02-13-13 PAPER

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Roswell Daily Record

Vol. 122, No. 38 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The papal ring will be destroyed, along with other powerful emblems of authority, just as they are after a pope’s death. The retiring Pope Benedict XVI will live in a monastery on the edge of the Vatican gardens and will likely even give up ... - PAGE A2

February 13, 2013

WEDNESDAY

www.rdrnews.com

Obama: ‘The state of our union is strong’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Uncompromising and politically emboldened, President Barack Obama urged a deeply divided Congress Tuesday night to embrace his plans to use government money to create jobs and strengthen the nation’s middle class. He declared Republican ideas for reducing the deficit “even worse” than the unpalatable deals Washington had to stomach during his first term.

VATICAN SHOWS POPE RETIREMENT IS FOR REAL

THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

In his first State of the Union address since winning re-election, Obama conceded economic revival is an “unfinished task,” but he

claimed clear progress and said he prepared to build on it as he embarks on four more years in office. “We have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and we can say with renewed confidence that the state of our union is strong,” Obama said in an hour-long address to a joint session of Congress and a television audience of millions. With unemployment persistently high and consumer confidence falling, the economy remains a vulnerability for Obama and could disrupt his plans for pursuing a broader agenda, including

immigration overhaul, stricter gun laws and climate change legislation. Still, fresh off a convincing re-election win, Obama made clear in his remarks that he was determined to press his political advantage against a divided, defensive and worried Republican Party. Numerous times he urged Congress to act quickly on his priorities — but vowed to act on some issues on his own if they do not. Obama also announced new steps to reduce the U.S. military footprint abroad, See OBAMA, Page A3

AP Photo

President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, gives his State of the Union address in Washington, Tuesday.

Legislators debate drought issues

TOP 5 WEB

For The Past 24 Hours

• Pushy home security company alarming ... • DSF workshop a success • Four apply for vacancy on the 5th Judicial ... • Gabby Joyce picks NMSU • Coyotes edge ...

INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo

Opposers of the listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act voice their views with homemade signage, Tuesday, at Great Southwesy Aviation.

Chicken listing opponents voice concerns ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER

COYOTES TAKE DOWN ARTESIA

It’s rare to watch a Roswell boys basketball game and not see one of the Coyotes’ patented miniruns that breaks the game open. The fans in attendance at the Coyote Den on Tuesday saw one of those runs and it changed the game for the better for Roswell ... - PAGE B1

TODAY’S OBITUARIES

• Debbie Jean Silva • Dominga Guerra • Denise Renee Hanes - PAGE A6

HIGH ...56˚ LOW ....28˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................C4 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

INDEX

Legislators, business leaders and residents testified to oppose the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed listing of the lesser prairie chicken as an endangered species Tuesday during a public hearing held by the organization.

Before the hearing, Congressman Steve Pearce, RN.M., as well as state and local lawmakers and representatives of the oil and gas and agriculture industries spoke against the list-

ing at a rally, saying it would have a devastating impact on southeastern New Mexico. See CHICKEN, Page A3

SANTA FE (AP) — A bipartisan group of New legislators Mexico announced Tuesday that they have introduced a series of bills aimed at tackling what they consider to be a looming crisis as the state grapples with a persistent drought, dwindling water supplies and legal pressure from neighboring Texas. Among the changes, the bills would revamp the state’s water plan, boost the number of judges who handle water rights and spend millions of dollars on infrastructure. Senate Conservation Commission Chair man Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, said the legislation is no “silver bullet” for dealing with New Mexico’s water problems. “It’s fair to say we’re barely scratching the surface,” he said during a news conference. “What’s important is that everything related to water See DROUGHT, Page A3

Police: Body found in burned House panel OKs cabin is likely Christopher Dorner health exchange plan

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP) — The extraordinary manhunt for the former Los Angeles police officer suspected of three murders converged Tuesday on a mountain cabin where authorities believe he barricaded himself inside, engaged in a shootout that killed a deputy and then never emerged as the home went up in flames. A single gunshot was heard from within, and a charred body was found inside. If the man inside proves to be Christopher Dorner, as authorities suspect, the search for the most wanted man in America over the last week would have ended the way he had expected — death, with the police pursuing him. Thousands of officers had been on the hunt for the former Navy reservist since police said he launched a campaign to exact revenge against the Los Angeles

Police Department for his firing. They say he threatened to bring “warfare” to officers and their families, spreading fear and setting off a search for him across the Southwest and Mexico. “Enough is enough. It’s time for you to turn yourself in. It’s time to stop the bloodshed,” LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said at a news conference held outside police headquarters in Los Angeles, a starkly different atmosphere than last week when officials briefed the news media under tight security with Dorner on the loose. A short time after Smith spoke Tuesday, smoke began to rise from the cabin in the snow-covered woods near Big Bear Lake, a resort town about 80 miles east of Los See DORNER, Page A3

SANTA FE (AP) — Democratic lawmakers pushed ahead Tuesday with a proposal to establish a staterun health insurance exchange, despite objections from the insurance industry and Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. The House Health, Government and Indian Affairs Committee approved the measure on a party-line vote, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed. The exchange is envisioned as an online shopping center for people and small businesses to buy health coverage from private insurance companies. Those plans must have a package of health benefits tailored to New Mexico, and the exchange is to make it easier to compare plans by price, benefits and quality. Under federal law, the exchange must be ready for enrollment in October and be fully operating by next See HEALTH, Page A3

NKorea says it’s brandishing nukes to get US to talk peace

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The way North Korea sees it, only bigger weapons and more threatening provocations will force Washington to come to the table to discuss what Pyongyang says it really wants: peace. It’s no coincidence that North Korea’s third underground nuclear test — and by all indications so far its most powerful yet — took place Tuesday on the eve of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address. As perplexing as the tactic may seem to the outside world, it serves as an attention-getting reminder

to the world that North Korea may be poor but has the power to upset regional security and stability. And the response to its latest provocation was immediate. “The danger posed by North Korea’s threatening activities warrants further swift and credible action by the international community,” Obama said in a statement hours after the test. “The United States will also continue to take steps necessary to defend ourselves and our allies.” The United Nations, Japan and South Korea also responded with predictable

anger. Even China, North Korea’s staunchest ally, summoned the North Korean ambassador to the Foreign Ministry for a rare dressing down. All this puts young North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his circle of advisers right where they want to be: at the center of controversy and the focus of foreign policy. A year into his nascent leadership, he is referring to his father’s playbook to try forcing a change on North Korea policy in capital cities across the region See NKOREA Page A2

AP Photo

On a television screen in front of Pyongyang's railway station, a North Korean state television broadcaster announces that North Korea conducted a nuclear test on Tuesday.


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