03-02-12 PAPER

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Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY

Senate defeats Blunt amendment

Vol. 121, No. 53 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday

INSIDE NEWS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andrew Breitbart used the Internet relentlessly to ignite political scandal and expose what he saw as media bias, even if he sometimes had to edit the facts to do it. The fiery online publisher and blogger who collapsed and died Thursday at 43 relished public combat with liberals — a YouTube clip last month shows him bellowing at Occupy Wall Street protesters ... - PAGE A7

TOP 5 WEB For The Past 24 Hours • Garrett statue at home downtown • CCSO seeks death info • Shriners, IHOP flip for kids • ‘You gotta have heart’; ask anyone • Panthers move into semifinals

INSIDE SPORTS

Verizon buys Plateau assets

AP Photo

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., talks to reporters following a Republicans strategy session at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday.

Roswell may have greater choice in wireless coverage, if approved by the Federal Communications Commission. According to a press release, Verizon Wireless has announced it has signed an agreement to purchase “wireless operating assets” in the state. These assets are operated under the Plateau Wireless brand name. “The purchase will expand Verizon Wireless’ brand and network footprint in southeastern New Mexico to the counties of Eddy, Chaves, Lea and a See VERIZON, Page A3

The 51-48 vote killed an amendment that would have allowed employers and insurers to opt out of portions of the president’s health care law they found morally objectionable. That would have included the law’s requirement that

OBITUARIES

There are no obituaries today, March 2, 2012.

HIGH ...72˚ LOW ....31˚

TODAY’S FORECAST

CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 ENTERTAINMENT.....B5 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........B5 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8

INDEX

“We have never had a conscience clause for insurance companies,” said Sen. Barbara Boxer, DCalif. The measure would have given insurers more opportunities to deny coverage for certain treatments, she added. “A lot of them don’t have any consciences. They’ll take it,” Boxer said.

Republicans argued that the law needs to be reversed because it violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious freedom by forcing insurers and employers to pay for contraception even if their faith forbids its use. Democrats said the amendment, sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo, was an assault on women’s rights and could be used to cancel virtually any part of the law. Both parties were using the issue to rally their bases; Republicans sought See SENATE, Page A3

This worker bee focuses on new blossoms under sunny skies, Thursday. Spring begins March 20.

ROSWELL FALLS, 16–1

TODAY’S

insurers cover the costs of birth control. Democrats said the measure would have allowed employers and insurers to opt out of virtually any medical treatment with the mere mention of a moral or religious objection.

What’s the buzz, Girlfriend?

‘On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be’ ARTESIA — At this point in the season, no high school baseball team is peaking. What coaches want to see in the early stages of the year are improvements from their teams from game to game. After opening its season with a pair of losses to Mayfield on Tuesday, the Roswell baseball team showed improvement in its 16-1 loss to Cleveland on Thursday in the opening round of the Artesia Invitational. One of the improvements Coyote coach Dane Kyser saw was at the plate. - PAGE B1

FRIDAY

www.rdrnews.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Thursday defeated a GOP effort to roll back President Barack Obama’s policy on contraception insurance coverage in the first vote on an issue that raised questions of religious and women’s rights and riled Americans in this volatile election year.

BLOGGER BREITBART DEAD AT 43

March 2, 2012

Mark Wilson Photo

Nutrition organizations honor Lyman Graham NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER

Mark Wilson Photo

Construction workers with Clovis Sign Service erect an overhang at the revamped Allsup's convenience store, 2501 N. Main, Thursday.

Courtesy Photo.

The School Nutrition Association and Global Child Nutrition Foundation have named Lyman Graham its Director of the Year, an international honor for his food service work in Roswell Independent School District, Carlsbad Municipal Schools and Dexter Consolidated Schools. The programs will present the award to Graham during “A Possible Dream” gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on Monday. The International Foodservice

Shaw seeks reelection Slots machines in state rake to Hagerman Council JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER

Hagerman councilor Bill Shaw says he is seeking reelection for his town council seat during the valley elections March 6. If reelected, Shaw will serve his fifth term on the council. In Hagerman, two council seats are slated to be on the ballot. A retired state police officer, Shaw said he brings valuable knowledge and experience to the council. “I’ve got knowledge of things that are going on here in town and things that need to be done and (things we’re) trying to get done,”

he said. Shaw is a member of the Hagerman Lions Club, the Chaves County Senior Citizens Board of Directors and the First Baptist Church in Hagerman. Shaw is running for reelection to ensure that several projects started by the council while he was a member come to fruition. These projects include connecting a pipeline from a water well south of town so that it runs through town, and repairing the wear and tear that many of the streets in town are experiencing. “We’ve got a lot of projects going that we need to get See SHAW, Page A3

Lyman Graham

See GRAHAM, Page A3

in nearly $1 billion last year ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — New Mexico’s tribal casinos and state-licensed racinos raked in nearly $1 billion from their slot machines last year. The latest numbers from regulators show the state’s gambling parlors reported $973.8 million in “net win” last year, a 1.9 percent increase over 2010, the Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday. Gambling interests paid the state $130.2 million in gaming taxes, a 1.1 percent increase from 2010. Figures compiled by the

New Mexico Gaming Control Board show the state’s 14 tribe-operated casinos reported a total net win of $713.9 million last year, a 2.1 percent increase over 2010. Collectively, those casinos paid the state nearly $65.2 million in gaming taxes. The state’s five racinos, meanwhile, reported a total net win of $248.9 million last year, a 1.3 percent increase over 2010, according to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. “Net win” is the amount wagered on slot machines

at tribal casinos, statelicensed racinos and nonprofit gambling establishments, minus payouts and approved regulatory fees. It is a key indicator of overall gambling activity. Tribal casinos pay the state nothing on their table games like poker and blackjack. Racinos and nonprofits can offer only slots machines. Holly Wetzel, director of communications for the American Gaming Association, said the increase in gambling activity at New See SLOTS, Page A3


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