Republican Governor Susana Martinez and Democratic hopeful Attorney General Gary King stayed to their scripts Sunday evening, offering no surprises about where they stood on the key issues facing New Mexico while they traded jabs during their final televised debate. Martinez told the audience that she kept her promise not to raise taxes, and in fact, cut taxes some 24 times. Martinez blames current nationwide economic woes on the state’s reliance on federal spending and the bleak state of the economy when she took office four years ago ***102014-Martinez-1 :15***** Democratic challenger Gary King—recirculating an old theme—asked the TV audience if it was better off today than four years ago? *****102014-King-1 :18***** King pointed to the high percentage of people in New Mexico who are living in poverty, saying that is the root of many of the state's problems, including challenges within the education system. Martinez referred to King as a politician who has supported tax hikes in the past and would likely do so again. He says she wasn't being truthful with New Mexicans and hasn't done enough to turn the state around.
KSFR FALL-FUND RAISER MESSAGE
A union that represents hundreds of nurses and medical technicians at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe has overwhelmingly ratified a new, three-year labor contract. Saturday's vote brings an end to months of heated negotiations. The agreement includes a minimum staffing level beginning January first, making St. Vincent the first New Mexico hospital to enact such a standard. Under the contract, the hospital faces monetary penalties if it doesn't abide by the staffing standards. The contract also calls for up to eight-and-a-half percent in pay raises and a greater voice for nurses when they're concerned about patient care or staffing. Both sides also agreed to drop complaints against each other filed with the National Labor Relations Board.
Proponents of a proposal to mine basalt on La Bajada mesa are suing Santa Fe County for imposing a 12-month moratorium on such developments. Albuquerque landowner Buena Vista Estates and gravel company Rockology Limited are seeking to overturn the moratorium. The county took action in September after residents voiced concerns about the proposed mine. The New Mexican reports that residents complained about possible pollution, noise and what they described as the destruction of the mesa's scenic beauty. The proponents' attorney, Pete Domenici Jr., says there's no justification for the moratorium. He's asking a state district judge to grant the application to operate the 50-acre mine if county commissioners continue to refuse to take final action on the mine permit.
The county declined to comment on the lawsuit.
Otero County officials say they have uncovered more damage following flooding earlier this year and the bill to make repairs is expected to top $875,000. Emergency services director Paul Quairoli provided new information on the county's emergency declaration during a recent meeting.
He says the county did not initially meet the state's threshold to receive assistance in August, but more damage was caused in September due to the continued rains and storm runoff. The Alamogordo Daily News reports that Quairoli has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to estimate the damage now that things have dried up.
Officials have put together a list of nearly two dozen areas that will need repairs. That list includes many roads in the southern New Mexico county.
Carlsbad city officials are going after money from the federal government to help the southeastern New Mexico community address the lack of services of homeless families and individuals. The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports the City Council recently approved a resolution to seek a federal community grant worth $500,000 that would go toward the construction of a homeless shelter.
In the past, attempts to build a shelter for the growing number of homeless in the area have been defeated. The closest shelter is nearly 80 miles away in Roswell. Carlsbad temporary sheltered homeless at the San Jose Senior Center during three of the coldest winter days last year.
A decline in fall enrollment has left New Mexico State University with less revenue. NMSU President Garrey Carruthers says university leaders spent the last few weeks meeting with stakeholders from colleges and departments across campus. They were able to identify about $4.8 million in spending that can be reduced to make up for the drop in revenue. Carruthers had asked each dean and vice president to propose budget reductions ranging from 1 percent up to 5 percent.
He says the goal has been to streamline operations at NMSU while still protecting the university's core mission. As a result, more than 60 percent of the spending reductions will come from administration budgets. Much of the savings will come from not immediately filling vacant positions.
Albuquerque police say a 20-year-old woman is facing vehicular homicide charges after she struck and killed a motorcyclist who was stopped at red light. Police spokesman Tanner Tixier says alcohol and speed appear to be a factor in Saturday morning's crash. He identified the driver as Gabrielle Moya and said she had been arrested just weeks earlier on a charge of aggravated DWI. The 54-year-old victim, identified as Steve Reider, was headed east on Montgomery when he stopped at a traffic light. Officers say Moya was speeding and didn't stop at the light. She rear-ended the man and he died at the scene. Police did not immediately release the man's name.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with a chance for showers today and tomorrow—today’s high will reach 66, while it will be 61 tomorrow. Tonight, expect mostly cloudy with a low of 44.
There’s a 30-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms through tomorrow.