Comeback tour
Long night at City Hall
Last night's meeting stretched past midnight after a long debate on the speed-enforcement SUVs and the city's formal approval of an extension with its banking partner, Wells Fargo. The longest debate ended with a unanimous vote, as councilors approved changes to the city's approval process for new cell towers. The next generation of wireless broadband will need more, smaller receiver sites and a vocal group of Santa Feans are worried that will impact their health.
Rankled ranked-choice voting advocates sue Santa Fe
The debate over whether it's finally time for the city to implement ranked-choice voting is going to court. A group of advocates filed suit against the city, claiming the City Council is ignoring the will of voters, who approved the use nearly a decade ago. But the measure enshrined in the city charter has a bailout clause that let the city put off the use due to cost. It's now cheap, and advocates say there will be plenty of time to implement the system before the next city election in March 2018.
Clovis shooter planned to target school
Nathaniel Jouett, the 16-year-old high school sophomore, apparently wanted to target his school, not the Clovis-Carver Public Library. Jouett shot six people on Monday, killing two. That's from court documents, which also say the teen's father called police just minutes after the shooting to report two guns missing from his safe. Police searched the home and also found suicide notes from the boy.
NMSU regents still want Carruthers out
The freshman class at New Mexico State University is bigger than it's been in recent years, but regents at the school say it's not enough to convince them Garrey Carruthers should keep his job as chancellor. The regents voted unanimously to continue a planned search for a replacement when Carruthers' contract ends next year.
Top of the heap
New Mexico still tops the list of states with the highest percentage of inmates in private prisons. More than 42 percent of the state's prison inmates are in privately run facilities that hold contracts with the state. A recent report by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General found that private prisons are more dangerous than state-run prisons.
State board shuns greenhouse gas regulation proposal
Saying a petition asking it to more aggressively regulate greenhouse gases was too broad and potentially exceeded its authority, the state Environmental Improvement Board voted against a petition from a Santa Fe environmental group. In rejecting the petition, filed on behalf of children in New Mexico, the board deferred to federal regulations.
Not my party
Santa Fe Public Schools are giving students the option to skip Fiesta activities this year, namely the visit to schools by the Fiesta Court. The celebration of Spanish heritage is offensive to some, including many Native Americans who say it ignores the atrocities suffered at the hands of Spanish colonialists. The district's superintendent says schools have to provide other activities for students who decide they'd rather do something else.
Thanks for reading! The Word is on one of those week-long stretches of eating really poorly. Also, people are selling pumpkin spice donuts and whatnot now. So much for that.
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