02 05 14 Roswell Daily Record

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Roswell Daily Record

Vol. 123, No. 31 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

February 5, 2014

ENMU-R mill levy fails by wide margin JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER

The Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell mill levy increase was soundly defeated Tuesday after 66 percent of voters chose to deny the property tax increase. A total of 3,674 of those who turned out for the special election voted against the three-mill levy, and 1,861 voted in favor. ENMU-R President John Madden waited at the Chaves County clerk’s office as the numbers were tallied. “It’s devastating for the campus,” Madden said. “We did not make our case. We believe what we do for this

community is overwhelmingly good. And I would say for the vote count to be two-to-one, I would say the voters disagree with that.” The university hoped to raise $2.1 million a year by increasing its mill levy rate from one to three mills to pay for operating expenses. Madden said he felt the mill levy’s election was based on whether the community wanted to continue ENMUR’s programs. Opponents argued against the election based on the property tax increase rate and the fact that the tax was indefinite. “I believe tonight is a victory for Chaves County property owners and voters,” said resident Hudson

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Boue. “When I started this campaign, after I read the legal ad … I made it my mission to inform, the best I could, the Chaves County voters about this election. If the university wants to vilify anyone, let them come after me and not the good people who helped me and not the people who voted against them in this election. They are not scum, nor are they ‘damn liars,’ or bad people.” State-funded institutions should look at more fair and equal methods of raising money rather than the county property owners, he said. “I will hope they do so in See LEVY, Page A3

WEDNESDAY

Jill McLaughlin Photo

Chaves County clerk's office employees process paperwork from a polling center Tuesday night, as results arrived during the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell special mill levy election.

Snow, ice slam parts of state

NWS: Roswell has a 30 percent chance of snow

AP Photo

Snow is cleared from NM-285 as it falls in the Santa Fe area on Tuesday.

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Snow and ice struck parts of New Mexico on Tuesday, causing difficult driving conditions, closing schools and ending a record-breaking winter dry spell in the state’s largest city. According to the National Weather Service, the drought-stricken city of Albuquerque saw about 3 inches of snow Tuesday, ending its longest period between December and February — 43 days — without any precipitation. It also was the longest stretch of consecutive days since 1920 without any

measureable precipitation during winter. In Santa Fe, parts of the city saw close to 4 inches of snow early Tuesday, prompting school officials to cancel classes. Santa Fe County Magistrate Court also opened two hours late as snow blanketed the Capitol just as lawmakers continued their 30-day legislative session. The storm, which began late Monday, brought needed fresh snow to ski resorts in northern New See SNOW, Page A3

MTP ramps up effort Deportations fail to sway GOP on immigration to prevent semi crashes JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER

The Motor T ransport Police are beefing up patrols in Southeast New Mexico. The increase is part of an ongoing campaign. Officers are being brought in from around the state to try to combat all traf fic issues involving semi-trucks and passenger vehicles. The special operation in the southeast portion of the state will be focusing on commercial vehicle crashes. According to New Mexico State Police Dist. 3 Capt.

Lance Bateman, one of the reasons for the increase is the fact that two of three traffic fatalities in the area involved one commercial vehicle.

“Some of the trucking company’s vehicles are up to date. Others are not.” Issues can include problems with brakes and other safety violations, including driver safety.

Bateman said the MTP are concentrating their attention in Eddy and Lea counties near the areas around Lovington and Carlsbad, although this See CRASHES, Page A3

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration has deported more than 1.9 million immigrants, aggressive enforcement of current law that fails to sway several House Republicans who blame distrust of President Barack Obama for GOP reluctance on immigration legislation.

Republicans who emerged from their weekly caucus meeting on Tuesday offered competing views on the prospects for immigration this election year just days after GOP leaders unveiled principles that call for legalization but not a special path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living here illegally, increased border and interior security and an employment verification system.

“Clearly the draft principles we outlined, members seem to be rather supportive of them,” Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters.

“There was a lot of discussion about whether we should proceed, if we proceed and how we would proceed. It’s also clear from our members that we believe that securing our borders has to be the first step in this process.” But he added that conversations are continuing and “no decision’s been made.” Further tamping down any optimism for legislation this year was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who told reporters that differences between the Senate’s comprehensive approach and the House’s piecemeal strategy were an “irresolvable conflict.” “I don’t see how you get to an outcome this year with the two bodies in such a different place,” McConnell told reporters. The release of the House Republican principles gave hope to advo-

Lawmakers seek Endangered Species Act overhaul

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Republicans in Congress on Tuesday called for an overhaul to the Endangered Species Act to curtail environmentalists’ lawsuits and give more power to states, but experts say broad changes to one of the nation’s cornerstone environmental laws are unlikely given the pervasive partisan divide in Washington, D.C.

A group of 13 GOP lawmakers representing states across the U.S. released a report proposing “targeted reforms” for the 40-year-old

federal law, which protects imperiled plants and animals.

Proponents credit the law with staving off extinction for hundreds of species — from the bald eagle and American alligator to the gray whale. But critics contend the law has been abused by environmental groups seeking to restrict development in the name of species protection. Led by Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington state, who chairs the

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TODAY’S FORECAST

House Natural Resources Committee, the Republicans want to amend the law to limit litigation from wildlife advocates that has resulted in protections for some species. And they want to give states more authority over imperiled species that fall within their borders. Also among the recommendations from the group are increased scientific transparency, more accurate economic impact studies and safeguards for private landowners. “The biggest problem is

• TOM MARSHALL THORNTON JR. • RUTH B. EIMER

cates pushing for the first overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws in three decades that long-stalled legislation could be completed this year despite the political headwinds of the midterm elections. But House Republican members remain divided, casting doubt on any action this year even on a bill-by-bill approach favored by House leaders.

“The big split is on the amnesty question and giving legal status to those here illegally,” said Rep. John Mica, R-Fla. “It divides the conference right down the middle. It depends on where they’re from, what their situation is,” a reference to lawmakers’ home districts.

With specific bills still under discussion, Mica added that as the November election draws closer, “the less inclined people are to have anything controversial brought up.”

that the Endangered Species Act is not recovering species,” said Hastings. “The way the act was written, there is more of an effort to list (species as endangered or threatened) than to delist.” Signed into law by President Richard Nixon in December 1973, the act has resulted in additional protections for more than 1,500 plants, insects, mammals, birds, reptiles and other creatures, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6

AP Photo

In this July 16, 2004, file photo, is a gray wolf at the Wildlife Science Center in Forest Lake, Minn.

CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................B5 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3

INDEX GENERAL ...............A2 HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2 NATION ..................A6

OPINION .................A4 SPORTS .................B1

WEATHER ..............A8


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