Roswell Daily Record
Committee OKs disclosure bills THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
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INSIDE NEWS
CBS ENDS SEASON EARLY
LOS ANGELES (AP) — In the wake of an incendiary radio interview with “Two and a Half Men” star Charlie Sheen, CBS and Warner Bros. Television said they are ending production on TV’s top-rated sitcom for the season. The decision was based on the “totality of ... - PAGE A8
TOP 5 WEB For The Past 24 Hours
• Grass fire consumes 150 acres • Neighborhood squabble gets nasty • McMahon treats mold illness • Police arrest York • Bulldogs end Rockets’ season
INSIDE SPORTS
ROCKETS DOWN BULLDOGS
The game after an emotional, physical game can be dangerous. After the emotional high of Goddard’s game against Roswell on Tuesday, the question was would the Rockets be able get back the edge they had been playing with for the past month. At first, the answer seemed to be no, but the offense of Ruben Otero provided the spark ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Marilyn M. Elliott • Norma Klapmeyer • Virginia ‘Cunie’ Lucero • Clara Prudencio • Elton Arnold • Richard E. Mitchell - PAGE A6
HIGH ...77˚ LOW ....35˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
February 25, 2011
FRIDAY
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SANTA FE (AP) — A House committee approved a pair of proposals Thursday to require independent groups to disclose their donors if they attempt to influence elections in New Mexico. Supporters say the measure would shed light on sources of money from corporations, unions and advocacy groups that can spend unlimited amounts on political advertising in elections because of a U.S.
Supreme Court decision last year. There’s no disclosure of the source of financing in most instances because the groups are not formed as political committees. Opponents warned that the measures would trigger costly legal challenges and probably were unconstitutional restrictions on free speech. The Voters and Elections Committee agreed to send the competing bills to their
Troopers visit some AWOL senators
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin state troopers were dispatched Thursday to the doorsteps of some of the AWOL Democratic senators in hopes of finding at least one who would come back to allow a vote on a measure to curb the power of public-employee unions. The stepped-up tactic ordered by the Republican head of the Senate came amid reports that at least a few of the missing senators were returning home at night to pick up clothes, food and other necessities, before rejoining their colleagues in Illinois. Meanwhile, the state Assembly appeared close to voting on the bill after more than two days of filibustering. Democrats agreed before dawn Thursday to limit the remaining number of amendments they offer and the time they devote to each one. More than 12 hours after the agreement was announced, Republicans voted to cut of f discussion on all amendments. Democrats planned to spend several more hours railing against the meas-
Assistant Attorney General Phil Baca said the measure would force disclosure of the donors of nonprofits such as those in New Mexico that distributed mailers critical of legislators in 2008.
next stop, the Judiciary Committee, to see if a compromise can be reached on the tricky legal task of forcing disclosures on independent campaign expenditures, such as ads or mailings. “This is a straight across-
the-board, even-handed ef fort to ... bring some transparency on who is trying to influence our elections,” Rep. Brian Egolf, DSanta Fe, said of his measure, which was approved on a 9-4 vote. However, Albuquerque
Fire Department ropes refresher
lawyer and Republican activist Pat Rogers said the legislation was an “invitation to endless lawsuits.” Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, teamed with Attorney General Gary King on the other bill, which the committee unanimously approved. But nonprofit groups opposed the measure, saying it would restrict their efforts to educate New Mexicans about issues. See DISCLOSURE, Page A3
Jessica Palmer Photo
Roswell Fire Department completed its annual rope rescue technician refresher course on Thursday, a city-wide program that took place along the Spring River channel between Richardson and Pennsylvania avenues.
CCDC seeks state accreditation RISD budget increases See AWOL, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Acting Administrator of the Chaves County Detention Center Sandra P. Stewart, along with a representative of Curry County, took the first step toward accreditation last week. Chaves and Curry counties have the first correctional facilities applying for New Mexico accreditation under the standards adopted in April 2010. “The concept of accredi-
tation for correctional facilities began in 1978 with the American Correctional Association who developed national standards,” said Stewart. There are 384 expected practices or national standards, of which 62 are mandatory and 322 are not. Few New Mexico counties can meet national standards because the large diversity of facilities found here. “In Bernalillo County, they house 2,500 inmates and Fort Sumner has only two cells to
house their detainees,” said Stewart. The need to create standards has long been recognized by the New Mexico Association of Counties Affiliate. “People who do the same job need to try and do it similarly,” Stewart said. Attempts to get some sort of uniform code or mandatory standards for adult correctional facilities through the state legislature have failed. In 2009, the affiliate See CCDC, Page A3
EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Roswell Independent School District’s total operating budget for the current fiscal year increased by more than $350,000 despite slashes to state funds earlier in the year, a school authority announced Thursday evening during the administration’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting. Chad Cole, assistant superintendent of financial operations for the school district, credited temporary federal stimulus money for
offsetting deep budget cuts. “Adding to our funds this year was a good thing,” Cole told the committee, citing the Federal Stabilization Stimulus fund and the Education Jobs Act. “That helps stop some of the revenue clip that we’re facing.” The school district received more than $1 million from the Education Jobs Act this year, and a $6,000 increase in Federal Stabilization Stimulus money to help absorb budget cuts. The biggest budget cut was to the State EqualizaSee RISD, Page A3
Medical Center hosts Zoe runs for Boys & Girls Clubs heart awareness event EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
MATTHEW ARCO RECORD STAFF WRITER
Roswell women concerned with awareness for healthy hearts and appropriately dressed in red shirts, dresses and sweaters, filled the Roswell Convention and Civic Center Thursday for Eastern New Mexico Medical Center’s first annual Go Red for Women Luncheon. The event encouraged awareness of the issue of women and heart disease, which according to the American Heart Association, claims the lives of 500,000 women in the U.S.
Mark Wilson Photo
Red roses, hearts and balloons decorate the Go Red for Women luncheon, Thursdy.
each year. The association lists heart disease as the See HEART, Page A3
A recent college graduate who is running crosscountry to raise money both nationally and locally for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America made a pit stop at the Roswell club Thursday afternoon. About 35 curious elementary school kids clamored around Zoe Mark Wilson Photo Romano, 23, peppering Zoe Romano plays with the kids at the Roswell Boys & her with questions about Girls Club Thursday afternoon during a stopover to her journey, which began Roswell. in early January from Huntington Beach, Calif. said. “I run long, slow ing to the three-wheel “How fast can you distances.” sport stroller that holds run?” one boy wanted to “What’s in there?” her food, camping gear, know. another kid asked, point“Not very fast,” Romano See ZOE, Page A3