Senate OKs bill axing capital projects

The state Senate has approved a proposal to cancel thousands of capital improvement projects to free up $150 million to improve the state's finances.

Supporters say the bill is needed to replenish the state's cash reserves, which have been depleted because of recent budget shortfalls.

The measure, SB 182, passed the Senate on a 36-4 vote. It heads to the House for consideration.

The bill eliminates money for more than 2,000 projects financed out of the state's main budget account and with bond proceeds.

Sen. Carlos Cisneros, a Questa Democrat, told his colleagues that lawmakers will be forced to cut spending or raise taxes if the capital projects aren't eliminated.

House votes to boost taxes on businesses

The House has approved a proposal to raise taxes on businesses to shore up the program that provides unemployment benefits to New Mexicans who lose their jobs.

The unemployment insurance trust fund will run out of money by next year because of increasing claims by jobless workers. The fund is financed by taxes on employers.

The House unanimously approved a bill Saturday to boost taxes on businesses by $20 million.

The legislation also transfers $100 million from a reserve account to help rebuild the unemployment fund.

Supporters of the bill said if no action is taken by the Legislature, then taxes on employers will automatically go up by $200 million next year to ensure there's enough money in the unemployment fund to cover claims.

Storm system may bring more snow

Yet another significant storm system will move into New Mexico from the West today and impact the state through Monday, said Ken Widelski of the National Weather Service.

This storm system will be a bit colder than the last one, with the potential for significant snowfall accumulations across much of the western, central and northern high terrain.

Heavy mountain snow, especially above 7,500 feet, is expected with the highest totals likely over the San Juan, Jemez and Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Several inches of snow also will occur over much of the northeast plains, which will likely cause extensive travel complications once again.

Snow will intensify in coverage and rate across the northeast plains (along and north of Interstate 40) later today and into Monday, with several inches of snow accumulating — and 1 to 3 inches expected in Santa Fe.

The snow will taper off later Monday, with some light snow showers or flurries lingering over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and northeast plains.

SFCC to brief Rancho Viejo residents

Santa Fe Community College will host a meeting for residents of Rancho Viejo at 6 p.m. Thursday in the SFCC Board Room to brief residents on current and planned building projects and share neighborhood concerns.

SFCC President Sheila Ortego and other campus administrators will give a presentation and then take questions about the campus, traffic, planning and other issues.

Development plan ready for review

The latest version of Santa Fe County's Sustainable Land Development Plan is available for public review.

The plan, which will govern the pace and pattern of growth in the county over the next 20 years or so, is being considered by the County Development Review Committee.

The committee will hold two public hearings on the document — one on Feb. 18 and one on Feb. 25 — before making a recommendation on the plan and forwarding it on to the County Commission for approval. Both public hearings will start at 6 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at 102 Grant Ave.

The plan can be reviewed on the county's Web site at www.santafecounty.org, at the county offices at 102 Grant Ave., at county satellite offices throughout the county, and at public libraries in Santa Fe. Hard copies of the plan can be purchased for about $20 per copy.

County staff will also hold meetings with groups over the next few months. Anyone interested in participating in those meetings should call Melissa Holmes at 995-2717 or e-mail msholmes@santafecounty.org.; or Robert Griego at 986-6215 or rgriego@santafecounty.org.

3 die as planes collide in Colo.

DENVER — An airplane towing a glider and another plane collided in Colorado, sending the two planes crashing into the ground and killing at least three people Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

One of the aircraft clipped the towline of the plane that was pulling the glider, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Laura Brown said. The glider apparently disconnected and landed safely a short time later, according to the FAA.

An amateur video shot at the scene showed a plane tumbling to the ground trailing thick, black smoke and a parachute.

One witness, Christian Sterner, said he saw two big balls of flames, including one attached to a parachute that fell slowly to the ground.

Other witnesses reported smoldering wreckage in at least three areas on the prairie north of Boulder, which sits at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Aquina Rogers, a worker at a storage facility in the area, said she could see a wing in one of the wreckage fields.

The three dead came from both of the planes that crashed, Boulder County Sheriff's Office spokesman Rick Brough said. Authorities we're trying to confirm how many people were flying in the planes.

Officials dismantle tent cities

State police, with the help of the Department of Transportation and the Mid-Region Council of Governments, began the process of dismantling three "tent cities" erected by homeless campers along the Rail Runner tracks in Albuquerque on Friday morning.

Lt. Eric Garcia said a total of about 25 people in the makeshift dwellings on both sides of the tracks were handed flyers directing them to find lodging in nearby shelters, at least one of which was in walking distance.

Garcia said the goal is relocate the homeless from their camps in the rail right-of-way and ensure they can find shelter before any of them die from exposure.

The program is being expanded to all of Bernalillo County, Garcia said.




© Copyright The Santa Fe New Mexican. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.