Hispanic activists in New Mexico are pushing for state schools to teach students about an important Civil War battle involving Latino and Native American Union soldiers. KOB-TV in Albuquerque reports the League of United Latin American Citizens and the Hispano Round Table of New Mexico announced last week a new effort at trying to get the Battle of Glorieta- Pass in classrooms. During that battle, New Mexico's Volunteer Union Soldiers defeated two Confederate armies after three days of fighting. The groups also want a monument at the northern New Mexico battlefield to recognize those who fought in the battle. Currently, the only thing marking the battle site is a shelter with artifacts, a few crosses, and a sign that says, "Glorieta, the Gettysburg of the West."
New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas is set to announce his review of hiring private lawyers to file lawsuits on behalf of the attorney general's office. Balderas is scheduled to announce today new policy changes on the practice and will promise to make all documents from a bidding process available to the public. The move comes after a New York Times story in December that showed how more attorneys general were hiring private law firms to file lawsuits. The story, which featured former New Mexico Attorney General Gary King, reported that private lawyers search public records for potential cases then approach attorneys general. State officials hire the firms to do the necessary legwork, and in return, the firms get a percentage of any money won in court cases.
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief will be keeping its existing New Mexico route. Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told the New Mexican last week that the Southwest Chief will continue to make stops in New Mexico cities of Raton, Las Vegas, Lamy and Albuquerque. The announcement ends more than two years of fear and uncertainty in Northern New Mexico's smaller communities about whether Amtrak would alter the route. The Southwest Chief travels between Chicago and Los Angeles, but part of the current route was in jeopardy because of questions about maintenance and upgrades of track. Colorado and Kansas moved aggressively last year to secure a federal grant and to allocate money for repairs on their sections of the Southwest Chief tracks.
The Albuquerque Police Department has launched an advertising blitz aimed at getting residents to interact directly with officers. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reports the department is running a radio advertisement that directs people to the website, "talkwithacop.com," where people can ask officers questions. The website is part of the department's efforts to build a better relationship with the community while complying with a recent Department of Justice agreement. Last year, a report from the department found that Albuquerque police have a pattern of excessive force. Albuquerque police also had been under scrutiny for more than 40 police shootings since 2010. The city spent $75,000 from the mayor's appropriation budget for the ads, which will continue to run on the radio.
A new projects aims to teach Navajo Nation residents about gardening and healthy eating. The Daily Times in Farmington reports that Yeego (YAY'-goh) Gardening Project, launched by the New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center, began Saturday and is part of a scientific study. Kevin Lombard, a San Juan College instructor, says the goal is to combine healthy living with raising food. The Yeego Gardening Project held its first workshop Saturday at a garden near the Shiprock Chapter House. Participants fill out a survey prior to starting the workshops and multiple times during the course of the season, which will end in October. Researchers are interested in seeing if attitudes and eating habits change because of access to the community garden.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with the high reaching 71 and a slight chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Tonight-Partly cloudy with the overnight low, 41. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with the high, 71.