Roswell Daily Record
Obama unveils gun plan
Vol. 122, No. 15 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Conceding “this will be difficult,” President Barack Obama urged a reluctant Congress on Wednesday to require background checks for all gun sales and ban both military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines in an emotion-laden plea to curb gun violence in America.
AUTO INDUSTRY GIDDY
DETROIT (AP) — Maybe it was the brand new, bright red Chevrolet Corvette gleaming in one corner, or the elegant BMW coupe in the other. Maybe it was just the free-flowing espresso at nearly every stand. But car companies were positively giddy this week as the North American International Auto Show opened in Detroit. - PAGE B5
The president’s sweeping, $500 million plan, coming one month after the school massacre in Connecticut, marks the most comprehensive effort to tighten gun laws in nearly two decades. But his proposals, most of which are opposed
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 17, 2013
THURSDAY
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by the National Rifle Association, face a doubtful future in a divided Congress where Republicans control the House.
Seeking to circumvent at least some opposition, Obama signed 23 executive actions on Wednesday, including orders to make more federal data available for background checks and end a freeze on government research on gun violence. But he acknowledged that the steps he took on his own would have less impact than the broad measures requiring approval from Capitol Hill. “To make a real and lasting difference, Congress,
They look closer in winter
too, must act,” Obama said, speaking at a White House ceremony with school children and their parents. “And Congress must act soon.”
The president’s announcements capped a swift and wide-ranging effort, led by Vice President Joe Biden, to respond to the deaths of 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. But Obama’s gun control proposals set him up for a tough political fight with Congress as he starts his second ter m, when he’ll See OBAMA, Page A3
AP Photo
From left: Hinna Zeejah, 8, Taejah Goode, 10, Julia Stokes, 11, and Grant Fritz, 8, who wrote letters to President Barack Obama about the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., watch as the president signs executive orders outlining proposals to reduce gun violence, at the White House, Wednesday.
Virgin Galactic wants informed consent
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Salinas murder trial begins • Tim holds last meeting • 51st Legislature begins • Defense carries Roswell to 13-0 • Local briefs: Clovis tops Goddard
NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
INSIDE SPORTS
NM checkbook last State Legislature gets under way balanced in 2006 The Sierra Blancas glisten under clear, blue skies, Wednesday morning.
KELLY TURNS PRO
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In the end, Chip Kelly chose the NFL, giving the Eagles their guy. Philadelphia hired Kelly on Wednesday, just 10 days after he decided to stay at Oregon. The 49-year-old Kelly, known as an offensive innovator, becomes the 21st coach in team history and replaces Andy Reid, who was fired on Dec. 31 after a 4-12 season. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Astrid Holland • Darlene P. Rhodes • Robert John Ratigan • Virginia Harris • Deborah Hibbard • Virginia M. Parmley • A.J. Franklin • Joe P. Moreno Jr. • Ruth Louise Betzel - PAGE A6
HIGH ...53˚ LOW ....24˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
INDEX
Mark Wilson Photo
Virgin Galactic representatives are touring New Mexico this month in an effort to rally citizens to support legislation they believe is critical to the future of Spaceport America. Liability laws in New Mexico do not protect spaceflight manufacturers and suppliers from lawsuits, which has led many companies to look elsewhere for operations, according to Save Our
SANTA FE (AP) — State government hasn’t properly balanced its checkbook for more than six years, and officials in Republican Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration are warning lawmakers that New Mexico’s cash surplus is $70 million to $460 million less than what has been anticipated.
Officials stress there’s no immediate risk of New Mexico bouncing checks and being unable to pay its bills because of problems in the state’s computerized accounting system. However, New Mexico will have a smaller financial cushion in case of unexpected budget problems, and there’s less surplus cash to spend on one-time projects such as capital
improvements that the Legislature will consider during its 60-day session that started this week. It’s also likely the accounting discrepancies caused New Mexico to spend state tax dollars for some projects and programs in the past rather than tapping federal money that should have been used, according to state Controller Ricky Bejarano. “When you don’t reconcile your cash, you have no idea: ‘Is money missing? Did money not get deposited?’ It’s high risk,” Bejarano said in an interview Wednesday. As it stands now, the administration has adjust-
See CONSENT, Page A3
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
Legislators continued to settle into the 51st legislative session Wednesday, as both chambers heard bills introductions and the House of Representatives began committee assignments. Rep. William Gray, RArtesia, assigned to the Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriation and Finance committees, said that more than 120 bills had been introduced into the House so far. The House approved House Bill 1, known as the Feed Bill, which funds expenses during the session, and the Senate is expected to vote on the bill today.
Courtesy Photo
After being sworn into the state Senate Tuesday, Sen. Cliff Pirtle (center right) stands on the Senate floor with, from left, brother Ryan Pirtle, father Randy Pirtle, brother Jack Pirtle and wife Aysia Pirtle. In all, Pirtle said 22 family members joined him on his first day as a senator.
Rep. Bob Wooley, RRoswell, is pleased to be assigned to the Taxation and Revenue and Agricul-
ture and Water Resources committees. “Where we live is very
Harvey Salinas murder trial Day 2 Teen faces murder trial in foster mom’s killing JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The second day of the jury trial for Harvey Salinas began with a review of the crime scene investigation. Salinas is charged with second-degree murder for the July 6 shooting of Arnulfo Villela Jr. Crime Scene Technician Laverne Amir told the jury about processing the scene and locating the shell casings which stretched from 815 E. Hendricks to 827 E. Hendricks. She reported finding six 9 mm, six .40 caliber and four .22 shell casings, and two bullet fragments.
See CHECKBOOK, Page A3
Defense attorney Luke Ragsdale asked if the shell casings had been fingerprinted and the bullet fragments weighed to ascertain their size. She said they had not.
Amir also participated in search warrants at several addresses. During the searches, the RPD found a rusted 9 mm magazine in a drawer hidden under children’s clothes at one location and a .22 caliber revolver. Technician Russel Whitebear testified that he used a metal detector during one of the searches in an attempt to find a .40 caliber gun that was reported buried in a
backyard. The firear m was eventually located in a trash can at one of the residences. The jurors were active participants in the trial asking questions to clarify the testimony. The State called Ross Zumwalt, chief medical investigator for the state of New Mexico, to give the findings of Villela’s autopsy. Zumwalt said that Villela had been shot seven times. Deputy District Attorney Michael Murphy led Zumwalt through his list of credentials which included nearly 7,000 autopsies. One shot Zumwalt remembered as
See SALINAS, Page A2
ALAMOGORDO (AP) — One of two New Mexico girls accused of killing their foster mother will face a murder trial after a plea agreement was scrapped, a newspaper reported. Desiree Linares and fellow 16-year -old Alexis Shields are accused of smothering Evelyn Miranda, 53, in her San Patricio home in 2011 and of stealing her car, cellphone and computer. They were captured a day later at a friend’s home in Carlsbad. Both girls were 15 at the time. Linares has withdrawn her no contest plea to firstdegree murder and multiple other charges, the
See STATE, Page A2
Alamogordo Daily News reported Tuesday. The other charges against her are conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to unlawfully take a motor vehicle, larceny and tampering with evidence. In retur n for Linares’ plea to the charges, the state had of fered not to seek adult sanctions against her. She would have been incarcerated until she is 21 years old. The deal also called for Linares to testify against Shields. See TEEN, Page A2