Canine teams are being used due to rugged terrain with jagged inclines, deep canyons and rocky peaks along with dense vegetation as they continue searching this morning for 40-year old Bryan Conkling of Rio Rancho, who’s a paramedic as well as a rock climber. Conkling took off for an overnight trip last Saturday in the Sandia Mountains, and family reported him missing Sunday night. The New Mexico State Police are leading the search. Here’s State Police Sergeant Elizabeth Armijo: *****090215-Armijo-2 :27*****
Police are still looking for a New Mexico mom accused of taking off with her four-year-old son who has severe health problems. State police said the boy is very sick and needs medical attention immediately. Police say Kingston Rodriguez was last seen with his mom, Katrina Bryant, in Taos. They also say the boy was ordered by a judge to be put in state custody. Authorities said they may be in Texas in a black 2007 Jeep Liberty Sport with New Mexico registration 172-RTD. But their biggest concern is the child’s health. They say he has significant medical issues they say are, quoting: “evidently are not being treated the way they should,” unquote.
Santa Feans on Tuesday got a first look at final plans for the Cerrillos Road and St. Francis Drive-Acequia Trail Underpass project. The underpass will connect the Acequia trail adjacent to the School for the Deaf to the Railyard Park just north of Cerrillos road, keeping cyclists and pedestrians out of the busy Cerrillos/St. Francis intersection. Melissa McDonald-the City of Santa Fe’s River and Watershed Coordinator, says the project is a very important element of the city’s master plan for bicycling in Santa Fe. McDonald adds the underpass won’t be a narrow, minimalistic and dark tunnel, adding that it’s adorned with artwork developed by artist Christy Orr *****090215-McDonald-2 :17***** The lead engineer on the underpass, Leroy Pacheco, says the underpass’ price-tag is nearly four-million dollars, with the vast bulk of the cost—about 85-percent—being covered by federal dollars obtained by the New Mexico Department of Transportation. Pacheco says the project should go out for bid this fall, and construction is anticipated to last between six and eight months. He says the work will begin overnights underneath St. Francis Drive, so traffic will be normal during the day. *****090215-Pacheco-2 :21 ***** Pacheco says he’s one of many in the city excited to see the long-planned project about to begin.*****090215-Pacheco-3 :32***** Leroy Pacheco with the City of Santa Fe’s Public Works Department.
Dianna Duran won two terms as secretary of state on the promise she would clean up the office after her predecessors were accused of wrongdoing. Duran now faces a similar fate after she was accused of funneling campaign contributions to her personal bank accounts all while withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars at casinos around New Mexico. Duran's attorney has vowed to fight the allegations in court, but the case has revived New Mexico's reputation as a place where elected officials and other authority figures are often swept up by claims of fraud and corruption. The executive director of Common Cause New Mexico, a group that has been pushing for more transparency within the state's campaign finance reporting system, says the latest allegations will only lead to more frustration among voters.
A newly released article says Santa Fe is the healthiest city in New Mexico. KOAT-TV reports the website--“24-seven Wall Street”named the healthiest city in every state. The site gave the title to Santa Fe because 82-percent of residents have access to places to work out. Also, only 12-percent are considered “inactive.”
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today, with the high near 80 and a 30-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low 57 and a 30-percent chance for precipitation. Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with the high 78, and a 20-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms.