Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 122, No. 173 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
INSIDE NEWS
PARIS (AP) — Stashing profits offshore may soon get tougher for companies, thanks to an ambitious plan released Friday by the finance chiefs of leading world economies aimed at forcing multinationals to pay more taxes... - PAGE B4
July 20, 2013
SATURDAY
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Main Street Bank of America branch sold JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
G20 WANTS MORE TAXES
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
The Bank of America branch that has towered over the corner of North Main Street and 5th Street was acquired by Washington Federal Thursday in one of its largest deals ever. Although bank officials said Friday that employees and customers will not be disrupted, the branch location is in jeopardy of losing
its lease. In an awkward twist, federal regulators are expected to approve the Washington Federal deal late this year, but the branch’s lease expires before the bank changes hands. The branch leases space at Sunwest Centre, a complex that includes offices and Peppers Grill & Bar. The lease faces renewal in the next few months, while it remains as a Bank of America branch.
Lease negotiations may ensue, but the future remains uncertain, according to the building’s manager. “The branch is just a tenant,” said Ed McClelland, property manager. “The lease will be up before the end of the year. There is no telling what will happen.” Bank of America spokesman TJ Crawford said he couldn’t speak on specifics about banking center lease agreements.
“It’s a better question for Washington Mutual,” Crawford said. A Washington Mutual media representative Friday was not able to answer what might happen to the branch while the transaction develops, but mentioned that Roswell does have other Washington Mutual branches in town for the employees and customers. The complex, which was held under City of Roswell
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For The Past 24 Hours
• Valley Meat Co. to open Aug. 5 • Council approves hotel fee • Skandera addresses quality of education • Hellens share family’s history with Rotary... • Peaceful immigration...
INSIDE Mark Wilson Photo
Darci Roe spray paints a bicycle at Down Home Boutique located at 2308 Urton on Friday, readying for the store grand re-opening set for July 23rd. Down Home has been closed the last 5 weeks due to flooding caused by a broken water line.
Derailment won’t stop oil on trains
ROSWELL KIDS LEARN ENGLISH SOCCER Roswell Parks and Recreation’s British Soccer camp came to a close on Friday. The camp featured coaches from England, who looked to add a bit of the English style... - PAGE B1
TODAY’S OBITUARIES
• Josefita Gutierrez • Courtney Pecos (C.P.) Holstun Jr. - PAGE A5
HIGH ..91˚ LOW ...67˚
TODAY’S FORECAST
CLASSIFIEDS..........B5 COMICS.................B3 ENTERTAINMENT.....A8 FINANCIAL .............B4 GENERAL ..............A2 HOROSCOPES ........A8 LOTTERIES ............A2 NATION .................A5 OPINION ................A4 SPORTS ................B1 WEATHER ..............A8
NEW YORK (AP) — A fiery and fatal train derailment earlier this month in Quebec, near the Maine border, highlighted the danger of moving oil by rail, a practice that has grown exponentially as a result of the oil boom and will continue to expand, experts say. This year, more trains carrying crude will chug across North America than ever before — nearly 1,400 carloads a day. In 2009, there were just 31 carloads a day. U.S. and Canadian drillers are producing oil faster than new pipelines can be built. As a result, trains have become an unexpected yet vital way to move this bounty of energy from the continent’s midsection to refineries along the coasts. Not since the dawn of the petroleum age,
when John D. Rockefeller clashed with railroad barons, have trains been so important to the oil market. Since the July 6 tragedy in Lac-Megantic, where a runaway train carrying 72 carloads of crude derailed and killed 50 people, there have been calls for tougher regulations, stronger rail cars and more pipelines. But experts say the oil industry’s growing reliance on trains won’t be derailed anytime soon. Unless new pipelines are built, there’s just no other way to get vast amounts of oil from North Dakota and Rocky Mountain states to refineries along the coasts, which are eager for cheaper, homegrown alternatives to imports brought in by boat. “Stopping crude by rail would be tantamount to See OIL, Page A3
JESSICA PALMER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Angelica Rubio grew up
See SYSTEM, Page A3
Mark Wilson Photo
A horse waits patiently for its owner at the Subway located at 1701 W. 2nd during lunchtime, Wednesday.
INDEX
Angelica Rubio
See BRANCH, Page A3
SANTA FE (AP) — A newly implemented computer system for unemployment taxes and claims is so complex that it’s difficult to use for New Mexicans seeking jobless benefits and the computer’s cost has more than doubled to $48 million, legislative auditors said Friday. The audit report released Friday by the Legislative Finance Committee faulted state oversight of the Workforce Solution Department’s computer system, which was financed by federal money and went into operation in January. The audit criticisms were echoed by members of the committee and the Center on Law and Poverty, which said it’s received numerous complaints about the computer system from unemployed people. The center’s staff told lawmakers about a man whose jobless
Waiting for the Man
As a human rights advocate, Rubio works toward social, political reform in Lake Arthur. It is, as she says, a small town with a population of 300. It has a small economic base. “The only thing that sustains it is the school, and the oil and gas industry.” Rubio was the youngest of six children. She attended college at New Mexico State University, where she received her bachelor’s in gover nment. Then this small-town girl went to the one of the biggest cities in
Washington Mutual agreed to buy 51 branches in Washington, Idaho, Ore-
Audit: State’s IT system for unemployment too complex
Cute Colors
SPORTS
ownership for the past 30 years, paid off an industrial revenue bond last month and regained ownership of its land. The property was not subject to taxes for the past three decades while under city ownership, according to the Chaves County Assessor’s Office.
the country, Los Angeles, and obtained a master’s in Latin American Studies. After Rubio left school, she became a consumer advocate. Eventually, though, she got the urge to return home. “When I worked in consumer protection, I helped countless families in L.A., and I thought there are so many things I can do back home. I decided it was time come back.”
She’s also worked as a community organizer. The goal for the community organizer is to resolve conflict, improve the economic outlook, set goals and deadlines for reform, to create positive change in their community. She moved to Roswell three years ago. “I love New Mexico. “L.A. has so many diverse cultures,” Rubio said. “I thought the transition would be difficult.” But she found a place for herself where she can use her skills. Rubio works for Tobosa Developmental Services, raising funds. She also writes and has created a blog, The Rubio Dispatch. Rubio has plans for the future. She wants to continue her education. “I am interested in pursuing a Ph.D. Law school is anoth-
er option.” She also has political aspirations. She is a candidate with Emerge New Mexico, a group that grooms a potential candidate for political office. “As a kid, I used to watch C-SPAN. I’d watch the Legislature and I thought it was the greatest thing on the planet. “ As an individual, she prefers to emphasize the positive. “I’m big on collaboration and big on building communities. I want to get people together to be proactive... Too many groups form because something that occurs rather than getting together to work toward the future.” Another personal goal is: “to engage people in the See SPOTLIGHT, Page A3