Police say pair posed as cops

Two men identified themselves as police officers and approached two teenage males Monday around 4 p.m. at 500 Market St. near the Railyard, a police statement said.

One of the men demanded one teen's wallet. The victims, ages 14 and 15, did not turn over the wallet and ran away unharmed.

The suspects, who were not in police uniform, were described as between 30 and 40 years old. One suspect was described as about 5-feet, 9-inches tall with short brown hair. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and jeans. The second suspect is about 5-feet, 10-inches tall with medium-length brown hair, a goatee and mustache, and a heavy build. He was wearing a dark T-shirt and baggy jeans.

Police ask anyone with information to call 955-5038.

City finance director steps down

As Santa Fe officials begin work on a city budget for the fiscal year that starts in July, they will count on a different person to head the Finance Department.

Dave Millican, department director for about two years, will step down Friday. He said his decision to leave is partly based on results of a peer review by top administrators preparing to restructure the city organization.

"The Finance Department needs a much more operations- and customer-service-oriented person," he said, "while my great strengths are planning strategy in complex analysis."

City Manager Robert Romero has arranged for former finance director Katherine Raveling to lead the department temporarily.

Millican said he and Romero have different management styles and that Romero's relationship with Raveling should make for an informed budget review in coming months. Romero, named city manager in January, was Public Works Department Director for years and worked closely with Raveling.

The city typically prepares its budget during the spring, with final approval in May. Romero expects to advertise for a permanent finance director.

Marchers remember Tibet uprising

Tibetans and supporters in Santa Fe plan a march and rally today to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising against occupation by China.

The gathering is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Tibetan Association of Santa Fe Community Center, 915 Hickox St., with marchers leaving at 9:30 a.m. for the Capitol for a rally, then returning by way of the Plaza.

In addition to the Tibetan Association of Santa Fe, participants include members of the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of New Mexico and Students for a Free Tibet, among others.

Local organizers said in an announcement that the event is one of dozens of "street mobilizations" planned in cities worldwide "to commemorate more than five decades of Tibetans' courageous resistance and to show support for a powerful, new nonviolent resistance movement being led by the younger generation of Tibetans inside Tibet to challenge China's rule of their homeland."

Cable show features remodel work

Producers of a show called Bang For Your Buck on the HGTV cable network announced that they will return to the Santa Fe area for a second season to look for homeowners to participate in the program.

A spokesman said the Colorado-based producers are looking for people who have dramatically transformed their outdoor living space within the last three years.

Each episode features a tour of "three similar remodels at similar price points in the same city," a news release said.

"We'll bring in our design expert and real estate expert to determine how the renovation impacts each home's value," the release said. "We'll also provide viewers with expert advice, answers on remodeling values and inspiring ideas for design."

Interested homeowners may apply by sending before/after photos to jjordon@highnoontv.com or call 303-712-3135.

Governor signs nuclear workers bill

Gov. Bill Richardson signed a bill Tuesday that will provide money for a state advocacy program to help workers who become ill because of exposure to hazardous substances at Department of Energy facilities or in the uranium mining industry.

The bill will provide funding for the New Mexico Environment Department's Office of Nuclear Workers' Advocacy to help compensate miners, lab employees and others. The office was created in 2007 to help workers obtain federal compensation for injuries.

The bill signed by the governor (House Bill 101) would allow fees assessed on successful claims to be deposited in the Nuclear Workers' Assistance Fund to enable it to become self-supporting.

Community Foundation changes deadline

The Santa Fe Community Foundation says it's moving its grant proposal submission period up by one month.

Nonprofits can submit proposals online on the foundation's Web site anytime between April 14 and 5 p.m. May 24.

An announcement said the earlier deadline will allow the foundation to put into place an initiative called "Giving Together," in which all grant proposals will be summarized and shared with foundation fundholders, who will be invited to fund, in part or in whole, any proposals that are of interest to them.

"The foundation hopes this will increase the amount of funds available for area nonprofits," the statement said.

Any remaining unfunded or partially funded proposals will go to the foundation's Grants Committee for review, as in previous years.

Nonprofit groups that have been in existence for at least three years and serve the populations of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, Taos, Los Alamos, San Miguel and Mora counties are eligible to apply.

More information is available at www.santafecf.org">www.santafecf.org.