Roswell Daily Record
Senate rejects stopgap efforts
Vol. 122, No. 52 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
HABITAT BEGINS 14TH
Habitat for Humanity’s latest partners are ready for a permanent trip to the “Beech.” Habitat broke ground for its 14th house in 18 years, Thursday, and will soon provide shelter for Marisol Vargas and her three sons at 1106 E. Beech St. Vargas has been an employee of ... - PAGE A2
WASHINGTON (AP) — Squabbling away the hours, the Senate swatted aside last-ditch plans to block $85 billion in broadbased federal spending reductions Thursday as President Barack Obama and Republicans blamed each other for the latest outbreak of gridlock and the administration readied plans to put the cuts into effect. So entrenched were the two parties that the Senate chaplain, Barry Black, opened the day’s session with a prayer that beseeched a higher power to intervene. “Rise up, O God, and save us from ourselves,” he
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
March 1, 2013
FRIDAY
www.rdrnews.com
said of cuts due to take effect sometime today. The immediate impact of the reductions on the public was uncertain, and the administration pulled back on its earlier warnings of long lines developing quickly at airports and teacher layof fs af fecting classrooms. On the Senate floor, a Republican proposal requiring Obama to propose alternative cuts that would cause less disruption in essential government services fell to overwhelming Democratic opposition, 62-38. Moments later, a Democratic alternative to spread the cuts over a decade and
replace half with higher taxes on millionaires and corporations won a bare majority, 51-49, but that was well shy of the 60 needed to advance. Republicans opposed it without exception.
Though furloughs are a fear for some, especially certain federal workers, there is little sign of business worry, let alone panic in the nation. Stocks declined slightly for the day after trading near record highs. And unlike the “fiscal cliff” showdown of two months ago, there are no deadlines for action to preSee SENATE, Page A3
AP Photo
From left, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., face reporters on Capitol Hill, Thursday.
Pirtle’s SB455 heads to floor
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INSIDE SPORTS Mark Wilson Photo
E.T. (Extra Terrific), a great horned owl, soars through the Performing Arts Center at ENMU-R during a Birds of Prey program presented by Doris Mager, founder of SOAR (Save Our American Raptors), Thursday morning.
Mager gives SOAR guests life lessons JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
VILLEGAS TAKES LEAD
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — With one bold swing, Camilo Villegas turned a solid round at the Honda Classic into his lowest start in more than a year. Villegas drilled a 3-wood from 263 yards over the water to about 8 feet for an eagle on the par-5 18th hole at PGA National for a 6under 64 that gave him a one-shot lead and another jolt of confidence as he tries to regain his status on the PGA Tour. - PAGE B1
TODAY’S • • • • •
OBITUARIES
Dinah Medrano Robert Joseph Allman Patricia Ann Deets Robin Troublefield Colene Adkins - PAGE A7
HIGH ...58˚ LOW ....28˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
Children twisted their shoes on the black floor as they listened to Doris
Mager on stage Thursday. Behind her sat her patient friend, E.T.
“I want everybody to put your hands up to your eyes like this,” Mager told
adults, students and children alike.
Everyone along.
followed
“Now that’s tunnel vision!” she said. “Now say
‘hoo! hoo!’” E.T., the great-horned owl, was the quietest one in the crowd. Those who filled the
The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted 9-0 Wednesday to pass a bill, sponsored by Sen. Cliff Pirtle, R-Roswell, that would require traffic citations to be “filed in the county or district in which the offense occurred.” Pirtle has said such an the issue was brought to him to by a Roswell constituent who was cited in Chaves County, but was required to appear in a Carlsbad court. To drive to and from counties not only cost time, but money, he said. Under SB455, a law officer “who arrests a person without a warrant for a petty misdemeanor or any offense…may offer the person arrested the option of accepting a citation to appear in lieu of taking the person to jail.” The citation issued would include the name and address of the cited person,
Health exchange bill RISD School Board retreat hits trouble in House addresses safety, security
SANTA FE (AP) — A measure to establish a state-operated health insurance exchange stumbled in the House on Thursday after critics objected that the proposal would overly regulate medical coverage plans offered to consumers. The bill initially failed in the House on a 39-30 vote — with eight Democrats opposing it. However, the measure was immediately revived and set aside,
which will give majority Democrats a possible chance for another vote at a later date if they can round up more support or after making changes to meet some of the concerns of critics, including Republican Gov. Susana Martinez. There’s also separate health exchange legislation in the Senate that could See HEALTH, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
In the wake of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary, the RISD School Board’s annual retreat held at Bitter Lake, Thursday, placed school safety and security as top priority. Director of Support Services Joe Baca gave an assessment
See SOAR, Page A3
of the district’s present security. Measures discussed by the board included everything from possible new construction to personnel procedures. Another priority was consistency among schools.
The proposed safety plan would cover potential security matters and other risks to health, such as electrical safety,
See PIRTLE, Page A3
and mold and asbestos abatement.
Board members asked if changing the locks throughout the school district might be needed. Baca said that new locks would not be necessary, but emphasized that they must be used. He said when security checks See RISD, Page A3
March for Babies set for April 13 House approves tapping into permanent fund ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
INDEX
Mark Wilson Photo
From left, Kade Richburg and Kaleb Gluff snack on pretzels and chips while attending the March of Dimes March for Babies kickoff event with their mothers at Pioneer Bank, Thursday.
Pioneer Bank hosted Thursday a March of Dimes event to launch the fundraising campaign for its annual March for Babies, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 13 at Cielo Grande Park. March of Dimes state director Kim Huett said it’s a big year for the organization as it celebrates 75 years of improving health for babies through research, vaccines and other medical See MARCH, Page A3
SANTA FE (AP) — Public education could receive hundreds of millions of additional dollars in the future under a measure approved by the House on Thursday. The proposed constitutional amendment will allow voters to decide whether to prevent a drop in the yearly allocation from the $11 billion Land Grant Per manent Fund, which will provide $550 million next year for public schools and 20 other public institutions, including universities. Under the proposal, the yearly distribution rate will
remain at 5.5 percent of the fund’s average five-year market value rather than dropping to 5 percent starting in July 2016. If adopted by voters, the change would mean an extra $61 million in that year’s payout and that’s projected to reach $67 million in 2019. Supporters said the permanent fund will continue to grow in the future but that additional money is needed now to improve education. The fund receives royalties from oil and natural gas production and other See MONEY, Page A3