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Nov. 13 First News: Serious Charges Filed Against Sandia National Labs (Listen)

Some serious charges against Sandia National Laboratories—and they’re coming from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of the Inspector General. It’s claiming that Sandia improperly used federal funds to influence members of Congress and other officials to extend the lab's nearly two-and-a-half billion dollar management contract. A report released last week by the inspector general says use of the funds was a violation of federal codes as well as provisions in the contract itself. The report includes recommendations, and Sandia officials say they'll cooperate with the inspector general. The inspector general determined that the lab formed a team and worked with consultants beginning in 2009 to develop a plan for securing a contract extension without having to go through a competitive process. That plan called for lobbying Congress and trying to influence key advisers to then-Energy Secretary Steven Chu. The lab is managed by Sandia Corporation, which is a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corp.

In another effort to put a halt to hydraulic fracturing—or “fracking”—the San Miguel County Commission has imposed steep restrictions on oil and gas exploration in the northeastern New Mexico County.  Under the ordinance unanimously approved by Commissioners Wednesday, exploration and drilling is restricted to a sparsely populated stretch on the eastern side of the county. Drilling companies will have to pay steep application fees, foot the bill for pre-drilling assessments and post bonds. The oil and gas industry says the new ordinance effectively discourages any development in the area. County officials counter, saying the requirements are aimed at protecting the health, safety and environmental welfare of residents. Neighboring Mora County has in place—for now, at least—a complete ban on fracking.

You can now “like” the Town of Taos on Facebook. Town officials announcing Wednesday their new consolidated Facebook page is online, with the intent of informing citizens on all matters…. from traffic and weather delays to street closings, family and kids events, concerts, community meetings, and public safety and even the occasional Taos water main breaks. At last glance, the Facebook page had nearly 330 “likes.”

As a result of last month’s shooting death of a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Deputy—allegedly at the hands of another—some pending Santa Fe County criminal cases are likely to be dismissed. Former Deputy Tai Chan is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center in the shooting death of Deputy Jeremy Martin. KOAT-TV cites Sheriff’s Major Ken Johnson, who says that both deputies had cases pending, such as traffic tickets and first-offense drunken-driving arrests, which are misdemeanors. He says those will likely be dismissed. However, Johnson says it’ll be up to the District Attorney to decide how to handle felony cases the two deputies were to testify about.

Jemez Pueblo leaders are not giving up on efforts to reclaim as their own the VallesCaldera National Preserve. Jemez Pueblo considers the nearly 140-square-mile swath of federally-managed public land as a "spiritual sanctuary" and part of its traditional homeland. The tribe is going before a panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today in hopes of keeping its lawsuit against the federal government alive. The preserve is home to vast grasslands, the remnants of one of North America's few super volcanoes and one of New Mexico's most famous elk herds. The federal government bought the property from land grant heirs in 2000 with the goal of operating it as a working ranch while developing recreational opportunities for the public.

More record cold temperatures are expected to strike parts of eastern New Mexico thanks to a strong system moving in from the north. The National Weather Service says the northeastern part of the state will see temperatures in the mid-teens with a 40 percent chance of snow around Las Vegas. The northeastern area of the state also is under a winter weather advisory while areas around Truth or Consequences are under a freeze warning. The city of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Rescue Mission have opened winter shelter for the homeless due to deteriorating weather. Sharp drops in temperature are expected in other parts of the U.S. in the coming days, thanks to a powerful weather system that hit Alaska with hurricane-force winds over the weekend before blanketing several states with snow.

Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy skies today and tonight with the high today 39 and the overnight low down to 14. Tomorrow: Partly sunny with the high near 50.