TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Feds must help with public transit, group says.
The Albuquerque Journal's John Fleck over the weekend looked at the growth of the Albuquerque/Santa Fe corridor, what a new Brookings Institute report identifies as one of several rapidly growing "megapolitan" areas in the west that are increasing in national importance. But transportation infrastructure is a "key element" in helping the region begin "thinking and acting the part." The Brookings Institute report concludes that federal assistance is essential in order for the mountain west to build sufficient commuter rail networks.
The Alamagordo Daily News has an informative environmental health feature about the effects of formaldehyde poisoning. The formaldehyde "seeped" from the walls and floors of Andrea Mimms' new mobile home and over a six-month period caused her to become incredibly ill.
The state is privatizing Medicaid senior care dollars by contracting with two private HMO's, through which it believes it can cut state costs by up to 20 percent in three years. This will happen by handing over a set amount per person to one of two companies, who will "maximize efficiency in the system," according to the Rio Grande Sun. All people who qualify for nursing home care or home health care under Medicaid will automatically be enrolled.
The safety of deposits in small community banks was addressed over the weekend by the Independent Community Bankers of America. According to the Farmington Daily Times, the banking association released a statement calling the media "irresponsible" for their reports that are spreading "misinformation" about the state of the FDIC and the banking system. The group said such media reports "fuel unwarranted panic and fear," when in fact smaller community banks are well-capitalized and generally more risk averse than bigger banks.
A community meeting was held in Grants at which residents expressed frustration about the progress of the Homestake Mining uranium cleanup of contaminated water. From the report in the Cibola County Beacon, it sounds like state officials got an earful from property owners who can't sell their land at the same time they have health problems associated with the mine. One man threatened to contact Erin Brockovich or Julia Roberts if things don't change soon.
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