Santa Fe city hall is planning a million-dollar fiber-optic link from the downtown area to the St. Michael's Drive corridor. The project is designed to allow customers along the corridor to have higher-speed broadband internet services. Providers would link into the system and customers could choose from competing carriers. The first step in the project is to find a company to design and build the link.
The American Lung Association says Santa Fe has the second-cleanest air in the nation when it comes to long-term particle pollution. That's just behind Cheyenne, Wyoming. The association has been measuring air content for pollution of various types and says that more than 130 million people live in areas where pollution levels often make the air too dangerous to breathe. Among the worst polluted areas are a number of cities in California.
In the newest figures from the Department of Workforce Solutions, our state's unemployment rate for April fell to 6.7%. That's down from the March reading of 6.9%. The rate of over-the-year job growth was 1.0 percent, representing a gain of 7,900 jobs. That's the best showing since 2008 and has the department hopeful that a sustained recovery is underway. Recent job growth has been greatest in the leisure and hospitality industry, adding 2500 jobs since April 2012.
The state agency charged with implementing the new federal healthcare law says it will begin operations with a plan that combines both state and federal resources. Members of the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange have voted to have the state enroll businesses to take part in the Affordable Care Act, while the federal government will enroll individuals They say it will be a temporary system. It comes about because New Mexico got off to a late start in planning for the October 1st implementation date.
Tomorrow is the last day of the school year throughout the Santa Fe Public School District. The Academy at Larragoite holds graduation ceremonies Wednesday morning at the Community Convention Center. Capital High’s on-campus graduation ceremony is set for Thursday and Santa Fe High follows suit on Friday.
Moving forward with the many details to be worked out for that proposed 11-screen movie and restaurant complex in the Railyard, Santa Fe's Finance Committee will today discuss the cost of Railyard parking for movie-goers. Last week, the developer of the 30,000 square foot complex said that, pending all approvals, he hopes to be built-out and open by the end of 2014.
Insurance and financial firm Mutual of Omaha will be on the Plaza today and Tuesday with a 34 foot long Airstream trailer rigged as a mobile TV studio. Santa Fe is one of 20 cities the company is visiting as it readies a new national TV campaign. They're calling it the ..."Aha! Moment Tour" and they're seeking personal stories of change regarding career, hobbies, romance, etcetera.
Weather for Santa Fe – mostly sunny and a bit on the cool side with highs in the mid 60s. There’s a very slight chance for an isolated shower this afternoon. Lows tonight in the low 40s. Sunny and warmer tomorrow with highs in the low 70s—upper 70s for the remainder of the week.