Storm Dumps Record-Breaking Snow In Arizona On Way To Texas- Associated Press
A winter storm dumped record-breaking amounts of snow in Arizona and forced the closure of roads, schools and government offices across the Southwest.
The storm was pushing through eastern Arizona and heading for New Mexico and Texas after dumping nearly 3 feet of snow Thursday at the Flagstaff airport during the city's snowiest day on record, and more than 2 feet in Payson, a town that logs that much snow as its yearly average.
Residents were digging out from the weather that the National Weather Service characterized as "not your average" storm.
Schools across northern Arizona, southern Nevada and southwestern Colorado were closed — many for a second day — because of threats posed by snow-packed or slick roads. Government offices either closed or delayed the start of their day.
University Of New Mexico 'Fiesta Dancers' Sculpture Restored- KRQE-TV, Associated Press
A famous sculpture by the late Luis Jimenez at the University of New Mexico has been restored.
KRQE-TV reports the restoration of "Fiesta Dancers," a standing piece of Hispanic dancers, recently was completed after university officials noticed it was showing its age.
Silo Workshop carefully applied new layers of paint to bring back the piece's original vibrancy.
Jimenez crafted the sculpture in 1996, and it sits in the middle of campus.
Students now will be in charge of the sculpture's yearly maintenance.
Jimenez was killed in his studio in Hondo, New Mexico, in June 2006, after a sculpture fell on him.
Turtle Disaster? 100-Pound Tortoise Missing- KOB-TV, Associated Press
A New Mexico woman is on a desperate hunt for her disappearing pet that can't run fast and can't be missed — a 100-pound tortoise.
KOB-TV reports Dusty the Turtle went missing earlier this month in Roswell, New Mexico after strong winds knocked open a gate that housed him.
Shana Emmert, who was pet sitting Dusty for her niece, says she believes the turtle strolled away from the backyard and into the desert during the wind storm.
According to Emmert's neighbors, the 100-pound Dusty was last spotted near Berrendo Creek in Roswell and hasn't been seen since.
The family is offering a $500 reward for the turtle's safe return.
New Mexico May Block Right-To-Work Ordinances- Associated Press
The New Mexico House of Representatives is poised to vote on a measure that would prohibit local governments from enacting right-to-work ordinances that prevent employees from being required to join a union or pay union fees.
The bill from Democratic Reps. Daymon Ely of Corrales and Andrea Romero of Santa Fe was scheduled for debate Friday night.
Several counties in New Mexico have approved ordinances that prevent employees from being required to join a union or pay union fees. The proposed legislation asserts the state's exclusive jurisdiction over the issue. Union leaders contend the local ordinances create confusion and are undermining the labor groups.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that government workers can't be forced to contribute to labor unions that represent them in collective bargaining. The ruling involved an Illinois state worker who argued that everything unions do, including bargaining with the state, is political and employees shouldn't be forced to pay for it.
New Mexico May Delay Release Of School Legal Settlements – The Associated Press
Financial settlements of legal claims against public schools on accusations ranging from sexual molestation to personal injury would be sealed off from public view for at least six months under a bill advancing through the New Mexico legislature.
Advocates of the bill say it would safeguard whistleblowers in small communities from public embarrassment, while some lawmakers fear it would conceal wrongdoing by public employees.
A House committee voted 10-4 to endorse the bill Friday.
The initiative sponsored by Democratic Rep. Raymundo Lara of Chamberino is backed by the New Mexico Public School Insurance Authority and the state Association of School Superintendents.
Under the bill, the disclosure of settlement agreements before 180 days is punishable by a misdemeanor fine of $1,000 and a five-year ban from employment by state government.