KSFR: Former Gov. King dies (2009-11-13)

-- Nov. 13, 10 a.m. -- Former New Mexico Gov. Bruce King has died at his ranch in Stanley. King - a Democrat who served three terms that spanned three decades from 1971-74, 1979-82 and 1991-94 - was with family members when he died this morning. King's death comes less than a year after the death of his wife, former first lady Alice King. King had been ill and was recovering from a heart procedure in September to adjust his pacemaker.

-- 7 a.m. -- Officials at Santa Fe Community College are proposing a $35 million bond issue to finance creating a new campus closer in town, possibly on property where the College of Santa Fe is now located. They say the bond issue would not create any new taxes. It has been talked about for some time. It would be created under a state law that allows for colleges to band together as part of a Higher Learning Center. The community college would coordinate course offerings by other colleges and universities in New Mexico at the new center. Community College students who complete two years of study could then go on to four-year degrees offered by the other schools. Later, the community college will consider a second bond issue to provide operating funds for the center. That bond would result in a small increase in property taxes.

Governor Bill Richardson has announced he is ordering five unpaid furlough days for more than 19,000 workers in executive branch agencies. Richardson made the announcement as he signed a budget-cutting bill but vetoed a provision requiring administration agencies to cut spending by 7.6 percent and instead, reduced it by half that amount. The governor also will eliminate the jobs of 84 political appointees.

The Department of Health is reporting three H1N1-related deaths in the past week in New Mexico. Visits to healthcare providers for influenza-like illness dropped for the third week in a row to 6.6 percent from approximately 9 percent last week and 11% the week before that. There have been 29 deaths related to H1N1 influenza in the state.

The federal government is telling the state transportation department to create policies about closing federal interstate highways for film shoots. A three-hour closure of I-40 near Albuquerque caused an uproar that led to the federal inquiry. Now, Santa Fe is warning that Cerrillos Road and Airport Road will be closed for short periods of time tomorrow for a film crew to do its work. They say traffic could be delayed for two minutes at a time on Cerrillos Road between 8 and 12 tomorrow night. On Airport Road, the delays will be from 10 p.m. until six the new morning. Delays there could be as long as 10 minutes.

Santa Fe to LA, non-stop. That's the new flight route available at our municipal airport beginning next week on Thursday, the 19th. American Eagle introduces that once-a-day departure and arrival via new 44 seat Embraer jets. The new route is a complement to current service connecting Santa Fe with non-stops to Dallas Ft. Worth. The city of Santa Fe plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the inaugural flight beginning at 1:30 Thursday afternoon.

The government of India in Punjab is courting a relationship with the state of New Mexico for business and agricultural reasons. The New Mexico Secretary of State's Office reports that Mary Herrera met with Punjab's Minister of Agriculture who extended invitations to several of our elected officials including Governor Richardson. Indian officials also hope to encourage their citizens to visit the Land of Enchantment.

In recognition of Indian Heritage Month, the New Mexico Film Office and the Department of Indian Affairs presents a showcase of short films tomorrow in Santa Fe at the Jean Cocteau theater. Alvin Warren, Cabinet Secretary of Indian Affairs, says the observance of American Indian Heritage Month affords New Mexicans the opportunity to learn about the unique contributions of Native people to our state.

Weather for Santa Fe...The National Weather Service office in Albuquerque says 2 storm systems will brush New Mexico today through the weekend. The first brings us a 30% chance of showers today and Saturday with highs in the 50s. A second, colder system arrives tomorrow night with precipitation changing to snow continuing into the day on Sunday.

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