Lobo players kneel for halftime anthem
Because of a lightning delay, the University of New Mexico's football team was on the field for a halftime playing of the national anthem, and five players took a knee, protesting in the style of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick—who began sitting, then kneeling during the national anthem to protest US and police treatment of African Americans. College teams aren't normally on the field for the anthem, so the Lobos became the most notable university protest.
Violence against women
New Mexico's rate of violence against women by men is among the nation's highest. For the third straight year, a national gun control group has placed the state among the worst in the country for such violence. A legislative study recently said a quarter of New Mexico adults have witnessed domestic violence in their lifetime.
Dual-credit quandary
One of the bright spots in New Mexico's troubled public education system has been dual-credit courses that allow high school students to earn credit toward both graduating high school and getting a college degree. A report by the state's Legislative Finance Committee, which studies and manages state money, says the students who tend to benefit from the $54 million in spending on the programs are already academically motivated.
No place like home
Santa Fe is thousands of apartments short of what the market demands. That's pushing many people further and further outside city limits to live and it has a huge economic impact on the city, which loses tax revenue from people who earn here but don't live here. Local realtors and developers are trying to ease the crunch, as the city starts to revisit the way it considers larger-scale apartment developments.
Las Vegas music festival shooting
If you haven't yet heard, police in Nevada think a single gunman was responsible for shooting hundreds of people, killing 50 as of early morning, at a country music festival on the Las Vegas strip. The gunman, a 64-year-old named Stephen Paddock from Mesquite, Nevada, is dead and police say they have his female companion in custody, too. It's the worst mass shooting in US history.
Troubled bridge over water
The state will decommission the historic westbound bridge over the San Juan River near Shiprock. The 80-year-old structure, which carries westbound traffic on US Highways 64 and 191, is beyond repair. It's one of many bridges in the state that are nearing the end of their useful lives. Replacing it will cost at least $15 million and could take four years.
Judge orders NNMC to give whistleblower her job back
The ongoing case of Melissa Vasquez took another legal step forward last week, as a state District Court judge ordered Northern New Mexico College to put Vasquez back to work. The college fired her after she reported financial management, inappropriate conduct by regents and the college's treatment of women. The college called it a layoff, she called it a retaliation. Vasquez filed suit and a jury agreed with her. Now she and the college are haggling over what she'll be compensated and whether the college will agree to give her a job.
Wet, windy fall
Parts of the state received five inches of rain in the last five days, as fall blew into town in a big way. We'll enjoy a couple of dry days—but windy, too—before gearing up for more rain on Wednesday.
Thanks for reading! The Word hopes you're ready for pumpkin. Because pumpkin and its essence are apparently trying to take over the world and will not be denied.
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