Regional

By KRWG News

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – New Mexico State University officials are considering selling beer and wine at sporting events in an effort to raise revenue for the university.

College of Business dean and co-chair of the Effectiveness and Efficiency committee Garrey E. Carruthers says it's a service to our customers to enjoy a game after work with a beer and a hot dog.

NMSU athletic director McKinley Boston also confirmed the evaluation of liquor sales is being undertaken.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – An 18-year-old man was arrested early this morning after Las Cruces Police officers spotted him removing computer equipment from an area elementary school.

Oscar Angel Rodriguez, of 1500 E. Madrid Ave., is charged with non-residential burglary, criminal damage to property and conspiracy. Rodriguez is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $5,000.

Charges against a second man, also believed to be involved in the burglary, are pending.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A new website launched this week to promote legislation that would protect the Organ Mountains.

The website, www.buygreenlascruces.com, showcases local businesses
that support the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks wilderness legislation.

The website is sponsored by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

Jeff Steinborn of the Alliance says .the legislation would not only
protect the natural treasure, but would also potentially create jobs.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the suspects responsible for a Nov. 18 home-invasion robbery in Mesilla, N.M.

At around 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18, two masked men ambushed a husband and wife couple who had just returned to their home on the 2100 block of Calle de Santiago in Mesilla. The suspects ordered the couple to the floor and used plastic ties to restrain the husband and wife.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico has been awarded $34.2 million to help develop a health care marketplace- known as a health care "exchange."

The exchange is one of the key provisions of the health insurance reform law, which in 2014 will expand health care access to millions of Americans who currently do not have health insurance.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Students at New Mexico State University rated their overall experience higher than previous years and higher than those at comparable schools, according to the 2011 National Survey of Student Engagement released this month.

The survey of freshmen and seniors at NMSU showed students learn actively and collaboratively, are challenged academically, have a supportive campus environment and participate in student-faculty interactions.

By KRWG News

Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico – HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (KRWG) Holloman Air Force Base says its 49th Wing will be conducting routine F-22 Raptor night flying training during the next two weeks.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez is in Orlando, Florida attending a meeting of the Republican Governors Association.

A spokesman for the governor said Martinez left Sunday for the conference and is expected to return to New Mexico late Friday. Her travel expenses are being paid for by the association.

Martinez serves on the RGA's executive committee. She is the nation's only Hispanic female governor.

When the governor is out of the state, Lt. Gov. John Sanchez serves as acting governor.

By KRWG News

Animas, New Mexico – ANIMAS, N.M. (KRWG) A Utah-based clean energy firm is one step closer to building a geothermal power plant in southern New Mexico.

Cyrq Energy Inc. subsidiary Lightning Dock Geothermal has signed a $65 million engineering, procurement and construction contract with Ormat Nevada Inc. to build the binary plant near Animas.

In addition to building the plant, Ormat will provide construction financing.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – An increased number of DWI checkpoints and saturation patrols over the Thanksgiving weekend netted the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department ten DWI arrests and more than 500 traffic citations.

The arrests were made county-wide between Thanksgiving Day and Nov. 27, 2011. During that same time period, 501 traffic citations were issued to drivers for various offenses.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Askthecity.com is a city-wide reporting system that began in early October.
Residents can use the online form and website to report things like road conditions, graffiti and utility emergencies or request licensing, bills and permits.

At a city council work session this week city officials discussed plans for potential expansion of the system as well as an update as to the systems effectiveness thus far.

By KRWG News

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – Magistrate Court Judge Olivia Nevarez Garcia has agreed to retire at the end of the year.

A petition detailing the allegations against the 68-year-old Garcia was not immediately available. The Supreme Court order unsealed Monday says the first of three inquiries began in September 2010, and that the Judicial Standards Commission voted unanimously Nov. 4 to accept her retirement "in lieu of further disciplinary proceedings."

By KRWG News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico's unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in October, unchanged from September but down from 8.6 percent a year ago and well below the national rate of 9 percent.

October was the third month the state unemployment rate held steady at 6.6 percent after dropping steadily during the first six months of the year.

Meantime, the Department of Workforce Solutions reports job growth in the state was 0.6 percent in October, which represents an increase of 5,000 jobs when compared to October of 2010.

By KRWG News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce and 17 other House members are asking Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to delay a decision on whether a lizard found in parts of New Mexico and Texas should be added to the endangered species list.

Federal wildlife officials are set to deliver their decision on the dunes sagebrush lizard in December.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A holiday gospel concert is one more way a group of New Mexico State University professors and local volunteers are working together to complete restoration of the 100-year-old Phillips Chapel. It is the oldest African American church in Las Cruces and is on the State and National Register of Historic Places.