The Speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, Don Tripp, is creating a special committee to investigate embezzlement and fraud allegations levied against state Secretary of State Dianna Duran and determine whether to proceed in the impeachment process. Tripp, a Republican from Socorro, sent letters to Attorney General Hector Balderas and Senator Mary- Kay Papen, the co-chair of the state Legislative Council. Those letters informing them the House will begin the process of determining whether the charges have enough merit to impeach Duran. Tripp says the special committee will be made up of an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. They’ll be appointed by Tripp after the Democratic Minority Floor Leader gives him recommendations. Tripp's letter to Senator Papen asks that she put a question of funding for the committee’s on the next Legislative Council meeting on September 15th. Tripp's letter to Balderas asks him to share his case file with the special panel so its members can review the evidence.
Future federal funding’s at risk following news that the New Mexico State Auditor’s office says an independent accounting firm found astate special education funding shortfall totaling 100-million dollars from July 2009 to June 2012. Officials say the numbers were based on New Mexico Public Education Department's calculations. Auditor Tim Keller says the shortfall is another piece of system-wide challenges that plague the state's educational system. The state's Public Education Department is currently in a legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Education over to how to calculate New Mexico's special education funding. Public Education Department spokesman Robert McEntyre is blaming former Governor Bill Richardson’s administration, saying the special-ed funding problems began there.
The annual effort offering amnesty—followed by a bench warrant sweep of New Mexico's deadbeat parents—has collected more than 150-thousand dollars in unpaid child support this year. The governor's office says this year's bench warrant round-up led to 110 arrests with a total of nearly 77-thousand dollars collected so far. The bench warrant amnesty period led to the collection of more than 73-thousand from nearly 200 non-custodial parents. The New Mexico Human Services Department's Child Support Enforcement Division, New Mexico State Police and local law enforcement partners across the state acted on more than 550 child support- warrants during this year's roundup.
New Energy Economy of Santa Fe, an environmental group seeking to shift the state’s energy reliance from fossil fuels and nuclear power to clean alternatives such as solar is critical of the relationships between New Mexico’s regulators and utility executives. The group has filed a motion seeking the recusal of most members of the state Public Regulation Commission from making decisions about the future of the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station. A PRC spokesman says the motion was being reviewed by legal counsel.
The San Juan County Commission has declared a state of disaster following a violent storm that swept through Aztec and caused what officials estimate is more than one-million dollars in damage. The Farmington Daily Times reports the county will request state funds to repair public property that was damaged by the August 26th storm.
The ninety-first burning of Zozobra—also known as “Old Man Gloom”—takes place tomorrow at Fort Marcy Park. For years, the burning of the tall marionette, stuffed with thousands of pounds of shredded paper and other objects representing people’s hardships and woes over the past year. The tradition began in 1926 when local artist Will Shuster, Jr. conceived the pagan ritual, which now annually marks the start of the Santa Fe Fiesta. This past weekend inside the old Borders bookstore at Sanbusco, a “wake” of sorts was held for this year’s Zozobra, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe. It drew a crowd helping stuff the marionette in preparation for its demise. Organizer Ray Sandoval: *****090315-Sandoval-2 :21***** Sandoval says the Kiwanis Club, which sponsors the event, takes in about 350-thousand dollars after costs, up to 100-thousand of which is distributed to groups that assist families in need.
Santa Fe Weather: Mostly cloudy today with the high 77 and a 40-percent chance for mainly afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with the overnight low 59 and a 30-percent chance for precipitation. Tomorrow: Cloudy with the high 74 and the chance for showers and thunderstorms at 40-percent.