Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 17

By Olivier Uyttebrouck Journal Staff Writer The debate over drinking water fluoridation in Albuquerque appeared to have been settled in the 1970s, both at the ballot box and in the courtroom. But the issue has reignited since 2011 when staff members at the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority ended the 39-year practice of adding fluoride to the water supply to help prevent tooth decay. Tonight, a seven-member board will consider an ordinance that would require the utility to resume the practice. point in bringing this up is to make sure we actually have a robust discussion about the said Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, a utility board member who sponsored the ordinance. think that was clearly lacking when the water utility made the decision in 2011 to stop Albuquerque began fluoridation after a 57 percent majority of city voters supported the practice in a November 1970 election.

Voters that year approved an ordinance to add fluoride to the water supply, by a vote of 25,689 to 19,526. At least two lawsuits filed by opponents blocked the water and sewer department from installing fluoridation equipment until 1972, when a state District Court judge upheld the ordinance. Water authority officials say the fluoridation ordinance fell by the wayside in 2003 when the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority was formed. State lawmakers that year By Rick Nathanson Journal Staff Writer Despite telling people rather it with law enforcement than return to jail, an armed Steve Casaus was arrested Monday and charged with a host of violations, some of which may result in federal prosecution. Casaus, 41, is the stepfather of Omaree Varela, the 9-year-old boy who was alleg- edly kicked to death by his mother last December, and the man who was caught during a recorded 911 emergency call last June directing an abusive and obscenity- laden verbal tirade against the child.

At the time of his arrest on Monday, Casaus had an active felony warrant for a probation violation. A convicted felon, he also had in his possession a semi-automatic handgun, a quantity of methamphetamine and $17,000 cash, according to Albuquerque Police spokeswoman Tasia Martinez. APD narcotics detectives received information that Casaus was selling methamphetamine, was armed and had told several people that he would it with officers rather than return to jail, Martinez said in an email. APD set up an undercover purchase that resulted in his arrest at 4:30 p.m. near the intersection of Juan Tabo and Menaul NE.

Also responding at the scene were agents from Homeland Security Investigations. Agency spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa said the arrest was part of a enforcement security task force slug: Flag Mast where: news artist: Cathryn size: 1 col 20p7 date of proof: April 29, 2009 color bw SECTION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2014 ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL INSIDE: DAILY BRIEFING C2 OBITUARIES C3 CLASSIFIEDS AND CROSSWORD C4 TV AND WEATHER C9 METRO NM Have a laugh Let the crazy characters on the comics page help you start your day with a smile. Page C10 Learn about art, culture grants City officials will offer a workshop for nonprofit arts and cultural groups that plan to apply for grants from the Urban Enhancement Trust Fund at 11 a.m. today at the South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway SE. The fund awards grants every two years and has $300,000 to award this year.

Local vet to be honored Albuquerque veteran Stan E. White, a Pearl Harbor survivor who was injured during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, will be awarded the Legion of Honor, highest decoration, according to Perry Bendicksen, Honorary French Consul for New Mexico. Page C2 Quote of the day going to get criticized. going to Bob McQuinn, head of contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership, about expected report on how the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant handled the radiation release in February. Flying the colors The flag should be flown at full staff today.

Helping direct capital spending Weigh in on how Bernalillo County should invest its capital budget. The county has a Capital Improvement Plan, which links the needs and visions of the public with the funding. This plan will be presented today from p.m. at the Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center, 9800 Fourth NW.

For more information about the program, visit www.bernco.gov/CIP. Media exhorted to watch their words Albuquerque city councilors this week called on local media organizations to use and avoid language and inaccurate representation of marginal- ized Page C8 CASAUS: DA reviewing case concerning death RUDD: Renounced Weather Underground role long ago By James Monteleone Journal Staff Writer Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alan Webber is drawing criticism from Republicans after a news report that the Santa Fe campaign is backed by a former member of the Vietnam-era radical leftist group Weather Underground. Mark Rudd, a longtime Albuquerque-area resident and retired instructor at Central New Mexico Community College, was a cofounder of the group, known for bombing dozens of government buildings and banks across the country during the late and early in protest of the Vietnam War. Rudd years ago renounced his involvement in the Weather Underground. Rudd, in a telephone interview Tuesday, said he endorsed Webber in the New Mexico race after hearing the candidate speak during a fundraiser hosted by his wife, Marla Painter, at the South Valley home on April 12.

The event raised about $1,100 for campaign, currently against four Democratic opponents. Webber, in a prepared statement this week on endorsement, said: just met Mark Rudd. Of course I denounce terrorism and understand Mark Rudd regrets his involvement with the radical antigovernment group from the 1960s. For over three decades Mark Rudd has been a teacher at CNM, a com- munity activist, and an advocate of nonviolence. If Gov.

Martinez wants to discuss her supporters, she should start with the Koch brothers and Sarah After a KRQE-TV report Monday night on support for Webber, the national Republican Governors Association for which Gov. Susana Martinez is an executive committee member took aim at Webber, calling his to Rudd when given the chance, Webber chose not to reject support; he defended RGA spokeswoman Gail Gitcho said in a new release. Mexicans deserve better than a candidate for governor who spends time with a man who founded a group that pledged political and domestic Later on Tuesday, the New Mexico campaign joined the RGA in criticizing Webber for having the of a notorious domestic Webber is a far-left, fringe candidate whose extreme views Putting contamination levels into context tests the experts Spelling out dangers of WIPP leak Water board to consider resuming fluoridation Webber help from ex-radical slammed GROWING SEED AWARENESS Law grads do well with jobs stepfather arrested in sting See SPELLING on PAGE C2 DEAN Ten-year-old Lucas Anderson, left, and his 7-year-old brother Matthew Anderson on Tuesday glue different types of seeds to a mural of a peacock created by artist Jade Leyva during the New Mexico Sustainability Expo in celebration of Earth Day on the University of New Mexico campus. The mural is being made by A Collective an organization raising awareness of the importance of organic seed preservation. See WEBBER on PAGE C2 See on PAGE C8 See WATER on PAGE C2 Mark support for Democrat in governor race riles Republicans See LAW SCHOOL on PAGE C2 Copyright 2014 Albuquerque Journal By Lauren Villagran Journal Staff Writer Although the exposure was minimal, the recent contamination to workers at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant revealed the risks of a radioactive leak.

People who may have heard the terms in job training suddenly had a personal stake in the meaning of and per measurements of radiation exposure and radioactivity, respectively. One hundred forty-nine workers gave urine or fecal samples for testing, and at least 20 workers have tested positive for contamination, at levels deemed harmless to health. The Energy Department compared the levels of worker exposure to getting a chest X-ray. But is inhaling plutonium and americium really the same as getting a chest X-ray? How much exposure is too much, and what can be done about it? it comes to the release of nuclear material, although there was much training, there was really very little context because there has never been a said Bob McQuinn, who took over management of WIPP contractor Nuclear Waste Partnership UNM recent graduates beat national employment average Suspect said resist, but arrest goes without incident Board meeting WHAT: Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority Board meeting to discuss an ordinance to require supplemental water fluoridation WHEN: 5 p.m. today WHERE: County Government Center, One Civic Plaza, basement chamber Practice was stopped by Albuquerque Bernalillo County utility in 2011 By Mike Bush Journal Staff Writer When it comes to graduates finding jobs, the University of New Mexico School of Law ranks high, placing between Yale and Georgetown on the national list of more than 200 accredited law schools, according to the largest organization of attorneys.

In mid-February, the American Bar Association looked at the employment status of the spring 2013 graduating classes almost 47,000 new lawyers. Nationwide, the percentage of graduates who had found full-time, long-term employment practicing law was 57 percent. At UNM, it was 73.7 percent. The law schools at the top of the list were Columbia University, the University of Chicago and New York University. 18th-place ranking was, of course, good news for David Herring, dean of the Online To see the list, go to www.

nationallawjournal.com and click on Law Schools Are Tops for.