In Haiti, where poverty is widespread, the government has plans to improve the economy by turning over land for tourist development.  The problem, reporter Jacob Kushner told KSFR's Dave Marash on HERE AND THERE, is that, for most of the people living on those lands, being displaced for a new port, or fish farm or hotel, can mean economic devastation, even starvation.  One place where that kind of conflict is raging is a tiny island off the Haitian coast called Ile-a-Vache. 

As newly-elected Attorney General Hector Balderas delves into his investigation of charges of fraud and mismanagement against firms that used to serve more than 30,000 low-income mental health clients in New Mexico, he sat down with KSFR’s Deborah Martinez to talk about his findings so far.  As she shares in this report, while he is circumspect about the investigation, he stresses the need for changes in oversight and handling of alleged abuse of the Medicaid system in the future.

Since an outbreak of measles began last month More than 100 cases have been reported. The outbreak has been traced to the Disneyland theme park in California, but has now spread to several other states. The surge of measles cases has alarmed the Centre for Disease Control, which in 2000 formally declared measles essentially eradicated from the US. The cause of the measles spread is due in large part to the great number of parents who are not vaccinating their children. This so called anti vaxxer movement was born from a late 1990s study, which linked the vaccination called MMR to autism, a study that was later debunked. the doctor responsible for the report has since had his medical license revoked. Yet fears remain. KSFR's Zelie Pollon spoke to Dr. Randy Knott, assistant professor in the UNM School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, and Eric Glasser, host of KSFR program East-West Medicine, about a confirmed case of measles in New Mexico and fear of a more serious outbreak.

KSFR's Abigail Adler brings you local news at noon. 

Thursday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Thursday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

One reason the CIA and US Army out-sourced jobs like torture and rendition transportation to private contracts, author David Isenberg told KSFR's Dave Marash on HERE AND THERE, is to keep what they were hired to do a secret.  But as he told Dave Marash, that secrecy also made it much harder to manage them.

The head of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains—Vickie Cowart—was in Santa Fe last week celebrating the 42 anniversary of Roe Versus Wade, the landmark ruling for women’s rights. Cowart was here to honor all the New Mexico health providers, and also State Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero at Planned Parenthood’s 2nd annual Breakfast of Champions. As we hear in this report from KSFR’s Zelie Pollon, to Cowart, the Roe V Wade ruling is as essential now as ever.

In part two of our series on guns at the legislature, KSFR's Randy Scott speaks with Democratic Senator Peter Wirth of Santa Fe about his concern that guns in the roundhouse hamper public participation in the democratic process. 

Tom Trowbridge brings you local news at noon. 

Wednesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

New Mexico’s Attorney General Hector Balderas last week released an audit alleging Medicaid overbilling by more than a dozen New Mexico behavioral health providers several years ago that until recently remained secret.  KSFR’s Deborah Martinez spoke with the Attorney General regarding the next steps. She brings us the first of a two-part interview, beginning with his overall goals over the next four years.

Last weekend, a three-year old boy in Albuquerque accidentally shot his parents. Accidental shootings such as this typically raise questions regarding access to firearms. And, as we hear in this report from KSFR reporter Randy Scott, efforts related to guns continue to be a topic of interest to those attending legislative hearings.

When it comes to pay-day, and auto title loans in the State of New Mexico, not even the sky's the limit on interest rates.  University of New Mexico Law School Professor Nathalie Martin told Dave Marash on HERE AND THERE, she's documented New Mexico loans that cost borrowers more than 1000% a year.  In 2007, the US Congress protected military service personnel and their families from this kind of predatory lending.  The law, Martin said, isn't perfect, but it could help model an interest rate cap to protect poor New Mexicans.

KSFR's Abigail Adler brings you local news at noon.

Tuesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

A look at the world of sports with Daniel J, host of KSFR's The Beat Goes On. 

On Monday afternoon, over a thousand protestors joined Somos Un Pueblo Unido to rally against the repeal of a state law allowing undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses. KSFR's Tom Trowbridge broadcasted live from the Roundhouse during today's edition of At Noon, bringing us an interview with one of the original sponsors of the 2003 law allowing the licenses.

As relations improve with it's giant neighbor to the north,  Cuba is bracing for change. But whatever comes from the US, Havana has a new hotspot, where its good to be back in the USSR. KSFR’s Alice van Buren sent this report from Cuba.  

Kate Powell brings you local news at noon. 

Tuesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

If you’ve ever wanted to know details about the issues that interest various members of Congress, including their voting past or who they work with –there’s a new tool available. Called Quorum Analytics, the new data service was founded by Alex Wirth and Jonathan Marks. Wirth is no stranger to politics – nor to the difficulties of working through the legislative process. The son of Senator Peter Wirth, Alex, a Harvard University senior, has seen how information is power. By creating a highly functional and easily searchable database that aggregates bills, votes, news releases or floor statements, his company may soon be as powerful a player as the legislators themselves.

New Mexico ranks among the worst in the nation for cases of domestic violence. Among the difficulties domestic abuse organizations face is determining effective offender treatments, protecting victims and training law enforcement officials on how to identify the main offender in a domestic violence situation. Alicia Chavez works for the New Mexico Coalition against Domestic Violence. She describes in more detail the bills that group is supporting this session.

The recent death of Argentine Special Terrorism Prosecutor Alberto Nisman, which some have called a suicide and others a murder, is just the latest mystery in a chain that began 20 years ago, in 1994, with the worst terrorist attack in Argentine history.  Buenos Aires investigative reporter Joe Goldman told Dave Marash on HERE AND THERE, that all the government investigations of the bombing of the Argentine Israeli Friendship Center, AMIA, including Prosecutor Nisman's, have been deeply and suspiciously flawed.

Kate Powell brings you local news at noon. 

Friday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Last week we looked at the history of the behavioral health system for the poor in New Mexico, and the closure of an Arizona firm paid millions of dollars to take over operations of services in the southern part of the state. That statewide shake-up resulting from a state-funded secret audit of 15 mental health providers accused of fraud put most of the non-profits out of business and left thousands of fragile Medicaid patients without care. Some of the counselors left for the private sector, some were not rehired by the Arizona companies, and client relationships were disrupted as the new firms took over. KSFR’s Deborah Martinez looks at what mental health treatment actually means, and he introduces us to one woman caught in the eye of the storm, who along with other advocates, is looking to state legislators to fill the gap of services.

The first salvos have been fired in the battle over so-called “right to work” legislation at the New Mexico State Capitol.  As we hear in this report from Tom Trowbridge at the Roundhouse, a bill sponsored by Logan Republican Representative Dennis Roch being heard by the House Business and Employment Committee, brought testimony both pro and con on the issue.

Legislators across the West are discussing whether public lands should be managed by the Federal Government or by states. New Mexico Sportsmen and other outdoor enthusiasts are rallying today in opposition to any transfer of public lands.

Abigail Adler brings you local news at noon. 

Thursday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Kate Powell brings you local news at noon. 

An Ohio ultra-marathoner is on a mission to provide clean drinking water and sanitation for people in Ethiopia. Daren Wendell is running the equivalent of a marathon a day for 100-straight days going coast-to-coast on his fund-raising effort. Wendell took off from the California coast on New Year’s Day and crossed from Arizona into New Mexico late last week. Wendell expects to reach Albuquerque tomorrow. He spoke with KSFR’s Tom Trowbridge, who asked him how his trek has been going up to now. 

After 47 years of Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories on the West Bank, and 21 years of negotiations with Israel under the auspices of the United States, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has embarked on what Palestinian journalist Daoud Kuttab (dah-OOD kuh-TAHB) told KSFR's Dave Marash on HERE AND THERE, is a new diplomatic strategy.  But its aims, he said, are still a Palestinian state and peace.

Yesterday, over three weeks of testimony before the Public Regulations Commission regarding PNM’s new energy plan came to an end. KSFR's Zelie Pollon spoke with Public Regulations Commissioner Pat Lyons and New Energy Economy’s Mariel Nanasi about the hearings.

Wednesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Abigail Adler brings you local news at noon from KSFR.

Two upcoming elections could greatly influence the school system in Santa Fe. The elections for Santa Fe school board and Santa Fe community college board candidates will be held on Feb 3d with early voting occurring now through Jan 30.

League of Women Voters president Donna Reynolds explains the importance of this election for citizens wanting to influence local politics. Tuesday's forum is for the SFCC board candidates and will be held from 5:30 to 7pm at the board meeting room at the Santa Fe Community College. Wednesday’s forum for Santa Fe school board candidates will be from 6 to 8pm at the Board Meeting Room SFPS Educational Services.

The crash in global oil prices has hurt Russia, Iran and Venezuela, countries that were already in economic trouble, and are heavily dependent on oil and gas revenues to cover their budgets.  Does that also describe New Mexico? UNM oil economist Janie Chermak told Dave Marash on Here and There that it does, and that the fall in energy prices is hitting the Land of Enchantment right in its state budget.

PNM’s energy plan is in the news continually these days – and it’s not very popular. but what are some of the alternatives? City Councilor Patti Bushee on this program introduced a plan that looked at partnering with

PNM as an interim step to creating a Municipal Utility. She based her proposal on a Minneapolis blueprint. On David Bacon’s Living on the Edge, Bacon speaks with Bushee and John Farrell whose Institute for Local Self Reliance was instrumental in formulating the Minneapolis’ decision to partner with their utility companies Excel Energy and with Centerpoint Energy, their gas utility. Learn more about the Minneapolis plan at their website at ILSR.org.

Tuesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Local news at noon from KSFR.

The Sporting Life hosted by Daniel DeFrancesco.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez helped the American Cancer Society in promoting its “Suits and Sneakers” coaches challenge on Monday. Tom Trowbridge covered the event from the Roundhouse.

It is a month since the release of the Senate Intelligence Committee's majority report on the CIA's used of terror after 9/11 was grabbing headlines and stirring debate.  But already, the deeply-documented report seems to be sliding into oblivion.  Karen Greenberg, head of the Center for National Security at Fordham University Law School told KSFR's Dave Marash on Here and There, part of the report's problem is that it largely contradicts a false "success" story that has been sold by the CIA, the White House and Hollywood. 

Last month, the Republican Party of New Mexico’s State Central Committee chose Party officers who’ll serve for the next two years. The Committee had to find a successor to John Billingsley, who had led the party through the 2014 election and selected Debbie Maestas as the new chair.  Maestas, from Albuquerque, has a background in business. She’s also the daughter of Allen Weh, the 2014 GOP Senate candidate.Tom Trowbridge spoke with Maestas about her new post

Monday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

This week, a new 5-nation African army is being formed to confront the threat of the Islamist terror group Boko Haram. For it to function, Associated Press Nigeria Bureau Chief Michelle Faul told Dave Marash on HERE AND THERE, a lot of rivalries among the states involved-- Chad, Niger, Cameroon, Benin and Nigeria, must be overcome, especially to overcome an enemy as fierce as Boko Haram, which has killed or kidnapped thousands of Nigeria men, women and children over the last 5 years.

Local news At Noon hosted by Tom Trowbridge and Zelie Pollon

Ethics and transparency are essential aspects of the democratic process. But New Mexico is once again falling down. In a new Legislative Guide, New Mexico In Depth Director Trip Jennings and several contributors explore the state's political transparency levels and make some strong suggestions for improvement.

Friday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

During this session of the New Mexico Legislature, lawmakers will debate several bills related to the state’s behavioral health system.  As KSFR’s Deborah Martinez reports, those bills and others sure to be added to the list aim to improve the ailing system that’s been the subject of controversy and various management schemes for decades.

Thursday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Wednesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Tuesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Monday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

• A proposed land swap that would turn over 24-hundred acres of protected Federal land to be turned into a massive copper mine failed to pass the U-S Congress—Until last month. KSFR's Dave Marash discussed the issue with reporter Emily Bregel of the Arizona Daily Star of Tucson on "Here and There":

• Santa Fe Police chief Eric Garcia discusses with Zelie Pollon the shift in police training in light of the controversy of police shootings in Albuquerque:

Santa Fe Community College’s new Higher Education Center is open for learning. Zelie Pollon has the story

Friday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

The Bureau of Land Management is taking comment on the so called Pinon Pipeline, a 140-mile pipeline that would run through the San Juan Basin and Greater Chaco Canyon area. According to environmental advocacy group WildEarth Guardians, the sole need for the pipeline results from horizontal drilling in the Mancos Shale. In fact the Bureau of Land Management has already approved over 100 new fracking wells.

Thursday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Wednesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Tuesday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Monday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Friday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

The quest for equal treatment for women in the world is an ongoing and often uphill battle. But there are success stories in women's rights and women's leadership and 2014 was no exception. I sat down with Santa Fe native Lisa Veneklasen to talk about her organization, Just Associates, and her work on the front line of a global movement for equality and justice. 

In late December as part of the defense authorization bill, the management of the Valles Caldera National Preserve was transferred to the National Park Service. It’s a goal Tom Ribe, executive director of the non-profit Caldera Action, had been working toward for many years. 

Thursday morning's top news stories from KSFR.

Two weeks from today, the New Mexico Legislature will begin its 2015 session. As a preview, KSFR is discussing the issues likely to be considered during the 60-day session, when all matters of public policy can be considered under the New Mexico Constitution, with some veteran lawmakers.

Sandia Park Republican State Senator Sue Wilson Beffort joined the State Senate in 1997 representing the 19th district. Her district covers a swath of small communities inBernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe and Torrance Counties. I asked Wilson-Beffort what she thought the change in the House Majority from Democrat to Republican will mean for the State Senate in the upcoming session?

Wednesday morning's top news stories from KSFR!

Tuesday morning's top stories from KSFR.

In separate events in Santa Fe on New Year's Day and over the past weekend, New Mexico's state officials from both major political parties took oaths of office for their new terms. Republican Governor Susana Martinez participated in a public inauguration event New Year's Day int he state Capitol's House Chamber. Martinez's remarks launching her second term in office:

State regulators in Santa Fe began taking testimony today on a PNM plan that calls for shutting down part of their coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico. More than 200 protesters gathered in the frigid temperatures this morning. Dozens more crowded into the PRC chambers to give testimony on PNM's proposed energy plan that calls for an increase in nuclear and a limited reduction in coal power. Protesters today unanimously wanted more sol and less coal for the citizens of New Mexico.

Monday morning's top news stories from KSFR.