Regional

By KRWG News

Texas – The Texas Film Commission has denied state incentives to motion picture director Robert Rodriguez's film satire "Machete."

The commission, which is based in Gov. Rick Perry's office, said in a letter last week that it was denying funding based on a state law provision that allows for denial of incentives if the film "portrays Texas or Texans in a negative fashion."

By KRWG News

Texas – Experts are watching to see if Texas is heading for another drought.

State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon told the Houston Chronicle that continuing dry weather is likely to persist at least into the spring. Nielsen-Gammon, who's also a professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas A&M University, says "it's probably going to get worse before it gets better."

The U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday indicated 85 percent of Texas is abnormally dry, compared to about 29 percent a year ago.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a man who impersonated a police officer and attempted to persuade a woman to get into his vehicle.

At around 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, Las Cruces Police learned that a woman walking along west Amador Avenue was approached by a man driving a green Chevrolet Avalanche. The woman told police the man pulled up in front of her and tried to persuade her to get into his vehicle.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Friday, Dec. 10 agenda item to vote on final approval on the retirement plan design change proposal will be postponed to Friday, Dec. 17 during a special Board meeting, according to the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (NMERB).

"The Board needs more time to review the actuarial effects from the proposal revisions that have been made thus far," NMERB Chairman Mary Lou Cameron said, "this will also allow us more time to give our members the opportunity provide their input."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The U.S. Forest Service plans to award $4 million in grants for forest restoration projects on public and tribal lands in New Mexico.

The agency is accepting applications for grants of up to $360,000 for projects to reduce the threat of wildfires and improve forest and watershed conditions.

Southwestern Regional Forester Corbin Newman said the deadline for grant applications is Feb. 28.

By KRWG News

Texas – Jobless insurance rates in Texas will increase by about $5 per worker in 2011 for companies paying the minimum state unemployment tax.

The Texas Workforce Commission says an employer paying the standard minimum tax will pay about $70.20 per employee next year. That compares to $64.80 in tax per employee during 2010.

The money is used for the Texas Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. The fund provides unemployment insurance for Texas workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own.

By KRWG News

Deming – After a six-month wait, funding has been approved in Washington, D.C., for the Border Operation Drug Task Force in southwestern New Mexico.

The task force will operate under the Silver City Police Department but will remain headquartered in Deming. It will increase to 14 agents under a $589,000 one-year budget.

The task force operates in Luna, Grant and Hidalgo counties. New Mexico State Police Sgt. Tommy Mora is serving as interim director.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Family members of an illegal immigrant whose death at a West Texas prison set off an inmate riot have filed a federal lawsuit.

The suit on behalf of Jesus Manuel Galindo was filed Wednesday in El Paso. Galindo died in December 2008 when attorneys say the 32-year-old had an epileptic seizure while in solitary confinement at the Reeves County Detention Center.

By KRWG News

Silver City – Former Western New Mexico University faculty member Judge Celia Foy Castillo will deliver the commencement address at the WNMU fall commencement ceremony on Friday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m.

Judge Castillo serves on the New Mexico Court of Appeals where she was elected in 2000.

Born in Deming and raised in Bayard, Judge Castillo graduated from Cobre High School. She attended Saint Mary's College, the sister school of Notre Dame in Indiana, and received a B.A. in Spanish and education.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – On Monday the City Council officially backed several projects that will be presented during the state legislative session in January.

Among the projects are State Capital projects including the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority or MVRDA and the Crisis Triage Center. Also on the list are the Flood Control Authority, Camunez Building Acquisition and the Hold Harmless Tax Issue.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The Bataan Memorial Death March is a challenging march through the high desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range. It is conducted in honor of the heroic service members who defeated the Philippine Islands during World War II.

Participants can choose between two different routes, one being twenty-six point two miles and the other fifteen point two miles.

By KRWG News

Texas – The state's top three leaders are asking Texas agencies to find savings of 2.5 percent in their current-year budgets.

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus wrote to state agencies Tuesday, requesting the cuts in advance of next year's legislative session.

By KRWG News

Farmington, NM – Farmington city councilors have decided unanimously to clear the way for the city to appeal the state's recently approved plan for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

The councilors had met privately with attorneys during a closed session last month and again briefly during Tuesday's work session to discuss the potential litigation.

By KRWG News

Lordsburg – U.S. Border Patrol agents in Lordsburg will soon have a new facility to match their increasing duties along New Mexico's southwestern border and southeastern Arizona.

The new station will provide a base of operations for up to 350 agents to cover the nearly 4,000 square miles they are charged with protecting. The station will also have the capacity to house more than 100 detainees.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Republican Gov.-elect Susana Martinez has asked state agencies for proposals to cut "low priority" programs next year to save 10 percent in their budgets.

The Martinez transition team made the request last week in a directive to agencies, boards and commissions, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press.

The proposals for cuts are to provide policy options for Martinez to use in preparing budget recommendations that will go the Legislature soon after she takes office next month.