Gruesome discovery
A rancher who had driven by a strange-looking black trash can in Stanley for about a week discovered a young woman's body inside when he finally stopped to check on it. That was Monday, and since then, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office says it has discovered a second body. There's been little information about the killings, other than that neither body matches any local missing persons cases.
Going in circles
It appears increasingly likely that the Turquoise Trail Charter School and Santa Fe Public Schools are headed for a court date. As SFR reports, the district has announced its desire to take over the school building to handle, in some form or fashion, population growth on the Southside and in Rancho Viejo that has overwhelmed Amy Biehl Community School. But Turquoise Trail, which began as a local option before the state took over the school's charter, argues it can extend its lease past 2021. The SFPS school board discussed the issue this week.
NRA New Mexico
Part of the narrative surrounding the Parkland shooter who killed 17 people at a high school with an AR-15 is the influence of the National Rifle Association in preventing meaningful change to the nation's gun laws. The NRA does indeed dole out cash on the state level, but relatively speaking, New Mexico is underrepresented. The $113,000 the NRA has passed out to state congressional candidates (and to Bill Richardson's presidential campaign) since 1998 is about 1 percent of the nearly $10 million it's donated nationwide.
Judge gives student probation for Santa Fe high ‘kill list’
Aaron Encinias will have a year on probation after admitted he drafted a list of targets at Santa Fe High School, but, police say, he lacked a gun to carry out his own school shooting. The district expelled Encinias after the November threat, but his attorney says that has been changed to a long-term suspension and the student, who was 15 years old at the time of the threat, can return next January.
Albuquerque reviews new bus system
The city of Albquerque has thrown $135 million at its yet-to-be-operational bus rapid transit system. The federal government hasn't yet approved funding that the previous mayor, RJ Berry, said was guaranteed. Now, the city is reviewing the spending of the program that tore up Central Avenue and the new state auditor says he wants to take a closer look, too. The old state auditor is Albuquerque's new mayor, Tim Keller.
LANL investigating top scientist
Hold your Wen Ho horses for a sec. The investigation is, at present, focused on potentially falsified travel receipts for made-up trips. Investigators with the federal government filed a search warrant this month to go through the scientist's Santa Fe home. The warrant said the scientist has a top-level security clearance.
Snow!
If you live in Santa Fe, you're not seeing much of it this morning, but over in Los Alamos and points west, dozens of schools and districts are on a two-hour delay thanks to the latest storm. That may change soon, as the snow continues east across the northern part of the state. It'll warm up just a touch tomorrow, but will cool down through the weekend.
Thanks for reading! The Word is off tomorrow and wishes you a pleasant weekend and, as always, at least one delicious brunch.
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