Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces –
Second District Congressman Steve Pearce (R-NM) says the super committee never should have been formed, and now, it's up to Congress to cut the budget.

Here is his full statement:

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) The New Mexico Public Education Department is getting nearly half a million dollars from the Daniels Fund to create a mentorship program to help the state's 40 lowest-performing schools.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) New Mexico's permanent funds dropped in value by more than $1 billion during the past quarter because of a downturn in global financial markets.

The latest report to the State Investment Council shows the Land Grant Permanent Fund had assets valued at $9.5 billion at the end of September, down more than a $1 billion from the previous quarter. The fund had a negative return of 10.6 percent in the quarter and is down about 5.8 percent so far this year.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – During a special board meeting held Monday, the Educational Retirement Board (ERB) adopted a proposal to reduce the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) by 12.5% for all current and future retirees. The ERB COLA is based on the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and typically begins the year a retiree turns age 65.

"The proposal is consistent with the Board's goal of improving the retirement plan's funding ratio to 80% by 2030 and 95% by 2040 and ensuring its long term sustainability," Board Chair Mary Lou Cameron said.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) joined a Congressional delegation of 11 members of Congress in Birmingham, Alabama, and participated in an ad-hoc field hearing Monday which provided him first-hand information and knowledge from public officials, community leaders, families, teachers, and small business owners on Alabama's state law, HB 56, which some call the most misguided and ill-informed immigration law in the country.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman said Republicans were to blame after learning the Congressional debt reduction super committee' announced it could not reach an agreement on how to reduce the deficit by $1.2 trillion.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces –
Every Monday, Fred Martino speaks with Las Cruces Sun News Business Editor Brook Stockberger.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces motorists are advised that Main Street, between Las Cruces Avenue and the roundabout, will be closed beginning Tuesday, November 22nd at 7:00 am. The work will be in effect for approximately one day.

Jaynes Construction Company, Inc. will be installing landscape improvements for the new roadway. Pedestrian traffic will be maintained. Pedestrians wishing to seek access to business can do so as previously accomplished. Motorists wishing to seek access to business can do so by following detours in place.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A grand jury has indicted an Anthony man on aggravated battery charges after he allegedly shot his stepson in the face.

On Oct. 2, 2011, Dona Ana County Sheriff's investigators say a family dispute escalated into an argument between Dustin Stover, 25, and his mother, who lives in the 100 block of Boone Circle in Anthony with her husband, Grover Herring.

During the argument, witnesses say Herring, 50, pointed a .357 revolver at Stover and fired a single shot that hit his stepson in the left side of his jaw.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) New Mexico police have launched a "superblitz" of check points and patrols to crack down on drunken driving during the winter holiday season.

State officials say the anti-drunken driving campaign will run through Jan. 8 and includes television and radio advertising.

New Mexico Traffic Safety Director Mike Sandoval said Friday that alcohol is often a factor in holiday traffic crashes.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission will be giving some business owners a break starting later this month.

The agency says it will reduce by half the expedited filing costs for businesses that register with its Corporations Division.

Current state codes for expedited service requires businesses to pay $300 for same-day filing or $200 for two-day filing. The new rule will cut those fees to $150 and $100, respectively.

The change becomes effective Nov. 30

By KRWG News

New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) The first Native American Republican judge has joined the New Mexico District Court.

Judge Samuel Winder was officially sworn in last week two months after Gov. Susana Martinez appointed him to fill the vacancy on the 2nd Judicial District Court created by the retirement of criminal Judge Albert "Pat" Murdoch.

The 49-year-old -born Winder is a member of the Southern Ute tribe and a former federal prosecutor who served twice at the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico.

By KRWG News

Bloomfield, New Mexico – BLOOMFIELD, N.M. (KRWG) Authorities say Mexican drug cartels are becoming a growing presence in parts of northern New Mexico.

The Farmington Daily Times reports ( http://bit.ly/sTqxR7 ) that Region II Narcotics Task Force Director Neil Haws says the Juarez cartel has been operating for two years in San Juan County, for example, but that the Sinaloa and Michoacan cartels also have gained ground

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Fame followed Georgia O'Keeffe from New York to the desolate landscapes of the Southwest. But beyond America's shores, her work is relatively unknown.

For the first time, her iconic paintings of flowers, bleached bones and dramatic landscapes will be exhibited over the next year in Italy, Germany and Finland as part of a traveling retrospective.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Community opposition has deterred an Austin company from building a nuclear material storage site in Hudspeth County.

AFCI Texas had planned to use land near Fort Hancock for temporary storage of used nuclear fuel rods.

But, according to a story in Sunday's editions of the El Paso Times, the company decided not to use the site after county officials told them residents would oppose the project.