Judge won't bar use of electronics

A judge has reaffirmed her decision not to issue a preliminary injunction to bar Arthur Firstenberg's neighbor from using electronic devices in her home, but the judge again declined to dismiss Firstenberg's lawsuit.

Firstenberg claims that because he is extraordinarily sensitive to electromagnetic signals, his health is damaged by Raphaela Monribot's use of an iPhone, a Wi-Fi system and other electronic devices.

His complaint against Monribot and the owner of her west-side house, Robin Leith, made national headlines earlier this year.

In orders issued Thursday, state District Judge Sarah Singleton said no hearing is necessary on Firstenberg's motion for an injunction. An affidavit from Olle Johansson, head of Experimental Dermatology Unit at the Korolinska Institute of Stockholm, Sweden, regarding Firstenberg's "electrohypersensititivty," does not change the judge's previous ruling, Singleton wrote.

But Singleton also turned down Monribot's motion to dismiss the complaint, so the case will progress toward a trial. No dates have been set.

Udall begins his own television show

He's been a state attorney general, a congressman and a U.S. senator. And now, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is talk show host.

Udall on Monday launched The Udall Update, a 30-minute video series about his work in the Senate. The show is available to public-access stations across the state.

The first episode of the show features an interview with the state's U.S. House delegation as well as an interview with retiring Mothers Against Drunk Driving CEO Chuck Hurley and a segment about clean-energy opportunities in New Mexico.

In each episode, a segment called "Sensible Solutions" will look at specifics pieces of legislation Udall has worked on, while in "Tom's Inbox" the senator answers questions from constituents.

The Udall Update can be seen at http://tomudall.senate.gov/TV.

Power outage frustrates World Cup fans

More than 1,000 households in Eldorado lost power Sunday at 12:11 p.m., minutes before the World Cup final.

PNM said Monday that the problem was traced to an underground switch, which will be replaced this week. Meanwhile, power was rerouted.

Of the 1,093 homes affected, 934 got power back at 4:52 p.m., long after Spain's victory, and the other 159 customers not until a couple of hours later, at 7:05 p.m. In addition to the disappointed fans — some of whom listened to the game on car radios — a number of people who were away from home when the lights went out were unable to get back into their homes. Many residents come and go through their electrically operated garage doors, which cannot be unlocked from the outside.

City announces water shut-offs

City water will be shut off in parts of southern Santa Fe from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday so crews can replace two water main valves.

According to a city news release, water will be shut off on Alamosa Drive between Calle la Resolana and Santa Clara Drive and on Siringo Road between Calle de Sueños and La Junta.

The shutoff will affect residences on Calle de Sueños, Calle Margarita and Camino del Gusto, the release said.

Española bridge work to affect traffic

ESPAÑOLA — One lane of Española's Oñate Street Bridge will be closed today while crews make repairs, the New Mexico Department of Transportation said.

The agency said the eastbound lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Boy's body recovered at Storrie Lake

A state police dive team over the weekend recovered the body of Louis Lucero, 13, of Las Vegas, N.M.

Lucero had gone missing while swimming with friends at the lake, according to Lt. Eric Garcia of state police.

Lucero apparently reached the lake from private property and had not been in Storrie Lake State Park, north of Las Vegas, according to officials.

Garcia said the body was found Saturday afternoon, some distance from where the boy had been swimming.

Train excursion planned for Saturday

The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum and Rail Runner Express are teaming up to offer a special excursion Saturday. The museum is celebrating its 13th anniversary and the commuter train its fourth.

Tickets on the O'Keeffe Express are $50 each and include a seat on a designated railcar (to and from Santa Fe), a docent presentation onboard about the artist's first visit to New Mexico by train, a shuttle ride from the depot to the museum, entrance to the new Abstraction exhibition, a courtyard reception including soda, water, beer and wine and a special gift bag that includes a coffee mug, museum discounts and more.

To order tickets go to www.nmrailrunner.com or call 988-1234.

Bat Flight Breakfast offered at Carlsbad

Early risers can head down to Carlsbad Caverns for the 53rd annual Bat Flight Breakfast on Saturday and get a chance to see bats returning to the cave after spending the night feeding on insects.

A National Park Service announcement said the $7 breakfast, beginning at 5 a.m. at the Visitors Center, includes a burrito with eggs, sausage, potatoes and cheese, or a yogurt and granola parfait, accompanied by orange juice, apple juice, coffee or canned soda.

The first 120 visitors to arrive will have the opportunity to participate in one of two lantern-guided tours of the cavern's natural entrance trail, starting at 6:30 and 7 a.m. The tour follows a steep route, so participants should be in good physical condition.

There is no charge for watching the bats, but no cameras will be allowed in the bat flight amphitheater. At 7 a.m., rangers will demonstrate vertical caving techniques by rappelling over the lip of the cave entrance.

Visitors arriving before 7 a.m. for the breakfast will receive free admission to self-guided tours of the cavern for the day. For more information, call Carlsbad Caverns National Park at 575-785-2232.

Poets plan pencil-passing ceremony

Joan Logghe officially becomes Santa Fe's next poet laureate at 7 p.m. July 19, when she accepts a giant yellow pencil on the Plaza bandstand from Valerie Martinez, who has held the position for the last two years.

Kathleen McCloud, an artist with the Ernesto Mayans Gallery on Canyon Road, produced the giant yellow pencil, a sculpture titled Future, says a city news release.

Logghe and Martinez each will read one poem. Bass player Freebo will perform during the ceremony.

Logghe, who lives in La Puebla, also is scheduled to read from her work at 7 p.m. July 27 at the Abiquiú Inn. At 6 p.m. Sept. 15, she will read with Alvaro Cardona-Hine at Collected Works in Santa Fe.

Find new friend at kitten festival

A good thing is hard to stop. That's what the folks at Española Valley Humane Society think about the Santa Fe Kitten Festival, an annual event that keeps getting bigger.

Organizers hope to make this year's event even more successful with lots of freebies for those attending the festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 24-25 at the Petco store on Cerrillos Road.

Nina Chiotasso, who handles the shelter's community relations, hopes to break an adoption record and save as many as 100 feline lives.

"A tidal wave of tiny felines have already swept over the shelter, and the staff is barely able to keep their head above water," she said.

But the festival isn't just about cats. It's also about getting people set up for successful pet ownership. To that end, those who adopt one kitten for $35 or two for $50 get the following items and services for free: food, cat litter, a cat safety collar, a cat carrier, microchipping, a checkup from VCA-Arrighetti Animal Hospital and a month of feline Heartguard and Frontline.

Campaign staffer fired after DWI arrest

ALBUQUERQUE — Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez's campaign spokesman has been fired because he was arrested for drunken driving.

Martinez Campaign Manager Ryan Cangiolosi said Monday that communications director Raj Shah was fired on Sunday after his arrest in Albuquerque.

State police arrested Shah for aggravated drunken driving early Sunday, not long after midnight, according to a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety.

Shah, 25, had recently moved to New Mexico to join the Martinez campaign. He previously had worked on a campaign in Connecticut and the Republican National Committee.

The Martinez campaign announced at the end of June that Shah had been added to the campaign staff.

Health premiums rise for public retirees

The New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority has approved increases in the medical insurance premiums paid by retired governmental and educational workers.

The authority announced Friday the increases will average 8 percent and take effect in January 2011.

The authority offers several insurance plans and the premiums vary.

Rates for a 20-year retiree in the authority's top-of-the-line group health insurance plan will be about $216 a month. That's an increase of $16 a month.

A Medicare supplemental plan will cost about $132 a month — an increase of more than $9.

The authority is an independent agency providing health care coverage for 42,000 governmental retirees, their spouses and dependents.

Las Vegas may have overcharged school

LAS VEGAS, N.M. — A Las Vegas, N.M., university may have been overcharged by as much as $600,000 by the city because of a defective natural gas meter.

Las Vegas City Attorney Dave Romero told the city council that there was apparently a defective gas meter installed at a building at Highlands University in 2007. Because of a math error, the gas bills went from an average of $3,000 a month to $30,000.

The university didn't notice the jump in bills and paid them until around the beginning of this year.

University spokesman Sean Weaver said Highlands appreciates that the city is trying to resolve the problem.

Romero, the city attorney, says disclosing the problem was a matter of open government — "warts and all."

Chemical leak forces evacuations

FARMINGTON — About 20 people were forced to evacuate their homes in Farmington on Sunday night and dozens more ordered to stay inside after a chemical leak.

Farmington Fire Department battalion chief Troy Brown says 911 calls from residents complaining of eye, throat and lung irritation began coming in at about 5 p.m.

Firefighters found that about 1,200 gallons of high-strength hydrochloric acid had leaked from a holding tank at a nearby plant run by oilfield services company Schlumberger.

Fire crews first tried to dilute the acid with water, then realized there was too much and it was too strong for that to be effective. Eventually, they used a pump from the company to transfer the spilled liquid to another tank.

Brown says residents were able to return home after several hours and none required medical treatment.





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