Wester says Entrada must change
Archbishop of Santa Fe John C Wester says the fractious pageant reenacting Don Diego de Vargas' capture of Santa Fe in 1692 "has to" change. The bishop made his remarks after the city announced there had been a meeting between municipal leaders, Pueblos and the Catholic church to discuss ways to make the brief parade culturally sensitive. The Caballeros de Vargas, which puts on the reenactment, was apparently not invited.
Big money for governor's race
Two candidates have raised more than $1 million with more than a year before New Mexico elects its next governor. Republican Steve Pearce and Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham both reported hitting seven-figure territory as they vie for their respective nominations. Businessman Jeff Apodaca and attorney Joseph Cervantes each loaned their own campaigns at least $400,000 to get started. Pearce is suing the secretary of state to use money raised for federal elections in the state race. If he wins, it's likely Lujan Grisham could use any money she has on hand in her congressional account, too.
New Mexico's Next Top University President
Okay, it's not going to win any TV ratings contests, but the five finalists competing for the president's job at the University of New Mexico are in the midst of a very important competition. Dr. David Brenner tells the Albuquerque Journal that a 50 percent pay cut—although it would still land him somewhere in the $300,000 per year range—isn't an issue for him now and never has been, as long as he "thought I could do good and thought I could have some fun." Brenner, who works in the University of California system as an executive vice chancellor for health sciences, had his campus visit yesterday. Four other finalists will follow, including one today.
Y'all wanna run a lab?
The University of Texas Board of Regents have approved $4.5 million to prepare a bid to run Los Alamos National Lab. It would be the UT system's third attempt to win a management contract at a national lab. It's tried before at LANL and Sandia. This time around, the university positions itself as the lead partner. The contract to run Los Alamos is up next year.
Sheriff defends deputy in motorcycle case
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales said department policy may allow a deputy to pull a gun as a show of force during a traffic stop, and urged the public to slow its roll after video of a deputy pointing a gun at a wheelie-poppin' motorcycle rider went viral. The sheriff, however, said he's not among those who have watched the video, taken Saturday afternoon.
Crash at my place
More than 38,000 visitors showed up to stay in Santa Fe Airbnb rentals last year, according to the home-share travel website. Airbnb says its average host—of which there are 600 in Santa Fe—booked 44 nights a year and banked about $7,600. Surprisingly, some of the most sought-after rentals are nicely appointed, but not bank-breaking by any stretch at around $100 a night.
Breaking bad manners
After four years of tourists in the yard, rocks stolen from the landscaping and even pizzas on the roof, the owners of the house that served as the exterior location for the domicile of Breaking Bad anti-hero Walter White are putting up a fence. It's a bit of a shame, as the iconic rambler with a well-placed hole in the floor and handy HVAC registers played as big of a role in the TV series as Seinfeld's apartment or the Brady Bunch's home. But can you blame the owners for wanting a little peace and quiet?
Oh, snap!
It's pretty dang cold this morning. The Word's generally accurate weather station said 25 degrees. But it'll be sunny and in the upper 50s today and climbing north of 70 by Thursday. Albuquerque could maybe even touch 80 and confound all those balloonists.
Thanks for reading! The Word thinks it feels like a pancake morning. Or maybe flapjacks. Perhaps griddle cakes? Hotcakes?
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