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Family matters: Zappa plays Zappa Inside, Pasatiempo
February 7, 2014
Zappa plays Zappa plays Zappa plays Zappa
Locally owned and independent
Friday, February 7, 2014
www.santafenewmexican.com $1.25
Proposed Colo. stop adds millions to Chief route
Senate Republicans block new bid to restore jobless benefits
Santa Clara adult day care seeks aid
New Mexico governor remains leery about committing $40 million over 10 years to Amtrak project. LOCaL neWs, C-1
A measure that would provide unemployment assistance for three months for more than 1.7 million Americans failed by one vote. Page a-3
Pueblo officials see cultural benefits for center that serves the elderly. LOCaL neWs, C-1
Measure aimed at closing loopholes include home Breathalyzer test, tougher ignition interlock provisions
DWI bill suffers blow Russian President Vladimir Putin signs a wall while visiting the Coastal Cluster Olympic Village earlier this week.
Effects on groundwater, homes’ proximity to oil, gas wells raise concerns
ALEXEI NIKOLSKY/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Putin in spotlight as games underway
By Staci Matlock The New Mexican
Russia’s leader keen to prove doubters wrong By Angela Charlton
The Associated Press
SOCHI, Russia — They’re designed to celebrate a millennium of Russian might and this country’s modern rebound, and kick off two weeks of extraordinary human endeavors and planetary sportsmanship. But the ceremony opening the Sochi Olympics on Friday, more than anything, will be about one man: Vladimir Putin. He charmed and strong-armed his way to hosting the games at a summer beach resort that he envisioned as a winter paradise. Ballet, man-made snow and avantgarde art will make an appearance at Sochi’s opening ceremonies, though as with all past opening ceremonies, the details are under wraps. They can’t really compete with the cin-
Please see PUTIn, Page A-6
On THe WeB u For more coverage of the Winter Olympics, go to www.santafenew mexican.com
Obituaries Charles M. Anderson, Jan. 30 Annie W. Granito, Feb. 4 Homer Charles McLaughlin Jr., Feb. 1 Alan K. Stoker, Jan. 24 Page C-2
The annual DWI March of Sorrow was held Thursday at the Capitol to remember victims of DWI crashes. The march coincided with DWI Awareness Day at the Roundhouse. JANE PHILLIPS/THE NEW MEXICAN
By Anne Constable
The New Mexican
A
bill to plug what sponsors consider loopholes in the state’s DWI laws unexpectedly was tabled in a House committee Thursday morning, hours before several of the bill’s sponsors were scheduled to be recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving as “2013 Legislative Champions.” Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson, D-Albuquerque, said she was “extremely disappointed” and pointed out that the legislation,
which has bipartisan backing, passed the House last year by a unanimous vote. But its prospects this year are now greatly diminished. The House Democrats issued a news release after the vote, saying, “Efforts to stop drunk driving and protect the rights of victims suffered a huge blow in the House Transportation and Public Works committee this morning.” MADD New Mexico’s executive director, Ben Lewinger, called House Bill 10 “a well-crafted
Page a-8
Index
Calendar a-2
8,191: people convicted of DWI 357: convicted of a 4th offense 129: convicted of a 5th offense $95.49: Cost of incarcerating an inmate per day SOURCE: NEW MEXICO DWI CITATION TRACKING SYSTEM
InsIde u Minimum-wage bump nixed. Page a-4 u Dems block bill to trim drunkenworker benefits. Page a-4 u Budget measure splits House panel along party lines. Page a-6
Martinez staff ignores Stewart’s requests to halt recordings By Patrick Malone
Partly sunny and humid. High 41, low 23.
Please see dWI, Page A-6
2012 dWI COnvICTIOns
Due to concerns from residents and landowners in the community of Cebolla, the Bureau of Land Management has postponed oil and gas leasing on 13,300 acres in western Rio Arriba County so the agency can further study the potential impacts of new drilling operations. The 16 parcels are scattered around Cebolla, south of Tierra Amarilla, in an area crisscrossed with streams that feed into the Chama River. Most of the surface land is privately owned, but the oil and gas underneath are owned by other people or by the federal government, according to Dave Evans, the BLM’s Farmington District manager. The parcels were due to be offered for leasing by oil and gas companies in October. But for the second time in a year, the leasing has been deferred. Evans said residents around Cebolla have raised a number of concerns. “They’re concerned about the proximity of oil and gas wells to homes and community sites,” he said. “They’re very concerned about potential impacts on groundwater.” Some of the land that could be leased for oil and gas development is near Cebolla’s drinking water well, which is 2,610 feet deep. Residents and county officials are worried about potential contamination to the well from hydraulic fracturing, a commonly used technique in which fluids are forced into a well to crack open rock and release hydrocarbons. “We’re concerned about the comingling of water sources in addition to roads, dust, noise,” said Lucia Sanchez, Rio Arriba County’s planning
Please see LeasIng, Page A-6
Governor, Dem leader clash over webcasts The New Mexican
Today
New leases for drilling halted in Rio Arriba
A dispute over who has the right to videotape legislative committee hearings in the Capitol is sparking a political tussle between a House committee leader and Gov. Susana Martinez. Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, who chairs of the House Education Committee,
Classifieds C-6, d-1 Comics C-5
Lotteries a-2
Opinion a-7
says she has tried repeatedly to stop the governor’s staff from recording her committee’s hearings. Stewart said she is concerned the Governor’s Office has political motivations for videotaping the proceedings. Enrique Knell, a spokesman for the governor, said the office is taping hearings to archive them on the governor’s website and make it more convenient for New Mexico
Police notes C-2
Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Dennis Rudner, drudner@sfnewmexican.com
Sports B-1
Time Out C-4
residents to see what’s happening in the Roundhouse. Legislative staff members broadcast hearings live over the Internet but do not archive them. “New Mexico is a very large state, and traveling to Santa Fe for the session can be very challenging for many of our people,” Knell said. “That’s why it’s important to help bring the process to the people.” A proposal to archive webcasts is pending in the Legislature. Traditionally, those efforts
Rep. Mimi Stewart
Please see WeBCasTs, Page A-4
Generation Next B-6
Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010
Four sections, 28 pages Pasatiempo, 64 pages 165th year, No. 38 Publication No. 596-440