Bill allocates funds for session expenses
SANTA FE — The House has approved a measure providing $5 million for expenses of the Legislature’s 30-day session.
The measure cleared the House on a unanimous vote Wednesday after partisan sparring over redistricting.
Republicans tried unsuccessfully to block the Legislature from spending money on an appeal of a court-ordered plan for drawing new boundaries of House districts.
The bill goes to the Senate for consideration.
The measure allocates money for session expenses, including salaries of staff, printing of bills and a $154-a-day expense reimbursement for legislators, who do not receive a salary.
The bill also provides more than $14 million for year-round legislative operations, including the Legislative Council Service, which is the Legislature’s bill-drafting and administrative arm.
Lauded filmmaker takes job in Santa Fe
SANTA FE — Native American filmmaker Chris Eyre has been appointed chairman of Santa Fe University of Art and Design’s film department.
He’ll take over the New Mexico school’s Moving Image Arts Department on Feb. 1.
Eyre directed “Smoke Signals,” which won a Sundance Audience Award and the Sundance Filmmakers Trophy. His television and film work has won numerous awards, including a Peabody and an Emmy.
His latest film, “Hideaway,” starring Josh Lucas and James Cromwell, is due for release in May.
Eyre got his start under Robert Redford and his Sundance Institute Directors Lab. Redford says Eyre’s “influence on a new generation of storytellers will be significant.”
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Eyre is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes of Oklahoma and currently lives in South Dakota.
Police: Drunk mom put child in danger
LAS CRUCES — A New Mexico woman has been indicted after police said she made her daughter with special needs pretend to drive while she was being stopped on suspicion of drunken driving.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that a Doña Ana County grand jury indicted 32-year-old Reyna Guadalupe Quintana last week on charges of drunken driving, negligent child abuse, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
According to court documents, police stopped Quintana in December for swerving and driving her minivan 40 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Documents said police found “a young female” at the wheel who later told police that her mother asked her to jump on the driver’s seat because she did not want to get arrested.
It was unclear if Quintana had an attorney.
Crews begin cleanup of old asbestos sites
ALBUQUERQUE — The removal of asbestos-contaminated soil has begun at two Albuquerque sites where insulating materials were manufactured from the 1960s through the 1980s.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that both sites received and processed tons of asbestos-tainted vermiculite, a mineral used in insulation, fireproofing materials and potting soil.
Crews on Tuesday began removing the first of up to 5,000 cubic yards of soil from the former Silico Inc. plant.
The Environmental Protection Agency says work began Saturday at a smaller site where contractors must remove an estimated 1,000 cubic yards of soil from the yard of an occupied home and two vacant houses.
That site is the former location of the Southwest Vermiculite Co.
Both removal projects are expected to be completed next month.
Police: Man threw puppy at officers
ALBUQUERQUE — An Albuquerque man is facing animal cruelty charges after police said he tossed a puppy in the air to get back at the police.
KRQE-TV reports that Basilio Gavilan was arrested early Monday at an Albuquerque motel following a disturbance call. Police said they found a drunk Gavilan violating the hotel’s no alcohol policy.
According to a criminal complaint, police told Gavilan that he needed to pack up and get out. Police said that’s when he picked up his Chinese Shar-Pei named Bongo, brought the weeks-old puppy up to his arm level, and threw him up in the air.
Authorities said the puppy fell on his head.
Police said Bongo is doing well and may be put up for adoption.
It was unclear if Gavilan had an attorney.
