Calling in the guard
National Guard troops are being deployed along the US-Mexico border. Gov. Susana Martinez said she appreciated ($) President Donald Trump's efforts to better "secure the border," while US Rep. Steve Pearce said the border problem is about strategy, not manpower. All three are Republicans. Democrats in the state's congressional delegation do not support the action. The feds won't say ($) how many troops are coming or exactly when.
Seeing patterns
Lawyers for three men who died in the last three years shortly after arriving at the Santa Fe County jail say medical neglect appears to be a pattern in their cases, particularly that intake nurses did not properly identify critical needs.
Far and wide
The broader epidemic of substandard inmate health care among Native people incarcerated in reservation jails means even basic services aren't available. Many of the facilities rely on the Indian Health Service for the work, and that agency is inadequate in most areas even for those on the outside. SFR took a closer look at IHS last June.
Extra cash
Santa Fe city managers who took on extra job duties to help the government upgrade its technology and systems quitely got pay hikes that amount to $400,000 ($). That will make it hard for officials in upcoming budget sessions to cry poverty. Mayor Alan Webber says the raises for about 39 employees, which are temporary for the next year, happened before he took office.
Downstream division
Another water fight is heading to the state Supreme Court. Members of area acqeuia and ditch associations plan to to ask the high court to reconsider ($) the way the New Mexico Court of Appeals came down on Navajo Nation water rights settlement between the state and tribe.
Business out front
Albuquerque city officials are trying to change the practice of front-yard parking. Enforcement and education efforts are set to begin next month and aim to crack down on the longstanding habit of city residents with limited driveway and street parking space. Some are already questioning the point of the plan.
Party in the back
New distilleries seems to be steaming up all over New Mexico. The latest contender proposes a project in Taos called Rolling Still, whose backers say they don't aim to be another distributor of liquor in town, but to provide craft spirits to restaurants and retailers. They plan to start with vodka.
Blowing up
Weather watchers say the wind in Northern New Mexico will kick up today and get even stronger tomorrow, as high as 30 mph. Temps will top out in the balmy mid-60s, but we're still pretty sure the spring breakers are too proud to admit it's not quite time for flip-flops yet.
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