film industry. More information, including how to submit can be found at New-Mexico-Film-Foundation-
Police in Santa Fe have arrested three men suspected of breaking into a woman's home while she was inside. SF-PD says 31-year-old Fernando Fonsesca, 28-year-old Armando Gutierrez and 19-year-old Michael Martinez are all facing charges after a 62-year-old woman reported a break-in at her home Thursday afternoon. The woman got both a license plate number as well as a description of the suspects. That led police to quickly stop and arrest the suspects.
The past two months—January and February--were the driest start to any year on record for New Mexico, and forecasters with the National Weather Service say that things haven't improved thus far in March. Senior meteorologist Chuck Jones told state and federal officials during a monthly drought briefing that New Mexico received less than one-third of its normal snow and rain over the winter, and that the lack of snowpack in the mountains is prompting concerns among water managers.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny today, with the high near 60. Tonight, mostly clear with the low down to 29. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with the high near 58.