Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 27 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia pulled out of an anti-crime accord with the United States on Wednesday in a move the U.S. called “selfdefeating,” the latest sign of rising tensions between Moscow and Washington. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed an ... - PAGE A9
January 31, 2013
THURSDAY
www.rdrnews.com
Gun debate intensifies in Senate hearing
WASHINGTON (AP) — Severely wounded and still recovering, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords begged lawmakers at an emotional hearing Wednesday to act quickly to curb firearms because “Americans are counting on you.” Not everyone agreed, underscoring the national political divide over gun control.
RUSSIA ENDS ANTI-CRIME ACCORD WITH U.S.
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Giffords’ 80-word plea was the day’s most riveting moment, delivered in a hushed, halting voice two years after the Arizona Democrat suffered head wounds in a Tucson shooting spree that killed six
people. The session also came two months after 20 first-graders and six women were slain by a gunman who invaded Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
At the same hearing, a top official of the National Rifle Association rejected Democratic proposals to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines and said requiring background checks for all gun purchases would be ineffective because the Obama administration isn’t doing enough to enforce the law as it is.
Even if stronger background checks did identify a criminal, “as long as you let him go, you’re not keeping him from getting a gun and you’re not preventing him from getting to the next crime scene,” said Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice president. He said poor enforcement is “a national disgrace.” Giffords, who retired from Congress last year, focused during her brief appearance on the carnage from armed assailants. “Too many children are See GUNS, Page A3
AP Photo
Supporters and opponents of gun control measures face off at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday.
RISD reviews HS grad rates
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• House committee tables driver’s ... • Pearce welcomes Eric Espinoza to staff • Hobbs trial begins • Leprino Foods plans $10 million upgrade • Hobbs runs past Goddard
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
Emergency response drill at NMMI NMMI Cadets and staff evacuate the campus during a gas leak drill in coordination with first responders, Wednesday afternoon.
ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
New Mexico Military Institute evacuated its campus Wednesday during a drill to test its emer-
RAY LEWIS AGITATED BY ALLEGATIONS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Ray Lewis is “agitated.” Not because the Baltimore Ravens linebacker thinks the magazine report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers will affect his play or that of his teammates against the San Francisco 49ers in ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Linda Nell Foster • Kenneth Baker • Myra Sandles • Michael Carter • Augusteen Cates - PAGE A6
HIGH ...64˚ LOW ....29˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B6 COMICS.................B4 ENTERTAINMENT...A10 FINANCIAL .............B5 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................A9
INDEX
gency response. In keeping with federal and state legal requirements, NMMI Public Information Of ficer Carl Hansen said the drill was an effort to evaluate the
Institute’s procedures to keep its cadets, staff and faculty safe. “This is a drill, but we are going to play it like it’s the real thing,” he said. “We need to get it into the
Spaceport informed consent bill sails through the Senate
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposal to help New Mexico attract commercial space travel companies is speeding through the Legislature. The Senate unanimously approved legislation on Wednesday to protect spacecraft manufacturers along with their parts suppliers from most damage lawsuits by passengers on space tourism flights. British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic plans to fly tourists into outer space at $200,000-aticket from Spaceport America, near the community of Truth or Consequences. A 2010 state law shields
Virgin Galactic from being sued in most cases for damages by passengers or their families if there was an accident. The legislation will provide similar liability limitations for the suppliers and manufacturers of spacecraft and their components. Liability restriction proposals have failed in the Legislature in the past two years, but a compromise was negotiated by Virgin Galactic and the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association. Under the latest measure, Virgin Galactic and other space companies must carry $1 million in insurance to qualify for the liability limi-
tations. Supporters say the insurance coverage will help guarantee people are compensated in the few instances that damage lawsuits are allowed, such as when a spacecraft company knew there was a defect or dangerous condition or if they acted recklessly. Virgin Galactic officials and spaceport promoters have said the proposed liability limitations were needed to attract companies to New Mexico’s spaceport, which has cost taxpayers more than $200 million. The legislation heads to the House, which is expected to approve it.
minds of cadets and faculty to move smartly, to get to evacuation sites in short order.” See DRILL, Page A3
The Roswell Independent School District is in the process of reviewing high school graduation percentages to submit to the Public Education Department to ensure accuracy, said Superintendent Tom Burris. Last week, Gov. Susana Martinez announced that, according to a PED report, the statewide graduation rate for the class of 2012 was 70.3 percent, a 7.3 point jump from 2011’s rate of 63.0 percent. The report also shows RISD as having a districtwide high school graduation rate of 63.9 percent, with 68.9 percent for Goddard High, 66.4 percent for Roswell High and 22.9 percent for University High. In 2011, the PED reportSee RISD, Page A3
Lawmakers propose to elect university regents SANTA FE (AP) — Voters could elect some members of the governing boards of New Mexico’s largest universities under a legislative proposal that supporters say will lessen the influence of politics over higher education. Two constitutional amendments introduced in the House on Wednesday would overhaul the selection of boards of regents for public colleges and universities. The governor currently appoints regents and they serve staggered terms. “The fact of the matter is in many cases our regent positions are treated as political plums,” said Rep. Jeff Steinborn, a Las Cruces Democrat who’s sponsoring the measures with other lawmakers. University of New Mexico Regent Jamie Koch opposes revamping the current regent system. “What they’re talking about doing here really keeps the governor from having the opportunity to make the See REGENTS, Page A3
BLM recognizes volunteers for exemplary service in 2012 NOAH VERNAU RECORD STAFF WRITER
The Bureau of Land Management’s Roswell Field Office recognized several of its volunteers Wednesday for their service in 2012. The awards ceremony at RFO honored those who helped to make New Mexico first in the nation for the average number of volunteer hours given per individual to BLM this past year. “Those volunteers who are out there, they’re building our trails, they’re serving outdoor posts, they’re serving as major counterparts,” Chris Brown, BLM recreation planner, said. “Whereas, in other places, these might be days
where folks come out and volunteer for 8 hours. But the folks who are in this room today, their volunteer service is akin to a career. And we couldn’t do what we do without them.”
In 2012, BLM’s Roswell Field Office received 18,680 volunteer hours from 173 individuals, helping the state to rank fourth in the nation for the number of volunteer hours contributed to BLM. The office also received 12,280 hours from 65 hosted or donated workers.
“There’s no way we could ever recognize all of our volunteers in one place at one time,” Brown said. See BLM, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner Chris Brown, right, hands out awards to EcoServants volunteers during a ceremony held Wednesday.