News

By KRWG News

CARLSBAD CAVERNS NATIONAL PARK, N.M. – (AP) Carlsbad Caverns National Park is offering free admission from April 17-25 to celebrate National Park Week.

Fees will still be charged for guided tours.

The park in southeastern New Mexico also will offer special programs, such as rope climbing demonstrations.

The nearby community of Carlsbad, in partnership with the park and others, plans a March for Parks at Living Desert Zoo and Garden State Park on April 24.

By KRWG News

SANTA FE, N.M. – (AP) New Mexico Attorney General Gary King says a multistate agreement with Valero Energy Corp. will make it tougher for minors to buy tobacco products at Valero gas stations.

King says that under the agreement, the company will have clerks check the identification of people who appear to be under age 27 and use security videos to monitor how well clerks comply.

King says Valero also agreed to change the terms of its franchises so illegal sales to minors could result in the loss of the franchise.

By KRWG News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – (AP) Lt. Gov. Diane Denish is proposing a state tax credit for small businesses that create jobs.

Denish announced the proposal Thursday as part of her campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor.

A $2,500-a--job tax credit was among several initiatives she supports to help small businesses and to create jobs in rural areas.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces, NM – LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) The state Environment Department has issued a notice of violation to Helena Chemical Company over the firm's groundwater cleanup plan for a Mesquite fertilizer facility.

State officials say they also rejected the company's request to operate without an air quality permit.

The department says Helena hasn't agreed to mitigate for fluoride, chloride and dissolved solids which are above certain levels and qualify as contaminants.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) New Mexico Republicans have fielded more challengers against Democratic incumbents in state House races than they have in a decade.

Democratic incumbents face GOP candidates in 25 legislative races this year.

Democrats have maintained a majority in the House for nearly 60 years.

This year is a critical election for both parties because of redistricting.

By Carrie Hamblen

April 10th, 2010 – Edited Images Interview with Michael Berman. On the program, he talks about how he began in photography, his approach to photographing the border landscape and how he began working with Journalist Charles Bowden.

By Carrie Hamblen

April 10th, 2010 – Full Interview with Photographer Michael Berman talks about how he got into photography, his approach to photographing the landscapes of the Border region, how he views the pristine deserts and the people who inhabit them and his work with journalist Charles Bowden.

By Carrie Hamblen

April 3rd, 2010 – American Association of University Women Las Cruces Chapter President Deanise Marta and Fundraiser Chair Katrin Sumpter talking about the role of the AAUW in the region, how they organize the annual Girls Can! event, and their upcoming fundraiser on the 10th of April.

By KRWG News

Deming – A bomb squad from Fort Bliss, Texas, was called and a highway was closed after a New Mexico homeowner found World War II-era grenades and dynamite in a shed.

Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos says the homeowner was cleaning out the shed before demolishing it when he found the unexploded ordnance.

Cobos says the explosives ordnance demolition team from Fort Bliss arrived about 2 p.m. Thursday at the site near N.M. 418 and took the items to a firing range, where the team blew them up.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A Dona Ana County jury has found in favor of Helena Chemical Company in a civil defamation lawsuit against Mesquite community activist Arturo Uribe.

The jury awarded punitive damages of $75,000 and rejected a counterclaim by Uribe, who had alleged malicious abuse of process.

Uribe's attorneys claimed Helena abused the legal process to retaliate for a pending negligence lawsuit against the company.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – WALK MS LAS CRUCES
SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2010
YOUNG PARK, 8:00 A.M. TO NOON

Check-In & Turning in Pledges
Check-In begins at 8:00 a.m.
Walk MS begins at 9:00 a.m.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico has been awarded more than $28 million in federal recovery money to help improve low-performing schools.

The U.S. Department of Education awarded the funding to the state Public Education Department. Low-performing schools from across New Mexico are eligible to apply for the funds.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Charles Daniels is taking over as chief justice.

Daniels was sworn to the post on Wednesday.

He was a lawyer in Albuquerque before his appointment to the state's highest court in 2007 by Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson.

Daniels won election in 2008 to fill out the unexpired term to which he was appointed. He is up for retention election this year to start a new term.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Members of a task force that is looking at flooding issues in Dona Ana County are considering whether to create a flood control authority.

Task force chairman Joe Delk says not many improvements have been made in the county since flooding devastated Hatch in 2006.

Delk says a proposed flood control authority in Dona Ana County would be similar to one in Albuquerque. The authority would put bond questions before voters to finance flood control projects such as dams, channels and ponds.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A renewable energy company plans to build its corporate headquarters along with research, development and manufacturing operations in New Mexico.

Green2V chief executive officer Bill Sheppard says the company plans to hire 1,500 workers for its operation in Rio Rancho over the next five years. Ultimately, it plans to build more manufacturing sites and employ 3,000 people statewide.

Sheppard says the company has been studying the renewable energy market and recognizes an opportunity in the solar industry.