Jeff denies report of Capitol tiff

Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, on Wednesday denied a statement by Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, that Jeff assaulted her at the Capitol last week.

"These allegations by Rep. Lundstrom are untrue and I look forward to giving my side of the story in the appropriate venue," Jeff said in a brief telephone interview. She declined to elaborate or to say what the appropriate venue would be.

Lundstrom on Tuesday told a reporter that Jeff confronted her near a third-floor elevator Friday as she was leaving an Indian Affairs Committee meeting. Lundstrom said Jeff yelled at her, called her "some pretty rough names," then punched her in the arm to make her point.

Lundstrom reported the incident to police but said she doesn't intend to press criminal charges. Police will complete their investigation whether or not Lundstrom presses charges, Lt. Eric Garcia said.

Prukop to leave Richardson Cabinet

One of Gov. Bill Richardson's longest-serving Cabinet secretaries is leaving. The Governor's Office announced Wednesday that Joanna Prukop will retire from the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department on Dec. 31.

She will take an executive position with a new national conservation organization called Freedom to Roam.

"She will be missed," Richardson said in a news release, "but I wish her well in her new position where she will continue these same efforts on a larger scale."

Prukop has been secretary of the department since Richardson's first term began in 2003.

She will be replaced by Jon Goldstein, a former public information officer for Richardson who has been deputy secretary for two years. His prior experience includes two years covering business, politics and breaking news for the Baltimore Sun's Web site and two years as a technology reporter with Time magazine in New York.

LANL accepts monitoring proposal

Los Alamos National Laboratory will withdraw its opposition to a state Environment Department proposal to set numeric water quality standards for monitoring and reporting of radiological contaminants in the Rio Grande, downhill from the lab.

In a news release, the state agency said it developed the proposal in response to public concerns about health risks from possible radiological contaminants such as plutonium in river water that will be diverted for Santa Fe's regional water system by the Buckman Direct Diversion project.

The state Water Quality Control Commission is expected to act on the proposal early next year.

Johnson PAC launches Web site

Former Gov. Gary Johnson's new political committee, Our America, The Gary Johnson Initiative, is launching its Web site today.

The site ( http://ouramericainitiative.com) includes several videos featuring the former two-term Republican governor talking about issues including taxes, abortion, civil liberties, drugs, immigration, the environment and national defense.

The mission statement for the committee says it "seeks to broaden the parameters of the public policy debate of current topics in the national arena. We look to enlighten the population about civil liberties, free enterprise, limited government, and traditional American values. It is our aim to increase the amount of discussion and involvement regarding all-important issues."

Another video has a title using language favored by followers of libertarian Republican Ron Paul: "You say you want a revolution?" Johnson supported Paul's presidential bid last year.

A disclaimer on the site says, "Gary Johnson is not a current candidate for any federal political office."

New medical pot conditions studied

The state Department of Health's Medical Advisory Board on Friday will consider five new health conditions that could qualify patients for medical marijuana use.

The board will review petitions for the following conditions: hepatitis C (undergoing nonantiviral treatment), cluster headaches, ankylosing spodylitis (a chronic, inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune disease), bipolar disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, and blepharospasm (a neurological movement disorder that causes an abnormal contraction or twitch of the eyelid).

The board will make recommendations to Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil. If a condition is approved, anyone with that medical condition can apply to the Medical Cannabis Program.

To qualify, a patient must have a medical provider confirm that the patient has an eligible condition, that the condition is debilitating and that the use of medical marijuana would outweigh potential risk.

Friday's meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon in the Harold Runnels Building auditorium, 1190 St. Francis Drive.

Rufina meeting site changed

A public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. today regarding the Rufina Street connection between Harrison and Jorgensen roads will be held in the Santa Fe Trails conference room, 2931 Rufina St., instead of at Frenchy's Field Park, as had been previously advertised.

Plans for the connection, which will include new sidewalks, curbs and gutters, will be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting site was changed because plumbing problems at the building in Frenchy's Field Park.

For more information, contact Leann Valdez at the Engineering Division, 955-6931.

League to hear national leader

National League of Women Voters President Mary G. Wilson will speak at a Santa Fe County League of Women Voters holiday luncheon Dec. 16 in Santa Fe.

"I hope that anyone who is curious about the League of Women Voters or the work we do will join us or consider getting involved," Wilson said in a written statement.

The nonpartisan political organization encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy, according to the group's Web site.

The luncheon and a silent auction will begin at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at the Santa Fe Hilton, 100 Sandoval St.

The cost of the luncheon is $18, and reservations must be made no later than noon Friday by calling 982-9766 or e-mailing rsvp@lwvsfc.org. If e-mailing, indicate your preference for a vegetarian or nonvegetarian entree.

Children's Museum receives gift of art

Sandy Besser has given 32 pieces from the art collection he and his late wife, Diane, assembled to the Santa Fe Children's Museum.

The gift includes works in steel, burlap, paper and clay. There are three steel sculptures by Duane Harris — a goose, an ant and a penguin. The works, acquired between 1991 and 2007, have been installed throughout the museum and in the Earthworks outdoor exhibit space.

In a news release, Besser is quoted as saying that in selecting pieces for the museum, "I chose the ones that have some humor and that will cause the children to think."

The Bessers' collection includes extensive holdings in 20th-century drawings, tribal arts, contemporary Hispanic carvings, figurative ceramics, straw appliqué and sculptural teapots. There have been shows of pieces from the collection recently at the Museum of International Folk Art and the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture in Santa Fe.

JCPenney promo helping club

The Boys & Girls Club in Santa Fe has partnered with the local JCPenney in a fundraiser dubbed "Round-Up Holiday Purchases."

Through Sunday, JCPenney shoppers can round up their purchase amounts to the nearest whole dollar and ask to have the difference donated to the Boys & Girls Club.

Al Padilla, the club's chief professional officer, said the money will be used to support the organization's after-school programs.

"The availability of affordable after-school programs continues to be an important community objective in order to meet the needs of working families," Padilla said in a news release.

City OKs rebuilding in flood plains

More than 500 structures in federally defined flood plains throughout Santa Fe could be rebuilt there if damaged by a flood, after a unanimous vote Wednesday by the City Council.

Wendy Blackwell, the city flood-map coordinator, said the amendments to city land codes are aimed at making the law more reasonable to people who have structures in flood plains. Residents on Camino Pequeño, on the city's east side along the Santa Fe River, were particularly eager for the change, she said.

Blackwell said the city has prohibited new construction in flood plains for years, but many structures were built in flood plains before the Federal Emergency Management Administration issued the first flood maps for Santa Fe in 1980. The 2008 changes in the maps resulted in 504 nonconforming structures being identified, she said.

Council adopts limits on alcohol

The only city-owned properties where alcohol will be permitted are the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, the Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe golf course and the Santa Fe Municipal Airport, the City Council decided Wednesday.

Councilors formerly retained unlimited authority to permit alcohol sales and consumption on city property on a case-by-case basis. But a controversy arose this summer when alcohol was served at a park as part of a kickoff of the city's 400th anniversary.

The council adopted an ordinance sponsored by Mayor David Coss and Councilor Ronald Trujillo that restricts alcohol consumption and sales to those city properties, where alcohol has been served before.

Also exempt are buildings owned by other entities on city land (like many buildings on the Santa Fe Railyard, including El Museo Cultural) and city-owned buildings leased long term to other entities (such as Laureate Education Inc. on the College of Santa Fe campus).

Councilor Patti Bushee questioned the wisdom in allowing alcohol at the golf course and airport while banning it in parks and the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, but joined the other councilors in endorsing the ordinance unanimously.

Police seek three missing children

Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office detectives are looking for information regarding the whereabouts of three missing children from the Eldorado subdivision.

The children all attend El Dorado Elementary School and have been missing since Tuesday afternoon.

Authorities say the 10-year-old twin boys and 8-year-old girl were picked up for lunch by their father, who shares custody of the children with his ex-wife.

Johanna Hilla says when the three kids did not return home and Stephen Hilla did not try to contact her, she called authorities.

Authorities believe Stephen Hilla may be headed to his hometown of Wilmington, N.C.