Monday's headlines
Parents
question
boundary
proposals
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Parents got another chance to question proposed boundary changes for elementary and middle schools in Rio Rancho on Monday, expressing particular concerns about new schools being opened and the use of portable buildings.
The daytime forum was delayed almost a week after weather conditions forced the district to cancel classes and reschedule other activities last Tuesday. The district did go ahead with a forum that evening but wanted to offer a setting for input during the day.
Ironically, it began to snow Monday morning as well.
A handful of parents attended both sessions, and only one man raised his hand when asked if anyone present had particular concerns about middle schools.
Click here for more of this story.
Sunday's headlines
Columnist joins The SCORE
Click here for details.
Giants win
Super Bowl
GLENDALE, Ariz. - Eli Manning hit Plaxico Burris with the game-winning 14-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left as the New York Giants stunned New England 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, ending the Patriots run at a perfect season.
Manning, voted the game's most valuable player a year after his brother won the award in guiding Indianapolis to the NFL title, took the Giants on an 11-ply, 83-yard drive after the Patriots had regained the lead earlier in the fourth quarter.
New York's rally was the third lead change in the fourth quarter, a Super Bowl record.
Click here for more of this story.
Clinton, governor
will be watching
Super Bowl game
together Sunday
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Former President Bill Clinton will spend part of his Sunday watching the Super Bowl with Gov. Bill Richardson, no doubt trying to an endorsement for his wife's campaign as well.
The story, first reported by CNN, was confirmed Saturday night by none other that Hillary Clinton at a rally at Highland High School in Albuquerque.
In acknowledging various officials at the top of her speech, Clinton made a public play for Richardson's endorsement and confirm the report.
"I want to here in New Mexico acknowledge and thank for a lifetime of public service one of the most extraordinary Americans, your governor, Bill Richardson," Clinton said to a packed house of about 6,000 crammed in the Highland gym. "Tomorrow my husband will be here to watch the Super Bowl with Bill."
Any speculation that Mrs. Clinton might join the men was also dealt with at the top of the speech.
"And my understanding is do not get between Bill Clinton and Bill Richardson and the TV set when the Super Bowl is on."
Media traveling with the campaign said it was moving on to St. Louis on Saturday night, presumably for a campaign stop before moving on to Minneapolis, where reporters were going to get to watch the game on television.
A few minutes later, an elderly woman about four rows from the front collapsed, apparently brought on by heat exhaustion in the jam-packed rooms augmented by special television lights. Clinton never paused in making remarks but acknowledged the situation and explained to the rest of the crowd what was happening.
The woman was assisted from the gym by paramedics already on standby at the scene. There was no immediate report on the woman's condition.
OPINION/ANALYSIS
On the trail
before the caucus
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Four campaign visits in three days for two candidates leaves one tired publisher/photographer/reporter with some impressions before Tuesday’s presidential caucus vote in New Mexico.
Millions of miles are being logged and millions of dollars are being spent on a public interview for one of the worst jobs in the world. Given today’s economic woes and threats from international terrorism, just to name two, who in their right mind would want to be President of the United States?
Illinois Sen. Barak Obama does. He was in downtown Albuquerque on Friday, a day after Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy was in town on behalf of the candidate.
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton Bill Clinton, made an appearance on her behalf at Johnson Center on the University of New Mexico does. She is scheduled to be at Highland High School at 8 p.m. tonight, two days after her husband, former President campus.
Click here for photos and more of this story.
Streaky Scorpions
win 2nd straight
They're back on a roll again.
The New Mexico Scorpions defeated the Austin Icebats 4-3 in a Central Hockey League game to complete a weekend sweep of the visitors.
The Scorpions snapped a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over Austin. Before that disappointing run, New Mexico had won eight straight games.
The victory gave the Scorpions points in six consecutive home games.
MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY.
Friday's headlines
Scorpions end
losing streak
The New Mexico Scorpions ended a four-game losing streak Friday night, beating Austin 1-0 in a Central Hockey League game Friday night at the Santa Ana Star Center.
Click here for more of this story.
Obama brings message to NM
Clinton scheduled to visit
Albuquerque on Saturday
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Illinois Sen. Barak Obama brought his message of change to Albuquerque on Friday, attracting approximately 6,000 supporters to an economic forum.
An estimated 2,200 people plus media heard the forum in person in the 2,300-seat Kiva Auditorium. Another 2,000 were divided between two overflow rooms and an estimated 1,500 stood outside in the city plaza in hopes of getting a glimpse of the candidate, which happened when Obama appeared briefly before his scheduled event.
Meanwhile, the campaign staff of his only rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, announced she will appear at Highland High School on Saturday at 8 p.m.
A web report indicated that Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, would spend Super Bowl Sunday in northern New Mexico with Gov. Bill Clinton, who spent nearly a year on the presidential campaign trail. Observers are waiting to see if Richardson might endorse a candidate before Tuesday's caucus or if he will stay quiet in hopes of a position with the eventual nominee.
MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY
SAD-7 vote
likely to be
delayed
At least 3 councilors support mayor's plan
for 60-day wait
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Three city councilors have told they agree with Mayor Mike Williams that Special Assessment District 7 should be delayed for 60 days
Councilors Fay Davis, Delma Petrulo and Marilyn Salzman said they all agree with the mayor, who announced that the next step on the controversial $70 million project should be postponed while the city looks at possibly scaling down the plan and seeks additional revenue sources.
Councilor Larry Naranjo has said he believes the project should be reevaluated but the vote should proceed. Councilor Howard Balmer has said he does not favor a delay, and councilor Patty Thomas has not returned repeated calls seeking comment.
Even if all three of the other councilors were to vote against a delay, the mayor breaks ties on city council votes.
MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY.
THRILL OF A LONG LIFETIME: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., visits with 93-year-old Myrtle Smith of Albuquerque on Thursday. The driver of Kennedy's SUV allowed Smith to sit inside it to avoid nasty winds while waiting to meet the Senator, who spoke at the National Hispanic Cultural Center urging voters to support Sen. Barak Obama in Tuesday's New Mexico Democratic Presidential Caucus.
Candidates make
last-ditch efforts
to woo Dem voters
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Depending on where you live in New Mexico, first she was and then she wasn’t – or vice versa.
Confusion continued into Friday morning on where and when Sen. Hillary Clinton will appear in the state in her effort to secure votes in the New Mexico Democratic Caucus.
One thing’s for certain: Her only rival for the nomination, Sen. Barak Obama of Illinois, will be speaking at 1:15 p.m. at the Kiva Auditorium inside the Albuquerque Convention Center.
Las Cruces-based political blogger Heath Haussamen reported early Thursday evening that he had been told by Clinton campaign officials would be making an appearance in Las Cruces on Saturday. He later retracted that statement from his site and reported that Clinton would be making a campaign stop in Albuquerque instead.
Neither story included detail of the stop.
Early in the day, Las Cruces seemed to be the likely stop. While waiting outside Johnson Center on the University of New Mexico campus before entering to hear a speech by former President Bill Clinton on behalf of his wife, state party spokesman Matt Farrauto was asked if it would make sense for Hillary Clinton to appear in the southern part of the state because her husband, Obama and Sen. Ted Kennedy would all visit Albuquerque in a 30-hour time frame while no one had been to Las Cruces.
"That's very perceptive," Farrauto said, which is about as close as a political operative will get before an official announcement is made.
MORE TO COME ON THIS STORY
Wednesday's headlines
Mayor wants
60-day delay
on SAD vote
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Mayor Mike Williams called on city councilors to delay their next vote on Special Assessment District 7 for 60 days in order for the city to "take a step back" and evaluate the controversial $70 million project.
"We need to sit down and reevaluate it," Williams said. "We need to listen to city management and to listen to the city engineers, because they have come up with some other ideas.
"We need to take a step back and slowly do this because this is a big area. Do we need to do it all right now, or should we deal with the issue at hand - the 2006 floods?
"This will give us more time for the engineers to do an investigation and a good report, and also give us more time to talk to our constituents and see what their wishes are. It will also give us time to see if there is any state funding available."
According to the city's web link on the SAD: "As part of their regular meeting (on Feb 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall) the Governing Body will consider the report and recommendations prepared by Wilson and Company, Inc. This report will provide written responses to protests, comments, and suggestions received during the protest period and at the Benefit Hearing including any recommendations. Similar questions asked as part of the Benefit Hearing process will be grouped together and provided as one answer.
"The Governing Body will take a vote to confirm the boundaries and improvements that are to be included as part of the proposed SAD 7 at this meeting. This vote may incorporate changes resulting from the Benefit Hearing. This would be adoption of Special Assessment Resolution 3 – in accordance with state law – and also directs the city to proceed with bidding for the construction for the SAD 7 improvements and the development of funding alternatives."
Click here for more of this story.
Democrats
making push
in hopes of caucus votes
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
The battle for votes in Tuesday's Democratic Caucus continues to escalate as Democratic heavyweights, both literally and figuratively will be making campaign appearances in Albuquerque over the next two days.
In attempt to get a jump on the media game, the Barak Obama campaign announced that Sen. Edward Kennedy will speak at 10 a.m. today at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The veteran Massachusetts senator and former presidential candidate announced Monday that he is supporting the Illinois senator's bid for the White House.
That announcement came after the Hillary Clinton campaign announced that her husband, former President Bill Clinton will be speaking at 3 p.m. today at Johnson Center on the University of New Mexico campus.
All of this precedes a visit by Obama himself at 1:15 p.m. at the Kiva Auditorium in the Albuquerque Convention Center. Obama will also make a stop in Santa Fe later Friday.
The doors will be open two hours in advance of the Clinton and Obama events.
Hillary Clinton is expected in the state on Saturday, three days before the "Super Tuesday," showdown where 22 primaries and caucus events will be contested nationally.
The race further narrowed on Wednesday when former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards suspended his campaign.
Rio Rancho Democrats will cast their ballots at Rio Rancho High School. For other caucus locations in the county, click here.
Machines
certified
for election
Voting machines for the March 4 Rio Rancho municipal election, with one candidate expressing concern that one machine repeatedly jammed up when test ballots were fed to it.
Sandoval County Bureau of Elections officials subsequently replaced the machine after Todd Hathorne, a candidate for City Council District 6, expressed concerns. Hathorne, who lost by one vote in his bid for the seat four years ago, was the only candidate present to watch the certification.
After the certification, the county released the specific location of polling places. Due to growth in the area, District 6 voters will now cast ballots in four different locations compared to one in previous elections.
Click here for complete polling locations and other information about the March 4 election.
Monday's headlines
Bill, Barak
coming to
New Mexico
Presidential candidates
skipping Sandoval County
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife’s chief political rival, Sen. Barak Obama, will be making visits to New Mexico this week.
But again it’s close but no cigar for Rio Rancho, the state's third largest city, and Sandoval County.
Clinton, representing his wife Hillary’s presidential campaign, will speak at a “Solutions for America” event Thursday at Johnson Center on the University of New Mexico, according to a handout distributed at the Sandoval County Democratic Club’s meeting Tuesday night. The doors open at 2:30 p.m. and no tickets are required.
Meanwhile, a campaign worker for Obama ironically named Hillary told visitors at the same meeting that the candidate would make appearances in the Duke City and in Santa Fe on Friday, though no details have been confirmed.
Both visits were later confirmed by e-mail from the campaigns.
Don’t look for any of the top Democrats to make a stop in the state’s third largest city before the Feb. 5 Democratic caucus.
“We tried to get them here,” said Jim Moran, chairman of the Sandoval County Democratic Party. “We just couldn’t work it out.”
The New Mexico Democratic Caucus is actually conducted like a presidential primary election where voters go to the polls for their choice. Republicans will conduct their presidential primary as part of the state-wide primary in early June.
Rio Rancho has never had a presidential campaign tour stop. Vice President Dick Cheney spoke to supporters at the Rio Rancho Mid-High in 2004 while campaigning for reelection.
One could argue the city has never had a presidential visit, either. President George Bush participated in a forum at Intel in February 2006, but the factory is technically on Sandoval County property, not city land.
Public forum rescheduled
for Monday
due to snow
Weather may delay boundary changes
for one week
By Eric Maddy
The SCORE
The public will get a second chance to comment on proposed boundary changes for elementary schools in the Rio Rancho district.
A morning public session was canceled Tuesday, along with all classes in the district, after snow hit the area overnight. About 25 parents joined school officials for an evening session at Rio Rancho Mid-High, but about half of them indicated they had planned to attend the morning session.
With that show of hands, school officials hastily huddled as the meeting broke in small discussion groups and decided to reschedule a daytime presentation Monday at 10 a.m. at Enchanted Hills Elementary. The only possible hitch is if Enchanted Hills’ facilities are already scheduled for an in-school activity.
Recommendations from that public gathering and Tuesday evening’s meeting would then likely be presented to the 63-member school boundary committee on Tuesday, Feb. 5. The school board would then consider the committee's report at its Feb. 11 meeting.
The district had hoped to complete the process in time for its Feb. 5 board meeting, which had been pushed back for the funeral of board member Margaret Terry's daughter.
If the likely schedule holds, the Feb. 11 meeting could deal with two issues of great public interest. In addition to boundary changes, the board is expected to consider new high school graduation requirements that would go with a new high school bell schedule that would end block classes.
Click here for more of this story.
Scorpions drop
4th straight
Tyler Liebel's goal with 1:05 left in overtime gave the visiting Arizona Sundogs a 2-1 victory over the New Mexico Scorpions in Central Hockey League play Tuesday night.
It was New Mexico's fourth straight loss after an eight-game winning streak.
Click here for more of this story.