Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 120, No. 216 50¢ Daily / $1 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
CRANE COLLAPSES WASHINGTON (AP) — A 500-ton crane at the Washington National Cathedral collapsed Wednesday amid thunderstorms and driving rain, damaging two nearby buildings and several vehicles as crews worked on damage from the recent earthquake. The crane operator was taken to a hospital ... - PAGE B3
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
September 8, 2011
THURSDAY
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Rural NM risks loss in redistricting
SANTA FE (AP) — Rural New Mexico and part of the city of Albuquerque are on the political chopping block as lawmakers consider how to redraw boundaries of legislative districts to adjust for population changes during the past decade. Eastern and north-central portions of the state are at risk of losing representation in the Legislature because the region’s growth since 2000 has lagged behind statewide population increases. The same is true for central sections of Albuquerque.
But the fast-growing metropolitan area of Albuquerque west of the Rio Grande is a winner in redistricting: It’s almost certain to gain seats in the House and Senate. That’s the message to lawmakers from the Legislature’s redistricting consultant, Brian Sanderoff, who runs a research and polling company in Albuquerque. “It would be impossible mathematically for new representation to not occur on the west side. The trick is this: If new seats are going to emerge on the west
side other seats must be consolidated,” Sanderoff told senators on Wednesday as he outlined the population trends that will drive redistricting decisions. The goal of redistricting is to equalize the populations of districts as much as possible. That was required under the legal doctrine of one person, one vote, to ensure that each resident’s vote is worth the same. To deal with slow-growSee RURAL, Page A6
LOCAL LEGISLATORS’ TAKE ON SESSION JULIA BERGMAN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Legislators were in planning mode Wednesday at the Roundhouse as they embarked on day two of the legislative special session. Senate President Pro Tem T im Jennings, DRoswell, said at this time legislators are preparing plans to introduce them to the session. Jennings said legislators are still waiting
‘How doth the little busy bee ...
WEB For The Past 24 Hours
• Light rainfall makes big difference for Bitter ... • Pops Concert draws crowd • Drought takes toll on Caverns • Morales brothers score, Rockets fall • Roswell thumps Ruidoso
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
...improve each shining hour?’ By gathering pollen from Pecos puzzle sunflowers at the southern end of Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Wednesday morning.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Peyton Manning’s streak is over. The Colts quarterback will not play Sunday in the season opener at Houston, bringing an end to his streak of 227 consecutive starts, including the playoffs. The team said 38-year-old Kerry Collins will start against the Texans as Manning continues his long recovery from neck surgery in May. “It’s going to be a little different without Peyton,” coach Jim Caldwell said. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • Helen Crowder • Samuel Hardcastle • Glinda Keeton - PAGE B3
HIGH ...84˚ LOW ....60˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8 THE WEST ............A3
See LOCAL, Page A6
Jobs plan status quo?
TOP 5
PEYTON’S STREAK ENDS
on infor mation from Native American tribes concerning their preference for redistricting. Information collected during public hearings, which were directed by the Redistricting Committee prior to the session, was presented to the legislators to be used as a starting point. “You gather the information then you act,” he said. Jennings held his
WASHINGTON (AP) — First, do no harm. Economists say the most important part of the jobs plan President Barack Obama will unveil tonight is the renewal of two measures already in place — a cut in Social Security taxes and emergency aid for the unemployed. His new proposals, like spending more for transportation projects and cutting taxes for companies that hire the unemployed, probably wouldn’t add many jobs, they say. Not soon, anyway. The job market needs big help. In August, the economy generated zero job growth. And the unemployment rate is 9.1 percent, a level more typical for a recession than for a recovery in its third year. For Obama, who also faces sinking approval ratings as he goes before a joint session of Congress and on national TV, the options are limited. Congress must approve any new measures, and congressional Republicans oppose new spending. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde and See JOBS, Page A6
It’s not too late to GOP rivals snipe, spar, tangle, sponsor a Field of debate in Reagan Library Honor flag for 9/11 VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
It is not too late to sponsor a flag for the local Field of Honor ceremonies set to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. Karen Bloodhart, chairwoman for the Roswell Field of Honor, said a flag can still be sponsored in memory of someone who served his/her community, country, or who may have died on Sept. 11. All the sponsored flags will be part of a patriotic display at the New Mexico Military Institute’s Stapp Field. Flags will be displayed starting Saturday
morning. Sponsoring a flag costs $25 or $35. If someone wants a purchased flag to be mailed back after the display is taken down Sept. 16, the cost is $35. Those who do not wish their flag be mailed to them can sponsor a flag for $25. Bloodhart said flags can be picked up at the Roswell Elks Lodge, 1720 N. Montana Ave., Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m. Bloodhart said proceeds from the flags will go toward several local charities: Operation Wounded Warrior of New Mexico, the Fallen Warrior Scholarship See FLAG, Page A6
SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Quick to tangle, Republican presidential rivals Rick Perry and Mitt Romney sparred vigorously over job creation and Social Security Wednesday night in a feisty campaign debate that marked a contentious new turn in the race to pick a 2012 challenger to President Barack Obama. Far more than in earlier GOP debates this summer, the candidates mixed it up in their first faceof f since Perry entered the race and almost instantly overtook AP Photo Romney as front-runner in opinion polls. Those Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., answers a question during a Republican See DEBATE, Page A6 presidential candidate debate at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif., Wednesday.
Gov unveils NM centennial stamp Roswell Literacy Council
INDEX
SANTA FE (AP) — A river landscape is featured on a new stamp commemorating New
unveiled the stamp at a ceremony Wednesday in Santa Fe. The stamp features artwork of Doug West of Taos and shows a landscape along the Rio Puerco, which flows west of Albuquerque. The artist joined the governor, the Santa Fe postmaster and Cultural Affairs Secretary Veronica Gonzales in announcing AP Photo the centennial stamp. The stamp is expected Mexico’s statehood cen- to be issued on Jan. 6, tennial. 2012, the 100th anniverGov. Susana Martinez sary of New Mexico’s and other of ficials statehood.
teaches more than reading VANESSA KAHIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
This article is one in a series of stories focusing on local agencies which receive support from the United Way of Chaves County, which is currently conducting its annual fundraising campaign.
The Roswell Literacy Council is about increasing literacy amongst adults, according to Andrae England, director of the Roswell Literacy Council. The RLC staff help with a variety of learning goals
because literacy skills affect a wide variety of subjects. To ensure the student is receiving a well-rounded approach that covers various forms of learning, and since literacy is a multidimensional subject, England said the focus of the RLC is to cover reading, writing, speaking, thinking, understanding and listenSee LITERACY, Page A6