01-16-13 PAPER

Page 1

Roswell Daily Record

INSIDE NEWS

WAL-MART TO HIRE VETS, BUY AMERICAN

NEW YORK (AP) — Why wait on Washington to fix the economy when there’s WalMart? Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer and the biggest private employer in the U.S. with 1.4 million workers here, said Tuesday that it is ... - PAGE B5

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Gun limits face tough obstacles

Vol. 122, No. 14 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is launching the nation’s most sweeping ef fort to curb gun violence in nearly two decades, urging a reluctant Congress to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines like those used in last month’s massacre of 20 elementary school children in Newtown, Conn. The broad package Obama will announce today will also include efforts to stop bullying and boost availability of mental health services. It’s expected to include more than a

‘Mommy?’

January 16, 2013

WEDNESDAY

www.rdrnews.com

dozen steps the president can take on his own through executive action. Those measures will provide a pathway for skirting opposing lawmakers, but they will be limited in scope, and in some cases, focused simply on enforcing existing laws. But Congress would have to approve the bans on assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than 10 bullets, along with a requirement for universal background checks on gun buyers. Some gun control advocates worry that opposition from Republicans

and conservative Democrats, as well as the National Rifle Association, will be too great to overcome.

White House of ficials, seeking to avoid setting the president up for failure, have emphasized that no single measure — even an assault weapons ban — would solve a scourge of gun violence across the country. But without such a ban, or other sweeping Congress-approved measures, it’s unclear whether executive actions alone can make any noticeable differSee OBAMA, Page A2

AP Photo

Salinas murder trial begins

President Barack Obama during a press conference in the White House, Monday.

TOP 5 WEB

For The Past 24 Hours

• Teen mom arrested on charges of child abuse • Police seek more information in ... • Have you seen this man? • NMMI claims fifth win of year • Lake Arthur falls on road

JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER

INSIDE SPORTS

Mark Wilson Photo

A newborn calf is startled from its sleep while being cleaned and groomed by its mother at Tom Visser Dairy, Tuesday morning.

SERENA SOLDIERS ON

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Flat on her back, her sore right ankle raised and her hands covering her face, Serena Williams tried to block out thoughts that her bid for a third straight Grand Slam title might be ruined. After a dominating run the past six months, Williams was a big favorite to win the Australian Open. Suddenly, though, there seemed a way for her to be gone ... - PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES

• James McMullen • Astrid Holland • Dominick Taormina • A.J. Franklin • Valorie Palmer • Virginia M. Parmley • Robin Sanders • Joe P. Moreno • Grace E. Garcia - PAGE A3, A7

HIGH ...47˚ LOW ....22˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

INDEX

The jury trial for Harvey Salinas, who is charged with second-degree murder, began under heightened security at 5th District Court on Tuesday. Salinas was 17 when 18-year -old Arnulfo Villela Jr. was shot and killed outside a residence at 826 E. Hendricks St., July 6. In her opening statement, Assistant District Attorney Emily Maher set the scene for the Friday night where Villela was hanging out with friends when a white Honda appeared on Hendricks. People emerged from the

Martinez uses State of State 51st Legislature begins to push her economic plan ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER

SANTA FE (AP) — As the New Mexico Legislature retur ned to work Tuesday, Gov. Susana Martinez used her State of the State address to press lawmakers to focus on boosting New Mexico’s struggling economy.

Martinez spoke to a joint session of the House and Senate after legislators convened for a 60day session, taking the opportunity to say that diversifying New Mexico’s economy was needed to protect the state from a

federal government that she called “dysfunctional.” “The national economy is stagnant. It’s hardly growing,” Martinez said. “And the federal government — on which our state has become so dependent over the years — is faltering, weighed down by $16 trillion in debt.” Economic and budget issues were possible common ground for the Republican governor and the Democrat-controlled

Legislature. New Mexico has lost about 4,800 jobs in the past year — a drop of 0.6 percent — and potential federal budget cuts could deliver another blow to the state’s economy. Martinez asked the Legislature to approve a reduction in the corporate income tax rate, as well as other economic development incentives to make New Mexico more competitive with neigh-

See MARTINEZ, Page A3

State legislators convened at the in Santa Fe Tuesday to begin the 51st legislative session, which is scheduled to run 60 days this year. In her State of the State address, Gov. Susana Martinez said the focus of the session should be on making New Mexico more competitive by adopting legislation that encourages job growth and makes the state attractive to businesses. One way to do this, she proposed, was by lowering the state’s business tax rate from 7.6 percent to 4.9 percent.

See TRIAL, Page A2

She also asked legislators to pass infrastructure projects, such as those for water systems and roads, in an effort to create jobs that would “kick-start our economy.” Martinez also noted the role education plays in developing a strong workforce and proposed programs to improve reading proficiency by the third grade and decrease the drop out rate. Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, said she agreed with the governor on the importance of reading intervention programs. “If our kids cannot read, See 51st, Page A2

Tim holds last meeting Senate elects Papen as top-ranking leader Tim Jennings capped off his 34-year senatorial career Monday by presiding over his last committee hearing in the Roundhouse. In November, Jennings lost his longtime Roswell seat in a high-profile race against Cliff Pirtle. His final act in office saw him preside over a joint Legislative Council meeting that approved a $134,000 appropriation to the Department of Public Safety to finance security for the duration of the 60-day 2013 Legislative Session. After the vote, Jennings turned the floor over to representatives from the House, fellow senators and people in the audience who

praised and roasted him in heartfelt farewells. “It’s been a great ride,” an emotional Jennings said. “This is one huge family and I hope you all make sure it stays that way. We’re not here for the party; we’re here for the people.” During his time in of fice, Jennings held nearly every Senate leadership, including Senate president pro tem, majority leader, and Senate whip. “We’re not all the same, but under the Constitution, we’re all the same,” Jennings said. “We should all know the dif ferences between the House and

See LAST, Page A3

SANTA FE (AP) — Democrat Mary Kay Papen, of Las Cruces, won election Tuesday as the Senate’s top-ranking leader, making her the first woman in more than 70 years to serve as president pro tem. Papen won with the unanimous support of Democrats and Republicans. The majority Democrats rallied behind Papen rather than pushing ahead with a potentially divisive contest between her and fellow Democrat Pete Campos, of Las Vegas. Papen told her colleagues that she hoped the Senate “will come together and that we will be a unified body.” “We are a family and we need to stick together,” Papen told her colleagues after her election, which came shortly after the Legislature convened. “We are going to disagree at times, but let’s agree on more than what we disagree.” Democrats had nominated Campos for the leadership job last month during a closed-door caucus. But Papen, a moderate from southern New Mexico, mounted a challenge and had the support of a coalition of Republicans and Democrats. In the See SENATE, Page A2

AP Photo

Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, lines up to take her oath of office in Santa Fe, Tuesday. The Senate elected Papen on Tuesday as its top-ranking leader, making her the first woman in more than 70 years to serve as president pro tem. Papen won with the unanimous support of majority.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.