Santa Fe New Mexican, March 28, 2014

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‘Panic in the Streets’: Science on screen at CCA

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Friday, March 28, 2014

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March 28, 2014

www.santafenewmexican.com $1.25

Martinez: Enforcing public records law unconstitutional

Feds list grouse as threatened Placing the lesser prairie chicken on the list of threatened species could impact oil and gas drilling in the region. PAge B-1

Mudslide rescuers face the elements

Sculpture honors fallen

Weary searchers battle rain, exhaustion looking for more bodies in the aftermath of the disaster that has killed at least 25 people. PAge A-4

Santa Fe artist commissioned to create piece to memorialize those who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. PAge B-1

Lawyers say release of gov.’s travel documents requires search warrant By Steve Terrell The New Mexican

The Martinez administration contends court enforcement of the state Inspection of Public Records Act to make the governor and state agencies

turn over travel records would violate the U.S. Constitution. Legal documents filed Monday in state District Court by lawyers representing Gov. Susana Martinez Susana and some state agenMartinez cies say the public records law is “pre-empted” by the Supremacy Clause in the U.S. Consti-

tution — and that the records being sought by The Associated Press would require a warrant under federal law. The documents are in response to two lawsuits filed in December by the AP, which has been trying to get public records related to Martinez’s travels and work schedule, cellphone calls and expenses of the police officers who travel with her. The suits claim Martinez and the agencies violated the state

Please see ReCORDS, Page A-5

Cop lease deals show contrasts in city, county rent programs

Michelle Martinez wins game of chance and Española City Council seat

Coin flip decides race

Deputies sign more detailed contracts; commission has more oversight of housing program By Chris Quintana The New Mexican

The city and county of Santa Fe both allow law enforcement officials to live on government-owned property for minimal monthly rates or for free. The difference, according to contracts obtained by The New Mexican, lies in the details of the rental agreements. While county employees who lease public properties sign County Commission-approved contracts that include a specific list of caretaker duties and expectations, the city rental contracts are vague about officers’ requirements and loosely managed. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales said he may look into the city’s policy after The New Mexican reported that Deputy Chief John Schaerfl lives in his own mobile home at a city park for just $20 a month, despite earning a salary of nearly $99,000 a year. Since initial reports of Schaerfl’s rental deal, the city has released documents showing that two other police officers, both making more than $60,000, are leasing city properties for minimal rates.

Please see ReNT, Page A-6

Judge Francis Mathew tosses a coin Thursday in his courtroom to break the tie of the Española City Council race between Michelle R. Martinez and Phillip Chacón. Martinez won the coin toss. JANE PHILLIPS/THE NEW MEXICAN

the District 2 council race by two votes, 170-168, over Michelle R. Martinez. He was sworn into ore than three weeks office, but Martinez challenged after election night, the results and paid $320 to a coin flip turned launch a recount. Phillip Chacón from It showed that both candidates an Española city councilor into an actually had 167 votes. Under angry also-ran. state election law, a game of chance would break the tie vote. Chacón thought he had won

By Milan Simonich

The New Mexican

M

lock between two candidates was the only issue before him. He brought dice, cards and a coin to court as possible means of breaking the tie. Chacón had said he would not participate in any game of chance to win the council seat, but then

Chacón objected to the tiebreaker Thursday during a tension-filled hearing in state District Judge Francis Mathew’s courtroom in Santa Fe. Chacón said Española’s election had been soiled by fraud, and he asked that the tiebreaker be delayed. Mathew ruled against Chacón. The judge said ending the dead-

Please see FLIP, Page A-6 Sgt. Troy Baker has been living in a city-owned mobile home off Siringo Road in Santa Fe since 2011. JANE PHILLIPS/THE NEW MEXICAN

U.S. autism estimate rises to 1 in 68 kids By Mike Stobbe

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — The government’s estimate of autism has moved up again to 1 in 68 U.S. children, a 30 percent increase in two years. But health officials say the new number may not mean autism is more common. Much of the increase is believed to be from a cultural and medical shift, with doctors diag-

Index

Calendar A-2

Classifieds C-2

nosing autism more frequently, especially in children with milder problems. “We can’t dismiss the numbers. But we can’t interpret it to mean more people are getting the disorder,” said Marisela Huerta, a psychologist at the New York-Presbyterian Center for Autism and the Developing Brain in suburban White Plains, N.Y. The Centers for Disease Control and Pre-

Comics C-12

Crosswords C-3, C-11

Lotteries A-2

vention released the latest estimate Thursday. The Atlanta-based agency said its calculation means autism affects roughly 1.2 million Americans under 21. Two years ago, the CDC put the estimate at 1 in 88 children, or about 1 million. The cause or causes of autism are still not known. Without any blood test or other medi-

Please see AUTISM, Page A-5

Opinion A-7

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010 News tips: 983-3035

Sports B-5

Time Out C-11

Today

Rebecca J. Henderson, 70, March 4 Karl J. Schaffner, 83, Santa Fe, March 22

Sunny to partly cloudy and breezy. High 58, low 30. PAge A-8

PAge B-2

Three sections, 28 pages Pasatiempo, 56 pages 165th year, No. 87 Publication No. 596-440

Gen Next C-1

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