KSFR: Drivers, beware (2009-11-20)

-- Nov. 20, 7 a.m. -- Drivers, beware. State and local authorities say they'll be on extra alert for drunk driving between now and the first of the new year. The Winter DWI Superblitz kicks off today with efforts to increase enforcement. Rachel O'Conner is the state's DWI Czarina. She says the state is offering special financial incentives to local law enforcement agencies to step up local patrols and checkpoints. During last year's superblitz, 19 people lost their lives in DWI-related crashes.

State officials say the funding simply may not be there next year for the Medicaid program to maintain its current level of services. The Human Services Department says it will need an extra $325 million just to stay in place. Acting Secretary Katie Falls says it may not be realistic to expect the legislature to grant that much extra funding because of the projected budget deficit. She says they'll have to look at scaling back eligibility and services. Medicaid covers a half million New Mexicans. The state gets four federal dollars for every dollar of state funds that are spent.

Solemnity at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe today as the body of former governor Bruce King lies in state. King was a fixture in New Mexico politics with a career spanning four decades. He served three non-sequential terms as governor beginning in 1970 and again in 1978 and 1990. The 85 year old King died last Friday at his ranch in Stanley. He was remembered yesterday in Washington, DC with our state's three representatives in the House taking the floor to give tributes. King will be laid to rest tomorrow with a memorial service in the high school gymnasium in Moriarty. Former President Bill Clinton is expected to attend. King's son, Gary, is New Mexico's current Attorney General.

About 1300 traffic scofflaws who have allowed their unpaid fines to move to arrest-warrant status have a single chance for amnesty tomorrow. Beginning at 8AM and continuing through noon, folks can show up at the county magistrate court and pay outstanding fees and fines. Thereafter, however, state police will be out to enforce arrest warrants. Tomorrow's program is for traffic cases only and does not apply to domestic violence or DWI charges.

The New Mexico State University Board of Regents has named Barbara Couture the new president of NMSU. She's currently the senior vice chancellor for academic affairs and a professor of English at University of Nebraska. Couture is the first woman to be selected for the presidential post which she will assume in Las Cruces come January 1st.

Weather for Santa Fe...today and all the way through the Thanksgiving holiday we're expected to have sunny skies with afternoon high temperatures in the 50s. Overnight lows in the mid 20s.

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