A Republican will announce later this morning that he’ll be seeking to un-seat Third District New Mexico Congressman Ben-Ray Lujan. Michael H-Romero, an Embudo native recently retired from a law enforcement career, will formally announce his candidacy for Congress at 10am on the steps of the State Capitol. Romero had thought about running for GOP bid for Taos County Sheriff in 2014 and wasn’t selected, but says the local Republican Party spoke with him about the bid for Congress in next year’s elections. *****090415-Romero-2 :38***** Romero is critical of Congressman Lujan for what he says is Lujan’s loyalty to Democratic House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi. Romero pledges he’ll keep to his principles. *****Romero-5 :28***** Romero is a conservative who maintains the federal government does just a few things well: protecting the country and the interstate highway system among them. He says Obamacare is an example of a federal mandate that trumps Americans’ individuality. Romero is the first Republican to announce his bid for the Third District nomination.
State police have released new information in the Amber Alert for a 4-year-old Kingston Rodriguez. Police say the boy’s mother was last known to be driving a black 2007 Jeep Liberty with New Mexico license plate 172-RTD. NMSP says they may be in the area of northeast Oregon or eastern Washington State. The boy’s mother, Katrina Bryant, is lashing out on social media. The Amber Alert was issued after Bryant, who’s 36, failed to appear at a court hearing after losing custody of her son. On what appears to be her Facebook page, Bryant stands up for her parental rights writing, quote: “I am a defender of my family and of our constitutional rights,” unquote. The post -which was posted on Tuesday – says Bryant is in Galveston, Texas. Police say her son needs immediate medical attention. The Facebook page mentions him suffering from seizures. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
One of the first people to develop algorithms used in scientific computing in physics and mathematics as well as on Wall Street died in Santa Fe recently. He was described by the president of the Santa Fe Institute as a prodigious and wide-ranging thinker, and a scholar joyfully capable of living in many intellectual worlds at once. Alan Dee has this remembrance: *****090415-TraubRemembrance :59*****
One day after a missing Rio Rancho hiker's body was found near La Luz trail, rescue crews have located another body while searching the Sandia Mountains for another missing man. James Whitehead, 70, did not return from a hike on Ellis Trail Tuesday, according to state police. Crews started searching for him Wednesday morning after his family reported him missing. A body was located before 12 p.m. Thursday, but the Office of the Medical Investigator is still working to identify the person. On Wednesday, rescue crews located the body of Bryan Conkling, 40. A friend involved in the search told KOBConkling may have died after falling 1/4-mile away from La Luz Trail.
American Federation of Teachers national president Randi Weingarten and supporters have unveiled a plan aimed at expanding early childhood education in New Mexico amid a stalemate over funding. Weingarten joined Democratic Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla on Thursday at a Los Ranchos De Albuquerque preschool to discuss efforts to put pressure on state lawmakers and Governor Susana Martinez to expand the program. Under the proposal sponsored by a coalition of groups, a revamped state early education program would include a substitute educator pool, a paid sick leave trust fund and "a scientifically-based" professional development program. The proposal comes after proponents of expanding early childhood education have clashed with some state lawmakers over tapping into New Mexico's permanent land fund to finance an expansion.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with the high 77 and a 50-percent chance for showers and thunderstorms. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a continued 50-percent chance for precipitation with the overnight low, 57. Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with the high 75 and a 40-percent chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms.