
Hesitant victory?
A day after Santa Fe County backed federal legislation to protect land around Chaco Canyon from resource extraction, US Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt has put a moratorium on drilling there ($ TNM) for one year. That year will let the US Bureau of Land Management draft a management plan for energy development on federal land; however, some advocates say it's a stopgap or, worse, a distraction, and that we need to push even harder for legislation to protect sacred sites.
Flip the switch
NPR reports that on the Navajo Nation, where 10% of folks live without electricity, infrastructure can cost $40,000 to hook up just one house to the electric grid. But PNM and other companies are doing it anyway, and it's a life-changing experience for residents finally able to flip a switch and get light (or pump water, or store food, or use a nebulizer, or charge their phone).
Wait, what just happened
We would say "the rumors are true," but it happened so fast there weren't even any rumors: Tecolote Café has closed. The owners of the beloved breakfast institution announced yesterday on Facebook that when they closed their doors at 4 pm yesterday, they would not open them again ($ TNM). Santa Feans are reeling from the loss of a venerable restaurant and a number of jobs, not to mention many folks' favorite cinnamon rolls.
Unusable
Evidence against a Santa Fe snowplow driver who accidentally hit two people this winter will be thrown out of the ongoing court case. Plow driver Billy Kavanaugh's attorney Rikki-Lee Chavez filed a motion to suppress evidence because the Santa Fe Police Department took more than 45 days to provide evidence to her client; Magistrate Judge David Segura granted the motion yesterday. When the Journal asked the District Attorney's office for more info, the reporter was referred to the police; and the police referred them back to the DA.
Uber serendipity
In a juxtaposition that doesn't appear to be on purpose, on the Albuquerque Journal's website, a story detailing the St. Patrick's Day shooting death of an Albuquerque Uber passenger (at the hand of his Uber driver) is only a few clicks away from a story about how Uber will soon ban passengers with low ratings. Also on the rideshare front, another sad story out of Albuquerque profiles a couple that was killed when another driver slammed into their Uber.
Heeeeere’s Judy
When SFR reported last week that Belen winemakers have ties to the controversial proposed Judy Chicago museum there, it was actually the first the Word had heard of such an institution—but it does indeed exist, and now it looks like it will be opening in July, after public backlash and a decision to accept no city funding. If you want to see some of Chicago's work ahead of time to get in the mood for feminism, the Harwood Museum in Taos has an exhibit up now.
Take me out
Two big pieces of news for baseball lovers: The Santa Fe Fuego's season starts tonight ($ TNM) at 6 pm at the Fort Marcy Ballpark, and if you have it in your heart to house a ballplayer or two, you should get in touch. Many of the Fuego players have nowhere to stay after a plan to have them bunk at the old SFUAD dorms fell through, so they're scrambling. Contact general manager Yvonne Encinias at 505-204-2093 if you have a guest room or casita you can offer up for a bit.
Cool water (as in, rain)
Below-normal temps last night are predicted to be followed by some storms in the northeastern part of the state today (including Las Vegas and Raton). Here in town, too, we have a 50% chance of rain this evening, though tomorrow should get sunny again.
Thanks for reading! The Word thinks more people should give each other flowers "just because."