August… that’s when the New Mexico’s Public Regulation Commission will consider again the proposed power replacement plan offered by the state’s largest electric utility. The PRC voting four-to-one Wednesday to allow Public Service Company of New Mexico more time to make its case for a replacement plan when it closes two coal burning plants at the San Juan Generating Station. The move is part of an effort to curb air pollution to meet tougher federal standards. PNM’s plan includes more coal and nuclear. Opponents of the plan seek greater reliance on renewable energy. Mariel Nanasi of New Energy Economy says PNM was buying time as it tried to finalize documents and find buyers for its coal. *****052815-Nanasi-1 :25***** The PRC approved the delay on a four-to-one vote, Commissioner Valerie Espinoza casting the sole vote against.
New Mexico's unemployment rate rose slightly last month…to six-point-two percent in April, up from six-point-one percent in March. Despite the small increase, the state continued a long string of over-the-year job growth. The Department of Workforce Solutions said Wednesday the economy added 13-thousand new nonfarm jobs in April compared with April 2014, when the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was six-point-seven percent. The department said April was New Mexico's 32nd consecutive month with over-the-year employment growth. Eleven economic sectors added jobs in the past year while two — construction and financial activities — lost jobs. The department said employment growth has generally been trending upward since September 2009, with the pace of growth accelerating in October 2013.
Officers with the New Mexico Game and Fish Department are setting up snares in Los Alamos to trap a cougar they say has killed two dogs and attacked another in the last month. They're asking residents to be aware of the traps, which they say pose little or no danger to people or pets. It's unusual for cougars to stray from their rugged canyon habitat into residential areas, but department spokesman Dan Williams five cougar sighting have occurred within a one-mile area near Los Alamos County Airport. The department is asking residents to keep a close watch on children and pets at dusk, dawn and nighttime hours until the cougar is caught. The traps are being set up largely in gated canyon areas not open to hikers.
The Mora Independent School District has hired a new superintendent and he's the nephew of the school board chairman. Charles Trujillo was hired by a 3-2 roll call vote with his uncle, George- A. Trujillo, voting in favor of the motion. He told the Las Vegas Optic that he voted for his nephew after consulting with a school attorney. Charles Trujillo and the district now are in salary negotiations for the three-year contract. The district has a nepotism policy which doesn't specifically prohibit a board member from voting on the hiring of a nephew. The policy doesn't allow members to vote if the person is a spouse, father, father-in-law, mother, mother-in-law, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, brother-in-law, sister, or sister-in-law. Charles Trujillo has been the associate superintendent at Pecos Schools.
An Albuquerque officer has been placed on paid leave after authorities say he shot at a man suspected of driving a stolen SUV who "recklessly fled the scene." Albuquerque police say the officer fired his weapon a number of times Monday at a vehicle that also had two women and a 5-year-old child inside. According to investigators, police spotted the vehicle in an apartment parking lot and the officer fired shots after the suspect ignored commands and fled the scene.
Police say the driver crashed into a truck and the women and child got out of the car. The mother and the child were taken to a hospital. Authorities say the suspect and the other woman fled. The name of the officer was not released. Albuquerque police places officers involved in shootings on leave while a task forces investigates.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with a slight chance for showers and thunderstorms, today’s high reaching 79. Tonight: Partly cloudy with the overnight low 48 and continued slight chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with a 10-percent chance cor showers and thunderstorms, tomorrow’s high, 78.