Wednesday’s Top Stories
- Key ringleader in DWI scheme allowed to leave the country
- Balloon Fiesta will not hold concert this year
- UNM men’s basketball clinches a share of Mountain West title with win at Nevada
- Gallup High School student accused of bringing gun on campus
- CYFD reform bills clear House, move on to Senate in New Mexico
- Lawmakers want to raise New Mexico teacher salaries by $5,000
- Joann store closures: See the list of nearly 800 locations headed for sale
Wednesday’s Five Facts
[1] VIDEO: New Mexico State Police officer charged with driving drunk – On February 27, a McKinley County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over an SUV going the wrong way on Highway 66. The deputy watched as the vehicle hit a curb popping two tires. The driver, identified as NMSP officer Rachel Hall, refused orders from the deputy. After she was arrested, Hall refused to take a breath test. The deputy found an open bottle of vodka in Hall’s vehicle. State police placed Hall on administrative leave. She has since pleaded not guilty to five charges, including aggravated DWI.
[2] ABQ City Council passes nuisance property ordinance, guaranteed income initiative – City Council is approving a guaranteed income program that will give some low-income families monthly payments for essential needs. Money from the state’s marijuana tax revenue will go to fund the guaranteed income initiative. Participating families from Whittier and Carlos Rey Elementary schools will get $750 per month for three years to help pay for everyday needs. The bill passed on a 5-4 vote. The two Title One schools were chosen because of their low academic performance and high chronic absenteeism.
[3] Calmer weather before windy storm brings more rain/snow – It will generally be a much calmer afternoon, but clouds with some valley rain with mountain snow will start to approach the Four Corners with wispy clouds moving across most of the region late today. Dangerous wind gusts with dust will then return tomorrow. Moisture with the incoming low pressure system will lead to more-widespread precipitation cooling things down with eventually snow accumulations in many parts of the western mountains, Rio Grande Valley, central mountains, through eastern New Mexico, while heavier snow will fall in the northern mountains.
[4] NM Congressional delegation speaks out on Trump Administration decisions – New Mexico’s Congressional delegation is showing their opposition being made under the Trump administration. At last night’s Congressional address, representative Melanie Stansbury was seen holding a sign that reads “This is not normal” as President Trump entered the Capitol to address Congress in a joint session. One of Trump’s decisions pushing New Mexico’s leadership to speak out are recent federal funding cuts. The Republican Party of New Mexico expressed support for Trumps push to bolster oil and gas production and his efforts to enhance border security.
[5] High winds impact irrigation ditch clean up along the Rio Grande – The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is warning that the recent winds are causing irrigation delays for New Mexico farmers. The conservancy district kicked off irrigation season at the end of the February, flushing and clearing debris to prep for water distribution. CEO and Chief Engineer Jason Casuga says all that work went out the window after strong winds filled many canals the MRGCD is responsible for with tumbleweeds and other debris.