KSFR News, Santa Fe

-- March 11,10 a.m. -- New Mexico's secretary of state has still not yet release
d a controversial letter from a former staff member who's critical of her office
. But the letter has turned up in what seems to be its original form as part of
a newspaper story that's just been published. Espanola's Rio Grande Sun has publ
ished it as part of an interview with former state Elections Director A.J. Salaz
ar who wrote it as he resigned from his job. In the letter, Salazar charges Secr
etary of State Mary Herrera with allegations of mismanagement and possible polit
ical corruption. A link to the newspaper story and the letter can be found in th
e newsroom section of our website, KSFR.org. Full details on air on At Noon on 1
01.1.
--7 a.m. -- KSFR incorrectly reported earlier that Gov. Richardson had vetoed le
gislation giving protection to government whistleblowers. While he did "pocket v
eto" a state senate bill, it's because he had signed an earlier, similar bill th
at had originated in the House.
Santa Fe city council has again postponed a vote on a new telecommunications ord
inance to govern how communications systems are installed inside city limits. Co
uncilors Miguel Chavez and Patti Bushee called for the proposal to be open to mo
re discussion. It won't come up again for another two months. But they will try
to find ways for more public hearings on the question. Santa Fe doesn't have an
ordinance covering telecommunications and several companies are asking to instal
l a variety of different kinds of systems.
There's a report that a former employee of Santa Fe's Center for Contemporary Ar
ts may have embezzled money from the organization. According to today's New Mexi
can, CCA has filed a report with the city police department over the matter. The
report of the alleged financial irregularities comes a few months after CCA ann
ounced it was close to shutting down operations because of a shortage of funds.
Donors stepped up to provide interim financing.
The Iconic New Mexico chili could be in trouble. That's the conclusion of resear
chers attending the New Mexico Food Summit underway in Santa Fe. The centerpiece
of the summit is a project called Dreaming New Mexico, which was created by the
nonprofit Bioneers. One of the reports issued by the project suggests that chil
i farming in New Mexico is in danger because international competitors using les
s expensive labor.
A few lingering snow showers this morning. Look for highs in the 40s. Sunny and
clear for Friday and Saturday with highs in the 50s.