Udall attacks "attack" ads, campaign money (Listen again) SANTA FE (KSFR) -
US Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico has introduced federal legislation aimed at removing big money from politics. Udall says the legislation would be in the form of a Constitutional Amendment granting Congress the power to regulate campaign finances. He says the legislation is in response to the supreme court decision allowing corporations and special interest groups to spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns. (Listen) If the congress approves the measure, the constitutional amendment would have to be ratified by three-fourths of the states.

Some state lawmakers are raising questions about a new state law that will see New Mexico schools given a grade of A-through-F. They say the Public Education Department isn't yet clear enough on rules applying to schools that earn grades of D or F and that could have ramifications for funding. The issue came up at a Monday public hearing as attendees were taken through a general overview of how the ratings will be applied. Schools are to be graded based on math and reading proficiency scores via standardized testing combined with improvement numbers over time. Under the law, schools with poor grades are to use proven methods as defined by the state Public Education Department or advise the department of a program of their own choosing.

The county sheriff's department has been robbed of a $6,000 piece of property. It's a speed trailer that had been set up on Old Santa Fe Trail to signal drivers how fast they were driving. Lt. Joe McLaughlin of the sheriff's department says it went missing sometime after 3 p.m. on Friday, even though it was securely locked. ***

The executive director of Assistance Dogs of the West is stepping down, citing health concerns. Carolyn Clark Beedle will remain for the short term while an active search for her replacement ramps up in the coming days. The organization provides canine assistants for those people with physical, psychiatric and developmental disabilities. Beedle has served as executive director for the past six years.

The June primary elections will see a Republican on the ballot, running for the congressional seat held by Ben Ray Lujan. Rick Newton is the first challenger to Lujan's seat. Newton is a deep-sea recovery enthusiast who owns a small security technology company. Among other things, his campaign materials say he advocates banning Shariah law and also replacing the Internal Revenue Service with a flat tax.

Santa Fe's Finance Committee meets tonight and will be looking at the proposed $30 million general obligation bond that would be underwritten by an increase in property taxes. Estimates say it would add some 60-to-$80 more per year to the tax bills of the average $300,000 home within city limits. The matter will arrive before full city council next week and, if approved, will find its way on the March 2012 municipal election ballot. The committee will also visit the issue of allowing sales of beer at Fort Marcy Park baseball gameswill be discussed. The Pecos League wants to establish a team in Santa Fe but only if city law is changed to allow beer sales at games. The season would begin in May.

At 1:30 today, the Santa Fe National Cemetery conducts a special burial service for ten military heroes whose remains have gone unclaimed by family members. The service is sponsored by The National Cemetery in conjunction with the Missing In America Project and the Berardinelli Funeral Home. The public is invited to attend today's service which includes the posting of the colors, firing of the volleys, and Taps. Governor Martinez will accept a flag in the deceased's memory before they are laid to rest.

Weather for Santa Fe - mostly sunny today with highs in the upper 60s. A storm passing to our north tomorrow will see daytime highs only make the upper 40s. Another system clips the state Friday night, reinforcing cold air and bringing a 20% chance for snowshowers Friday night into Saturday morning. © Copyright 2012, KSFR