Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new bipartisan plan to reduce government borrowing would target some of the most cherished tax breaks enjoyed by millions of families — those promoting health insurance, home ownership, charitable giving and retirement savings — in exchange for lowering overall tax rates for everyone. Many taxpayers would face higher taxes — a total
KIRTLAND PRESERVES WILDLIFE
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Most people don’t think of bathing bears, prowling cougars or burrowing owl counts when they think of Kirtland Air Force Base, but Carol Finley certainly does. Finley, natural resources manager at the 51,558-acre base, spends her days making sure those bears, ... - PAGE A6
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Tax plan leaves many details for later
Vol. 120, No. 174 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
July 21, 2011
THURSDAY
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of at least $1.2 trillion over the next decade, and perhaps more. The details and impact of the plan, released this week by the bipartisan “Gang of Six” senators, emerged as President Barack Obama called congressional leaders to the White House on Wednesday to determine, in separate meetings, their bottom line for extending the nation’s debt limit while also cutting spending at
For its part, the Gang of Six plan punts on many of the most difficult issues, leaving it to congressional committees to fill in the details later.
the greatest amount possible. The role of additional tax revenue remained a sticking point. With the default deadline of Aug. 2 approaching, the White House signaled for the first time that Obama would be willing to sign off
on a short-term extension of the debt limit if a grander deal were in the works and needed only a few days’ worth of extra time to wind its way through the legislative process. For its part, the Gang of
‘I’m going to the movies after; guess which one’
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• The next Nancy or Tiger? • RIAC gets $775K grant • LRC plan could cost Roswell seats • Man attempts murder, rape • Mortgage robo-signing still happening, illegally
INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
Tax the owl, a resident of Spring River Zoo, entertains and informs children young and old during the Roswell Public Library Story Time Wednesday morning.
Six plan punts on many of the most difficult issues, leaving it to congressional committees to fill in the details later. But supporters say it provides a framework to simplify the tax code, making it easier for businesses and individuals to comply while eliminating incentives to game the system. Coupled with spending
Hooker accuses judge of rape
See DEBT, Page A3
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The prostitute who has accused Albuquerque’s top criminal judge of rape met with him about eight times and made a tape of the alleged forced encounter. That’s according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday with the arrest of state District Judge Pat Murdoch. He is facing charges of criminal sexual penetration and intimidation of a witness. The complaint says an Albuquerque vice detective heard about the tape from an informant and arranged to buy it for $400. Police then questioned the
Council passes on film offer Thugs desecrate Perez grave EMILY RUSSO MILLER RECORD STAFF WRITER
INJURIES END YAO’S CAREER
SHANGHAI (AP) — The NBA’s version of the Ming Dynasty is done. After helping pro basketball gain a foothold in the world’s most populous market, Chinese star Yao Ming has retired. Yao made it official Wednesday, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30. “I will formally end my career,” said Yao, the 7-foot6 center who became a household name in China before starting his NBA career .... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• William Burke • Curtis Miller Jr. • Corine Wagoner - PAGE A6
HIGH .100˚ LOW ....74˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................A6 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
City Councilors turned down an offer from Insight Television during a special meeting Wednesday night that would have highlighted the city of Roswell on the T ravel Channel and CNN, citing financial concer ns and saying there wasn’t enough time to review the legal contract before deadline. “I think it was a great idea, but the timing wasn’t good,” Councilor Bob Maples, who voted against the measure, said after the meeting. Insight Television contacted the Roswell Chamber of Commerce about two months ago with an offer — pay $19,800 to cover the cost of producing a film about Roswell in the near future, to be broadcast a
minimum of 20 times on national television with Terry Bradshaw, the Pro Football Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as the host. Councilors, after first hearing about the idea during their monthly meeting July 14, considered a motion to pay 50 percent of the cost — 25 percent through Lodgers Tax Funds, and the other 25 percent out of the General Fund — and reaching out to community partners to raise the remaining 50 percent of the total cost. But the motion failed 4-3, with councilors Judy Stubbs, Art Sandoval, Bob Maples and Jimmy Craig voting against the motion, and with councilors Barry Foster, Steve Henderson and Amarante Fresquez voting for it.
Gov mulls staff change
SANTA FE (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez’s office said it will weigh all options before deciding who will serve permanently as the state’s top water management official. The governor is considering replacing State Engineer John D’Antonio and last week requested recommendations from various experts. Spokesman Scott Dar nell said no for mal search committee has been created, but Martinez wants to consider “a wide range of options” before making a final decision. D’Antonio was appointed by for mer Gov. Bill Richardson and has served in the position on an interim basis since Martinez took office in January. The state engineer oversees the measurement, appropriation and distribu-
tion of New Mexico’s water, making it a key position in the drought-ridden state. New Mexico is suffering through what has so far been the driest year on record. Far mers in the Pecos and lower Rio Grande valleys have been forced to pump groundwater to irrigate their crops, and communities around the state have imposed restrictions. A dismal winter snowpack was exacerbated by a dry, windy spring and spotty summer rains. D’Antonio said last week the situation is dire and that state water officials need to make wise decisions to avert a potential crisis. Darnell said D’Antonio, who worked 15 years with See CHANGE, Page A3
Stubbs, and other councilors, said they were concerned about jumping into a legal agreement without it being reviewed by city attorneys and approved by city administration. “We can’t grab every apple off the tree,” Stubbs said during the meeting, later adding, “We don’t know what the agreement was.” She noted that she was also concerned where the additional 50 percent of the total cost was coming from, and whether the TV show would fit into the city’s marketing plan. “We’re spending a great deal of money on a marketing plan,” Stubbs said. “I want to see some continuity, and I want to see some targeting done because it’s so critical that we spend See COUNCIL, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The grave of murder victim Zachary Perez was desecrated last weekend. The grave located in South Park Cemetery, 3101 S. Main St., was torched. The 16-year-old was a victim of a knife attack. Autopsy reports revealed that Perez had been stabbed 22 times. His body was found in a vacant lot near East Fifth Street on Feb. 13. According to the Roswell Police Department incident report, the damage to the grave occurred sometime
See JUDGE, Page A3
between noon on July 16, and 4 p.m. on July 18. Officer James Burton noted numerous items around and on top of the headstone had been burned. Perez’s mother Cheryl Ortega said she found out about the desecration when a friend who had gone to put flowers on the grave discovered the damages. “It’s awful. They didn’t mess with him for 17 months and now this.” Jesus Carranza, 26, is facing charges of firstdegree murder for the slaying of Perez. He was arrested on Feb. 26,
See PEREZ, Page A2
Care Van visits on 3rd Wednesdays VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Sporting a brand new Care Van, a group of health care providers helped ensure schoolaged children have the shots they need to return to school during an immunization clinic at the downtown McDonald’s, Wednesday morning. According to a press release from Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, the old Care Van traveled more than 140,000 miles as it crisscrossed the state, providing vaccines and basic health Mark Wilson Photo checkups along the way. Tyler Johnston readies for the upcoming school year by “We are pleased to con- receiving an immunization shot from Carol Larez, RN, in the Blue Cross Blue Shield portable unit parked at McDonald’s, Wednesday morning. See VAN, Page A3