Roswell Daily Record
INSIDE NEWS
7 MARINES DIE DURING TRAINING ACCIDENT HAWTHORNE, Nev. (AP) — A mortar shell explosion killed seven Marines and injured a half-dozen more during mountain warfare training in Nevada’s high desert, prompting the Pentagon to immediately halt the use of ... - PAGE A7
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Assault weapon ban not in Dems’ bill
Vol. 122, No. 68 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
March 20, 2013
WEDNESDAY
www.rdrnews.com
WASHINGTON (AP) — An assault weapons ban won’t be in the gun-control legislation that Democrats bring to the Senate floor next month, a decision that means the ban’s chances of survival now are all but hopeless. The ban is the most controversial firearms restriction that President Barack Obama and other Democrats have pressed for since an assault-type weapon was used in the December massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. Rejection by Congress would be a major victory for the National Rifle Association and its supporters and a setback for Obama and the provision’s sponsor, California Sen. Dianne Feinstein. In a tactical decision, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, DNev., concluded that including the
prohibition in the gun bill would jeopardize the chances for passage of any firearms legislation at all, taking away votes that would be needed to overcome Republican attempts to block the Senate from even taking up the issue. “I very much regret it,” Feinstein said Tuesday of the choice that See GUNS Page A3 AP Photo
RIGHT: In this Feb. 25 file photo, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Feinstein, the sponsor of a proposed assault weapons ban, says Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has told her that the ban will not be part of the initial gun control measure the Senate will debate next month.
ENMU-R dedicates new Student Center
TOP 5 WEB
For The Past 24 Hours
• Meet new Emergency Preparedness ... • ABQ Police chief says he wasn’t forced out • Gov. passes $5.9B budget • County Commission ... • Man goes to hospital after a shooting over ...
INSIDE SPORTS
Mark Wilson Photo
Officials urge RPD searching for Barela licenses for NM same-sex marriages Guests at the grand opening of the new Student Services Center at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell tour the facility, Tuesday morning.
MARCH MADNESS FEVER IN N.M. ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — With some of their strongest teams in years, New Mexico and New Mexico State are creating quite the NCAA tournament ... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES • Patty Lou Frazier • Dorothy Kaler • Ernest Orahood - PAGE A6
HIGH ...67˚ LOW ....48˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B8 COMICS.................B5 ENTERTAINMENT...A10 FINANCIAL .............B6 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ......A10 LOTTERIES ............A2 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ............A10 WORLD .................B7
INDEX
JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER The sun streamed through the wall of windows into the newly constructed $4.8 million Student Services Center Tuesday as officials proudly opened Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell’s newest facility. Some 100 community dignitaries mixed with students who made use of the new one-stopshop for the some 4,500 students it serves, while live music played in the background. “Places like this change people’s lives,” said builder Doug Clark of Jayens Construction in Albuquerque. Clark was one of several speakers at the ribbon-cutting event. He thanked the students who he said “demonstrated to the state and to the voters and administrators that you need this kind of a facility.” Located just south of the campus’ Student Union building, the new facility brings several services together under one roof, said University President Dr. John MadSee ENMU Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
SANTA FE AP) — The New Mexico Legislature left town without acting on a constitutional amendment to legalize gay marriage, so Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and a City Council member are encouraging county clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples anyway. And they insist it is legal to do so. Coss and Councilor Patti Bushee say they will introduce a resolution March 27 “recognizing” that same-sex marriage is legal in New Mexico. In a news release, they cited recent polls showing support for same-sex marriage among Americans is at an all-time high. “Santa Fe is a city of respect, acceptance, and diversity that embraces all
of our residents,” Coss said. “I sponsored this resolution because all loving, committed couples should have the right to marry regardless of their sexual orientation.” Bushee, who is a lesbian, called it a civil rights issue. “It is disheartening to me — to be creating laws for my community for 19 years and not be treated equally in the eyes of New Mexico law,” she said in a statement. “We are the last group allowed to be legally discriminated against.” Bushee and Coss also released a memo from City Attorney Geno Zamara, who said same-sex marriage is legal because state law defining marriage is gender-
Th e R os wel l P ol ice C r i mi nal In ves tig at i on Division were summoned to the Emergency Room at Lovelace Regional Hospit al, a r ou n d 5: 10 p .m . Monday, about a stabbing vic ti m. B ef or e of f icia ls arrived, they learned that the victim Gregory Alonzo, 45, wa s list ed as “ c od e blue.” Officers who had gathered at Lovelace informed CID that the victim had been brought to the hospital in a pick up truck. The officers found a large am o un t of bl oo d in th e truck bed, along with a saturated bloody shirt. The stabbing occurred in the 300 block of East Ballard Street. Investigation revealed that Johnny Barela, 48, was a suspect
Courtesy Photo
Johnny “Juan” Barela is wanted on charges of one open count of murder and three counts of bribery or intimidation of a witness. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Bombings in Iraq kill 65 a decade after invasion See URGE Page A3
See BARELA Page A3
BAGHDAD (AP) — Insurgents sent a bloody message on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion, carrying out a wave of bombings across the country Tuesday that killed at least 65 people in the deadliest day in Iraq this year.
The nearly 20 attacks, most of them in and around See IRAQ Page A3 AP Photo
LEFT: A federal policeman stands guard at the scene of a car bomb attack in the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday.
Roswell may be site for Aerial system test ILISSA GILMORE RECORD STAFF WRITER
In a cooperative effort, local entities are applying to make Roswell the location of a federally approved unmanned aerial system test site. Last year, Congress and President Barack Obama approved a mandate requiring the Federal Aviation
See AERIAL Page A3