Gov.'s Proposal Would Give New Group Eminent Domain Power: SANTA FE — Gov. Bill Richardson is proposing to create a quasi-government authority to plan and finance construction of new electric transmission lines in hopes of encouraging more renewable energy production in the state.
A Senate committee endorsed Richardson's proposal on Monday but a critic told lawmakers it could lead to more nuclear power or coal-fired power plants.
"I think it creates a nuclear energy transmission authority,'' said David Bacon, president of the nonprofit Southwest Energy Institute in Santa Fe.
The proposed Renewable Energy Transmission Authority would have the power of eminent domain to acquire property for transmission lines, could issue bonds to help pay for construction of projects and enter into leases with utilities or others for operation of the lines financed by the authority.
State of the Union starts @ 7p.m. EST.
Bush will in Abq on Friday: WASHINGTON — President Bush will appear Friday in Albuquerque as he travels around the country delivering a series of policy speeches laying out his 2006 agenda, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Monday.
McClellan said Bush will spend Thursday night and Friday in Albuquerque, but he did not release any details about Bush’s plans. The president is scheduled to give four major policy speeches this week in Nashville, Tenn., Maplewood, Minn., Albuquerque and Dallas, elaborating on themes from tonight’s State of the Union address, McClellan said. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N .M., said Monday he hopes Bush will address a bill he and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N .M., introduced last week to help the country stay competitive in science and technology.
Arson involved in destruction of Lockheed Bid Material: An arson destroyed documents and office equipment related to Lockheed Martin's failed bid to run Los Alamos National Laboratory, but fire investigators aren't releasing many details, citing the sensitive nature of an investigation into the blaze.
A moving trailer containing paper files, computers and other office equipment went up in flames in Albuquerque either late Jan. 21 or early Jan. 22, according to Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Wendy Owen. The trailer was parked at moving company Arpin of Albuquerque, 4525 Paseo Del Norte NE, Owen said.
Ethics bills move through House, Senate committees: SANTA FE (AP) - A piece of Gov. Bill Richardson's ethics package has received unanimous committee endorsement and is headed to the full House for a vote.
A Senate panel also has approved a much broader measure, barring people who do business with the state from contributing to statewide officials _ including the governor, a position added at the request of a lawmaker who criticized what he called the "pay to play" culture of the Richardson administration.
Lawmakers Support Gift Limits for Some; Legislature To Be Exempt: SANTA FE— State lawmakers on Monday endorsed stricter rules for gifts and campaign contributions to the governor and other constitutional officers.
They rejected placing themselves under the same restrictions.
Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, sponsor of the bill before the Senate Rules Committee, said applying the restrictions to the state's 112 part-time legislators would present too many complications. She noted, for instance, that the governor and other officials who would be covered by the bill are full-time, salaried employees, unlike the lawmakers.
"This would be a very strict sea change ... if legislators had to not accept contributions from people who do business with the state," Feldman said.
N.M. FBI Says Corruption Top Priority: Now that he's had time to set up his coffeemaker and carefully place a picture of Gen. George Marshall in his northside office, McClenaghan has pledged that public corruption cases in New Mexico will be among his top priorities. "We have enough here that will keep us busy," McClenaghan said. "If the complaints come in, we are going to look at them and investigate them. We will do that even if I have to divert resources from other areas.
"Public corruption is probably the most damaging white-collar crime that can be committed. People can steal money, but when a public official sells their office for money, it does not only do damage to that office but to the public confidence in that office."
McClenaghan said every complaint of public corruption will be taken seriously.
Las Vegas, N.M., Forced To Restrict Water Use: LAS VEGAS, N.M.— Like an unwelcome house guest, drought appears to be back in northeastern New Mexico. The city of Las Vegas on Monday implemented Stage II water restrictions, an early harbinger of what is anticipated to be a return to extremely dry conditions across much of the state following one of New Mexico's wettest years in 2005.
Meteorologists said the state received only 11 percent of its normal rain and snowfall in the last two months of 2005, putting that time period among the five driest November-December stretches in more than a century. Little precipitation has followed in January, leaving the snow pack— especially in northern New Mexico— far below the seasonal average.
ECDC officer arraigned on felony charge: CARLSBAD -- An Eddy County Detention Center employee accused of bringing illegal drugs into the jail made her first court appearance Monday.
Crystal M. Carrell, 33, of the 2600 block of Standpipe Road, was arraigned in magistrate court on two counts of bringing contraband into a place of imprisonment, a fourth-degree felony. She was released on her own recognizance, pending a preliminary hearing next month.
Former radio personality dies in oil field accident Remembered for his crazy antics on his morning show: FARMINGTON -- A well-known Farmington resident and beloved radio personality, Todd Martin, died Friday while working at a Halliburton well site.
Martin, 43, remembered for his crazy antics in the 1990s as the morning show host on Big Dog KDAG 96.9 out of Farmington left local show business five years ago and went to work for Halliburton in 2002, said Glenda Martin, his wife.
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