Oil Bonanza Sustains State Budget Surplus In New Mexico - By Morgan Lee And Susan Montoya Bryan, Associated Press
Government income in New Mexico is expected to outpace spending obligations by nearly $800 million for the coming fiscal year, a result of the continued oil boom.
Economists from three state agencies and the Legislature's budget office delivered a twice-annual revenue forecast to a panel of lawmakers Monday. Revenues are on track to exceed current general fund spending of $7 billion by 11%.
But both Democratic and Republican lawmakers urged extreme caution, warning that over-spending and another downturn in the oil market could have devastating consequences for the state's ability to fund education, health care and government services.
New Mexico Utility Regulators Weigh Costs Of Coal Phase-Out - By Morgan Lee Associated Press
Coal miners, environmentalists and utility customers weighed in about the future of a major coal-fired power plant in New Mexico and a financial plan to shutter the facility to make way for cleaner sources of electricity.
Hearings this week at the Public Regulation Commission have thrown into limbo much of a plan recently approved by state lawmakers to decommission the San Juan Generating Station near Farmington and move New Mexico toward cleaner sources of power.
The plan includes $40 million in aid to the workforce attached to the plant.
US Wildlife Officials Agree To Lower 48 Grizzly Bear Review - By Matthew Brown, Associated Press
U.S. officials will review whether grizzly bears have enough protections across the Lower 48 states after advocates sued the government in a bid to restore the animals to more areas.
The review must be completed by March 31, 2021, under a settlement approved Monday by a federal judge. The Center for Biological Diversity said in a June lawsuit that officials should consider restoring grizzlies to areas of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and Oregon.
Grizzly bears are protected as a threatened species outside Alaska. An estimated 1,900 bears live in portions of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington state.
Albuquerque's New Rapid Service On Route 66 Sees 5th Crash - Associated Press
A fifth crash has struck Albuquerque's new rapid transit system along the city's historic Route 66 just days into operation.
City officials say the accident took place Sunday across the street from El Vado Motel when a car over-corrected into a left lane and hit the Albuquerque Rapid Transit bus. No injuries were reported.
The city has seen five crashes involving the new buses in just nine days.
Authorities say officers are issuing warnings to drivers who cross bus lanes and have plans to write tickets starting in January.
The long-delayed project that spans much of Route 66 in New Mexico's largest city launched Nov. 30.
Authorities say drivers can be fined up to $80 for parking in the lanes and $160 for crossing or making illegal left turns across the lanes.
County Options For Juvenile Detention In New Mexico Shrink - Associated Press
A southern New Mexico county has renewed an agreement with another county hundreds of miles away to continue housing its juvenile detainees.
The decision by the Otero County Commission comes as the number of juvenile detention facilities around New Mexico shrinks. That means more youths are being detained far from home.
A state Supreme Court Justice recently told a panel of lawmakers that the time has come to find ways to keep detained youths adequately supervised and cared for near their home while helping counties in finding ways to meet the high cost of 24-hour detention.
New Mexico Granting Fewer Cyanide Bomb OKs For Coyotes - Santa Fe New Mexican, Associated Press
Records show New Mexico agricultural officials have approved fewer licenses for the use of cyanide bombs — a device deployed by ranchers to kill coyotes.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports records show state-issued licenses for cyanide bombs has declined from 86 in 2015 and 2016 to 54 in 2019. That's a 37% reduction.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last week reauthorized the use of devices known as cyanide bombs targeting coyotes.
Ranchers say they still need the devices, also known as M-44s, to kill hungry coyotes, which can cost the industry thousands of dollars a year in livestock losses.
Environmentalists say the devices are a horrible way to kill coyotes and point to collateral damage inflicted on dogs and other animals. They say M-44s also present a risk for humans — even killing a Utah man last year.
New Mexico is one of five states with local agriculture departments — along with Montana, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming — that are authorized to deploy the devices. An M-44 is essentially a trap coated with bait and loaded with a cyanide capsule that ejects into the mouths of animals lured by the scent.
New Mexico Announces Emergency Rules For Boarding Homes - Associated Press
New Mexico has enacted emergency rules governing the licensing and regulation of boarding homes that house individuals discharged from mental or behavioral health care institutions.
The Department of Health said Friday in a statement that the emergency rules took effect Thursday and were established for the health, safety and welfare of residents of boarding homes. The department said boarding homes subject to the rules must apply for a license within 30 days and meet basic health and safety requirements.
According to the department, a permanent boarding home rule will be proposed and announced to the public in February, followed by a public hearing to be scheduled in March.
Air Force: More Airspace Needed Around Holloman For F-16s - Las Cruces Sun-News, Associated Press
The Air Force is seeking more airspace for training F-16 fighter pilots at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the Air Force is proposing three options for expanding its existing military operations area over Eddy, Otero and Chaves counties to increase space for training pilots at required altitudes within 120 nautical miles of Holloman.
One alternative would expand the existing training area south toward Carlsbad Caverns National Park and east toward the Lea County line. The other two alternatives would establish new operation areas over 7 million acres west of White Sands Missile Range, over the Rio Grande Valley and Gila Wilderness and population centers in several counties.
Oil Boom, Housing Crisis Bringing Sewage Problems In Camps - Carlsbad Current-Argus, Associated Press
Officials in southeastern New Mexico are struggling to monitor sewage problems from hundreds of camps used to house transient oil field workers.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reports that state officials say more than 140 unregistered RV parks in Eddy County were violating liquid water requirements, typically linked to improper sewage lines.
The New Mexico Environment Department reported only about 20% owners in those cases were working with authorities to comply with standards.
An Eddy County planner says the problem has grown since a boom in oil and gas production in 2011 and 2012. The production has created a housing crisis in cities like Hobbs and Carlsbad.
Las Cruces Detective Facing DWI Charges Fired - Associated Press
A Las Cruces police detective arrested in October on drunken driving charges has been fired.
Las Cruces police spokesman Dan Trujillo said Stephanie Carabajal was terminated from the department on Thursday.
Her firing comes a day after the charges against the 26-year-old Carabajal were temporarily dismissed to avoid violating her rights to a speedy trial. Prosecutors say the charges will be re-filed when the necessary evidence has been compiled and the state is prepared to proceed to trial.
Carabajal was arrested on Oct. 27 and charged with one count of aggravated driving while under the influence of an intoxicating liquor or drug and one count of blocking traffic after she allegedly fell asleep in her vehicle twice.
A witness told other officers that Carabajal's vehicle was blocking traffic.
Carabajal allegedly refused a breathalyzer test. It was not known if Carabajal had an attorney.