TODAY'S TOP STORIES: Lawmakers seek new oil and gas projections.
New natural gas and oil revenue projections are being sought by state Senate leaders, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Prices for natural gas and crude oil have fallen since last month on the New York Mercantile Exchange. According to the Journal: "If those prices remain steady, New Mexico's surplus revenue, which is largely dependent on oil and natural gas royalties, would end up being closer to $10 million than the $392 million that had been projected in July." The revenue projections will be updated during an August 12 meeting of selected state economists. The fate of the Gov. Bill Richardson's initiatives, including a comprehensive tax rebate, may be at stake.
A new war memorial is being contested by some veterans. The $300,000 monument makes connection between the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the events of Sept. 11. KOAT reports that some veterans are taking offense to the connection. According to the report, veteran Charles Powell stated, "We think we got involved in Iraq due to lies. We think we've continued to be there because of lies and it really troubles us that the city would put a put up a monument that would make that connection." Despite some debate between counselors, the city voted to fund the memorial.
Santa Fe County public-information officer Stephen Ulibarri has sent a memo to county staff informing them that they do not have to talk to the media. He warned that amid economic hard times, the media will be focusing more and more on government malfeasance, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. The paper reports that Ulibarri was prompted by reporters recently, "digging for stuff, digging around, searching for information about what was going on about everything in the county ... questioning every single thing beyond the norm." According to the article, when asked if the memo promoted a good working relationship with the press, County Commissioner Mike Anaya replied, "No, because he said you all are just looking for dirt, and that's not encouraging to work together."
Ulibarri, who's paid about $70,000 a year, said he had never seen a written description of his job, according to the report.
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