Richardson plans office hours Thursday

For the first time in five months, Gov. Bill Richardson will hold open office hours on Thursday, allowing New Mexicans to talk to him directly about what they want in the upcoming Legislation session.

Richardson will grant five-minute meetings on a first-come, first-served basis 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday in the Governor's Office on the Fourth Floor of the State Capitol.

If an organization wants time with Richardson, he will meet with a representative or group of representatives at one time. He won't meet with registered lobbyists, anyone who has a formal grievance or lawsuit pending with the state or those who have met with him in the past six months.

Those seeking time with the governor must have a valid New Mexico driver's license with them. Those needing help resolving problems should bring the proper documentation.

Six apply for vacant judgeship

Six attorneys from Española, Santa Fe and Taos have applied to replace former state District Judge Tim Garcia, who was recently appointed to the state Court of Appeals.

Former Chief Deputy District Attorney A.J. Salazar, who lost the Democratic nomination for First Judicial District Attorney in June, applied for the job. Also throwing her name in the hat was Linda Martinez-Palmer, who served as the district domestic-relations hearing officer until late 2007, when she resigned.

Rounding out the list are Española attorney Sheri Raphelson, who does both criminal and civil law; Santa Fe attorney Paul D. Mannick, who does mainly civil work; Taos divorce lawyer Elizabeth Musselman; and Santa Fe and Pennsylvania corporate lawyer Nathaniel V. Thompkins.

The District Judicial Nominating Commission will meet at 9 a.m. Jan. 15 at the state District Court in Santa Fe, 100 Catron St., to evaluate the applicants. The meeting is open to the public, and those wishing to comment are asked to be present at the start, according to a news release. The district includes Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Los Alamos counties.

Faith communities plan peace rally

As reports surfaced that more than 40 Palestinians seeking shelter in a U.N. school in Gaza were killed by Israeli tank shells, local faith-community leaders were planning a peace rally in Santa Fe.

The Interfaith Leadership Alliance will sponsor the event at 1 p.m. Saturday on the Plaza. There will be opportunities for sharing prayers and thoughts for peace in the Middle East.

Santa Fe Opera needs extras

If you want to travel this summer without leaving Santa Fe, the Santa Fe Opera wants to hear from you. Three of the operas in the 2009 season require supernumeraries — extras, that is — and auditions will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 21 at Stieren Hall on the opera grounds.

The three operas are Donizetti's The Elixir of Love, set in a rural Italian farming community; Paul Moravec's The Letter, based on W. Somerset Maugham's play and set in early 20th-century Malaya; and Gluck's Acleste, set in mythological Greece. No singing is required, but an interest in music and theater is a plus. Participants will be paid.

The Elixir of Love needs adults to portray townspeople, men ages 20-40 to portray soldiers and children ages 5-10. Rehearsals begin June 8. Eight performances are scheduled: July 4, 10 and 15; and Aug. 6, 12, 20, 25 and 28.

The Letter seeks men ages 20-40 resembling Asian nationals. Rehearsals begin June 29. Six performances will be held: July 25, 29, Aug. 3, 7, 15 and 18.

For Alceste, children ages 8-9, teenagers 16-17 and adults 60-80 will be auditioned. Rehearsals begin July 6. Five performances are scheduled: Aug. 1, 5, 10, 14 and 19.

For more information or to schedule an audition, contact Christian Eckels, ceckels@santafeopera.org; or call 212-832-8757. Deadline for applications is Jan. 16.

Drug legalization measure rejected

EL PASO — Concerns about the bloody drug war being fought just across the Mexican border led to a short-lived resolution Tuesday asking the federal government to consider legalizing drugs.

Mayor John Cook vetoed the resolution hours after it was unanimously approved by the City Council.

Beto O'Rourke, an El Paso city councilman, pushed the resolution that asked the U.S. government to start an "open, honest, national dialogue on ending the prohibition of narcotics."

Cook called the request to look at legalizing drugs unrealistic and urged the council to adopt a broader resolution that looks for other solutions.

The nonbinding resolution suggested that legalizing drugs in the United States could help curb a volatile and bloody drug war that claimed nearly 1,600 lives in Ciudad Juárez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, in 2008. Thousands more were killed across Mexico.

Woman charged with embezzlement

CLOVIS — A 43-year-old Clovis woman faces 12 counts each of forgery and embezzlement after being accused of draining more than $13,000 from the bank accounts of disabled people.

Dawn Lebow was charged in a criminal complaint last week in magistrate court with taking money from clients of ENMRSH, a private company that provides services to disabled people who qualify for funding through the state Developmental Disability Support Division.

The complaint says $13,695 was taken between March 13 and June 1, when Lebow worked for New Mexico Bank and Trust. The bank says she's no longer employed there.

Sandia closes snow-play area

ALBUQUERQUE — Just a couple of weeks after opening the snow-play area on Sandia Crest east of Albuquerque, forest officials have been forced to close it.

Officials with the Cibola National Forest say they had to close the Capulin Snow Play area because warmer weather has melted snow and ice, creating dangerous conditions on the hill.

Two charged in woman's death

HOBBS — Two people face charges of murder, false imprisonment and tampering with evidence in the death of a woman in Hobbs.

Billy Maples, 34, of Carlsbad and Kaci Easter, 31, of Hobbs were arrested Monday afternoon in the death of the woman.

Hobbs Police Chief J.D. Sanders calls it a suspicious death.

Police identified the victim Tuesday as 26-year-old Jennifer Cox of Carlsbad.

Maples was arrested after a standoff Monday at the home where the body was found.

Maples and Easter were being held on $1 million bonds.