After weeks of stalemate, it appears that the labor dispute at Santa Fe’s hospital may be near an end. Reports say that a tentative agreement’s been reached between management at Christus-St. Vincent Hospital and the union representing its nurses and medical technicians, and that a ratification vote on the new contract is set for Saturday. The primary dividing issue is staffing, with the union maintaining that not enough employees are available to provide quality care to patients. Union leader Fonda Osborn telling the New Mexican that concessions from Christus-St. Vincent on staffing levels convinced the union to support the offer. However, Osborn said the union did not achieve its staffing goal, which was staffing levels at the 50th percentile of comparable hospitals. But she said the hospital has agreed to schedule enough staffing to handle “the average daily census” of patients.
The former head of the Interstate Stream Commission is accusing the agency of violating the New Mexico Open Meetings Act in its deliberations regarding the future of the Gila River. Norm Gaume filed a lawsuit Wednesday in state district court in Santa Fe. He's seeking a restraining order to prevent the commission from taking any action related to proposals discussed by a subcommittee that has been considering Gila River diversion proposals. Commission spokeswoman Lela Hunt declined to comment on the lawsuit. The commission faces a Dec. 31 deadline for deciding whether to accept federal funds to build a diversion and storage system along the Gila. Critics say the project would be a waste of money. Supporters say New Mexico shouldn't miss out on a chance to develop its share of the river.
Virgin Galactic has reached another pair of milestones as it works toward the goal of beginning commercial flights from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. CEO George Whitesides says the Federal Aviation Administration this week released its approval for the permit that will enable Virgin Galactic to restart powered flights. The company has also completed qualification firings for its rocket motor. With the motor and crew in place, Whitesides says the company will soon be moving into the final phase of its test flight program, where it will reach for increasingly higher altitudes for its carrier aircraft and spaceship. Some of the final tests will take place in New Mexico. Others will be in the Mojave Desert. Whitesides was in New Mexico this week for an annual symposium on commercial and personal spaceflight.
A new civil panel aimed at monitoring Albuquerque's troubled police department is seeking members. City councilors are scheduled Thursday to announce the application process for residents to serve on the nine-member Police Oversight Board. Last month, councilors approved a measure creating the new civilian agency independent of the mayoral administration and council. It would investigate and decide citizen complaints against police, analyze trends and provide policy recommendations. For months, the city has been rocked by angry protests and a U.S. Justice Department investigation involving more than 40 police shootings since 2010. A federal report last year faulted Albuquerque police over cases of excessive force. The new panel is part of a pending Justice Department blueprint for reforming the city's police department.
Governor Susana Martinez's administration says the federal Department of Veterans Affairs has given the green light to establish a state-owned veteran’s cemetery in Gallup. State Veterans' Services Secretary Timothy Hale says the federal agency plans to award a grant to finance the cemetery. A final grant award hinges on Congress and the president reaching an agreement on a federal budget. Hale says groundbreaking could start next spring and the goal is to open the cemetery in the spring of 2016. The cemetery will meet standards for a national cemetery and is expected to cost at least $5 million. The federal government will pay to develop the cemetery but the state will cover its operations. The state has pending applications for similar cemeteries at Angel Fire, Carlsbad and Fort Stanton.
A New Mexico candidate for state auditor is hoping some "Breaking Bad" references will put him into office. Democrat Timothy Keller released Wednesday a campaign ad using the Albuquerque car wash from the hit AMC-TV series. Speaking in front of the car wash, the Harvard-educated Keller promises to fight fraud and waste. An image of his opponent, Republican lawyer Robert Aragon, is then shown in front of a show's trademark yellow cloud of methamphetamine with allegations that Aragon failed to pay his taxes. A voiceover calls Keller "the clean choice." Aragon did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press.
"Breaking Bad," which ended last year and was filmed in Albuquerque, followed former high school teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston. White produced meth with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.
Santa Fe Weather: Sunny today and tomorrow with highs in the low 70s. Tonight: Mostly clear skies with the overnight low, 45.