New Mexico

• New Mexico has become the 15th US state to ban the death penalty. Gov. Richardson said signing the bill was the toughest decision he's made in public life. — New Mexico Independent
• Natasha Richardson's peers in the entertainment world offer words of tribute for the actress, who has died at the age of 45 after a skiing accident. — BBC News
• President Obama is in California discussing the stimulus plan. He will appear on Jay Leno's show tonight. — LA Times
• AIG's top executives are asking employees to return half of their bonuses. — New York Times
• Josef Fritzl has been sentenced to life by an Austrian court. — Guardian

Source

Countless sandwiches are native to America, but the Navajo Taco is a Native American sandwich in the strictest sense of the word. Made by piling New Mexican taco fixings onto traditional Navajo frybread, this scrumptious sandwich is a specialty of Arizona, so on a recent trip to Phoenix, I stopped by The Fry Bread House to do some firsthand research.

My first question, of course, is why a Navajo Taco — also called an Indian Taco — is considered a sandwich rather than a taco. The crucial distinction is that tacos are made with tortillas and sandwiches are made with bread — in this case, Navajo fry bread, which tastes like a cross between a thick fried pita and funnel cake without the sugar. Indian tacos are typically filled with beans, ground beef, or a combination of both; I opted for refried beans, flavored with strips of New Mexico green chiles. Salivating yet? For the juicy details and a recipe, read more

Seven western US states and four Canadian provinces have agreed to cut greenhouse-gas emissions by 15 percent before 2020. Proud of the Western Climate Initiative, Republican California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asserted:

We’re sending a strong message to our federal governments that states and provinces are moving forward in the absence of federal action, and we’re setting the stage for national programs that are just as aggressive.

So how will Arizona, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec curb climate change? To find out, read more

If you have a fancy mansion in Santa Fe, NM, you might be asked to foot the bill subsidizing more affordable housing for local public servants like police officers and nurses. The Santa Fe City Council voted this week for a special election next Spring to decide on a one percent fee to be added to house sales that top $650,000. If that sounds like a lot, it's not an uncommon price tag for houses in the area, and it's keeping those who serve the community, from living there.

The mayor says, "More than half of our police force doesn't live in Santa Fe. They can't afford to buy a house in Santa Fe. The thinking is that it's a reasonable fee that helps us meet a very, very important goal in Santa Fe."

The funds raised would help workers make down payments or pay rent. Opponents worry that the extra tax on spendier homes would trickle down to all homeowners later making real estate even more expensive, not to mention that the plan won't generate the revenue the mayor thinks it will. A local realtor says, "We support affordable housing as well as a rich, diverse and sustainable economy."

Is this a great plan to have the wealthiest with the best living conditions directly help those with the opposite problem? Is this Robin Hood run amuck in real estate? Is it important to have local public servants live in the communities they serve?

Source