New Mexico Independent: Stories by Barbara Armijo

School first, driving second

Barbara Armijo — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:23:23 GMT

Under an initiative unveiled last week by Gov. Bill Richardson, beginning next year, students who are eligible for their learner's permit at age 15 will have to prove they are proficient in reading and math in eighth grade and then when they move on to high school they must have at least a 90 percent attendance rate in ninth grade before they can get a driver's license.

McDisappointed; Walsh Postpones Visit

Barbara Armijo — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:51:34 GMT

Sorry "Gray’s Anatomy" and actress Kate Walsh fans, but the special Kelly’s Brewpub visit to support presidential candidate Barack Obama has been postponed, said State Rep. Al Park (D-Albuquerque).

Reading, writing and financial literacy

Barbara Armijo — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:14:47 GMT

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish wants to require high school students to take a financial literacy course in order to graduate.

A label that hurts

Barbara Armijo — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

If you live in one of three ZIP codes in Rio Rancho, expect for it to be harder to sell your house. The three ZIP codes have been hit with an unwanted designation: declining market, which means higher interest rates and loan fees for buyers. And if it's happening in Rio Rancho, Albuquerque may be next, one realtor said.

NEA estimates McCain pricetag

Barbara Armijo — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:30:00 GMT

Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day, and that's great for this year. But a report out by the National Education Association (NEA) asserts there will be less to appreciate about next year if John McCain is elected president.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

Barbara Armijo — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:50:37 GMT

Here's a summary of today's news from several New Mexico media outlets and newspapers.

A Chihuahua movie: What is Disney thinking?

Barbara Armijo — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:30:00 GMT

Disney is set to release a stereotype-ridden animated movie called "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" in September. See what Albuquerque-born author Alisa Valdes Rodriguez thinks about it and give us your opinion.

Otero County Sheriff Department forced to change policies

Barbara Armijo — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:57:03 GMT

A landmark settlement with the Otero County Sheriff’s Department and some Chaparral, N.M., families last month could change the way other border-town law enforcement agencies do business.

Marc Schiff, Part II

Barbara Armijo — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan sees some eerie similarities between cost-overruns at the new Fire Department training academy under construction and the city's budget-bloating balloon park and museum.

Schiff No Newcomer to City Contracts

Barbara Armijo — Tue, 13 May 2008 18:35:20 GMT

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez and high-profile architect Marc Schiff, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud charges in one of the largest public corruption investigations in New Mexico history, were "cut from the same mold" and that meant special access to millions of dollars worth of city projects, according to an investigation by Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Eileen Welsome.

Welsome's account of just how close Chavez and Schiff were, and how lucrative that relationship was for Schiff, was released Friday by the Center for Civic Policy. The report centers on Schiff's work with the Albuquerque Balloon Park and Museum -- a contract that inflated Schiff's original contract of about half a million dollars to about $6.7 million over the last 12 years.

Who Is Calling, Please?

Barbara Armijo — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:31:13 GMT

Seems several people, myself included, are getting telemarketing calls from the number (617) 245-9602 lately. My caller ID says the call originates from IRI, and the telemarketer asks for donations for the Obama campaign.

That's all fine and well, except for one thing. The Obama camp doesn't know anything about it.

Gay marriage affirmed in California

Trip Jennings, Barbara Armijo — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:56:41 GMT

The California Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry, leading supporters in the Golden State to celebrate a victory in a long-fought battle.

Supporters of domestic partnerships legislation here in New Mexico said they hoped to convert some of that same optimism to fuel their years-long push for domestic partnerships legislation.

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

Denise Tessier, Barbara Armijo — Fri, 16 May 2008 14:37:35 GMT

KOB-TV is following an Associated Press report in Albuquerque about Highland High School's principal and two counselors put on leave after the suicide of a senior who was not allowed to graduate with his class.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that the woman acquitted of charges she sold beer to Dana Papst, the drunken driver who went on to kill a family of five and himself in a head-on crash in 2006, pleaded guilty to drunken driving Thursday.

Las Cruces Sun-News reports out of El Paso that a federal court set a detention and bond hearing May 19 for an El Paso sector Border Patrol agent who was indicted on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to smuggle undocumented immigrants.

Huckabee's Careless Remark

Barbara Armijo — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:44:16 GMT

CNN is reporting that during a speech before the National Rifle Association this afternoon in Louisville, Ky., former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman.

“That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak,” said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. “Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor.”

Horrifying.

It is a joke in bad taste. It is also making light of what some consider a dangerous possibility in this historic election year.

Blogging the DNC

Barbara Armijo — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:00:00 GMT

Droves of bloggers have signed up to cover the August Democratic National Convention in Denver, prompting organizers to get a handle on who will be reporting, said Aaron Myers, Director of Online Communications for the 2008 Democratic National Convention Committee.

Bloggers are just one group of journalists represented at the Convention, and they aren't new to the gig. However, in 2004, only 30 bloggers were credentialed, Myers said