New Mexico Gas Co. Makes Case For Rate Hikes – Associated Press
New Mexico Gas Co. is proposing a rate increase to recover the costs of capital investments.
The state's largest natural gas distribution utility announced Monday that it has filed a request with state regulators for a rate hike that would generate more than $13 million. If approved by the Public Regulation Commission, new rates would go into effect in 2021.
The company says average residential customers could see their monthly bill increase by about $1.70. Utility president Ryan Shell said in a statement that bills will still be the lowest in the region. The utility serves roughly 530,000 customers.
President Trump Signs Measure To Preserve Native Languages – Associated Press
President Donald Trump has signed into law a measure that extends federal grant programs aimed at preserving indigenous languages.
The measure also allows more American Indian tribes to participate in the programs. The legislation was named after Esther Martinez, a traditional storyteller and language advocate from a New Mexico pueblo. Her family, tribal leaders and members of the state's congressional delegation praised passage of the bill.
Dozens of tribes and associations across the country are currently sharing more than $11 million in grants for language preservation and immersion through the programs.
National Lab In New Mexico Seeks New Hazardous Waste Permit – Associated Press
Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking the renewal of its hazardous waste permit, a process that could be contentious as critics point to what they say are unresolved problems at the northern New Mexico lab.
The state Environment Department and the lab began holding meetings to take comments and educate people about cleanup efforts.
Lab officials say it's too early to comment about the permit renewal, but state officials say guidelines for cleaning up and managing old and new waste at the lab will remain essentially the same.
The permit is up for renewal for the first time since 2010.
New Mexico Man Sought In Theft Of Gas Well Equipment – Farmington Daily Times, Associated Press
Authorities are seeking a New Mexico man charged with stealing equipment from a natural gas well site.
The Farmington Daily Times reports authorities are seeking James Jolly for stealing a stainless-steel chemical injection tank worth about $9,500 from a natural gas well site in the Four Corners region.
The 36-year-old is also facing charges for failing to return an Apple MacBook Air laptop computer to the Farmington Municipal School District from a student who disenrolled.
A judge issued a warrant after Jolly failed to appear in court for a felony embezzlement case. Ruth Wheeler, Jolly's attorney for the larceny and breaking and entering cases, declined to comment on the cases.
Jolly's hearing on a larceny case is scheduled for Dec. 26 in Aztec Magistrate Court.
Boeing Capsule Returns To Earth After Aborted Space Mission - By Marcia Dunn AP Aerospace Writer
Boeing's crew capsule is back on Earth after an aborted flight to the International Space Station.
With a test dummy and no astronauts aboard, the Starliner landed in the New Mexico desert before dawn Sunday. Red, white and blue parachutes popped open and air bags also inflated around the capsule to ease the impact.
This first test flight was cut short and the space station docking canceled because of an improperly set clock on the capsule. NASA says it hasn't decided whether another test flight is needed before flying astronauts.
New Mexico's Oil Region Schools See More Enrollment Spikes - Hobbs News-Sun, Associated Press
A school district in the heart of New Mexico's booming oil and gas area continues to grow and see record enrollment.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports the Hobbs Municipal Schools recorded enrollment at 10,586 students on the 80th day. Officials say that's 361 more students than the 80th day of last school year.
Superintendent T.J. Parks announced that because the district is now above 10,000 students, it moves into a higher honor statewide.
The enrollment jump comes as southeastern New Mexico has seen a spike in oil production and oil prices, creating high-paying jobs and helping state revenues.
White Sands' National Park Status Expected To Boost Tourism - Albuquerque Journal, Associated Press
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico says people shouldn't expect any major administrative changes with White Sands National Monument becoming the state's first national park since 1930. But he cites a study that says the park could see an increase of 100,000 visitors annually with the change in status.
Heinrich tells the Albuquerque Journal that such an increase would be a boom for the local economies with an additional $7.5 million in tourist spending in the area a year. He says national park status will open White Sands to more exposure from national travel and outdoors publications.
Heinrich has also introduced legislation that would designate Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico a national park.
White Sands Monument Re-designated As US National Park – Associated Press
The White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico is now White Sands National Park.
White Sands became the 62nd designated national park when President Trump signed defense legislation enacted by Congress. That legislation includes a provision on the re-designation.
The monument was established in 1933 by President Herbert Hoover to preserve the dramatic landscape of rare white gypsum sand dunes.
Efforts to establish a national park in the area date back more than a century as some locals wanted to protect the dunes from commercial interests that were attempting to mine the gypsum.
New Mexico School District Adopts Medical Marijuana Policy - Associated Press
A northern New Mexico school district's board has approved a policy allowing the administration of medical marijuana to students enrolled in the state's medical marijuana program.
The policy adopted by the Aztec school district's board Tuesday brings the district into compliance with a 2019 state law.
The law mandates that districts allow students access to medically prescribed marijuana on school grounds, as long as it is not administered via smoke or vapor and not administered or possessed by the student. A student's parent has to take the medication to school and administer it to their child.
Local Rescues Decry County Shipping Animals To Other States - Arizona Republic, Associated Press
Arizona's most populous county has shipped more than 4,000 cats and dogs to shelters in other states, including New Mexico, over the past 19 months, angering local rescues who say the program has severely depleted the pet supply in Phoenix.
The Arizona Republic reports that two-thirds of the animals shipped out of state between January 2018 and July 2019 were never given an opportunity to be adopted locally before they were placed on transport hold.
County leaders say they were animals Arizona families didn't want such as pit bulls, chihuahuas and pets with medical or behavioral issues.
The animals go to shelters in New Mexico, Utah, Idaho and Washington state.