Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Las Cruces Association of Realtors will donate 24 digital cameras to the City of Las Cruces for use in the City's "Picturing El Paseo" project.

Las Cruces is one of four cities nationwide selected to participate in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2010 Smart Growth Implementation Assistance Program (SGIA).

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish has given to charity the campaign contributions she received from the former chairman of a New Mexico educational pension fund.

Denish campaign spokesman Chris Cervini (SUR-vee-nee) says $4,100 in contributions from Bruce Malott (MAH-lot) was donated Thursday to a nonprofit that provides scholarships to early childhood educators.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Eastern New Mexico University and the town of Taos will share nearly a quarter of a million dollars in state funds to bolster film and digital media programs.

Gov. Bill Richardson says the funding will help pay for badly needed equipment.

The funding $225,000 is being allocated through the governor's media fund.

Eastern New Mexico University will use the money to expand its digital cinema arts program. Currently, more than 40 students are enrolled in the program.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Federal prosecutors in El Paso have charged 11 people as part of a years-old public corruption case.

All pleaded not guilty and are free on bond after surrendering yesterday in El Paso.

Nine people, including El Paso County District Clerk Gilbert Sanchez, are charged with violations under the federal anti-racketeering law. Also charged with racketeering violations are Francisco Apodaca Jr., former head of now-defunct Access Healthsource Inc., and Access consultant Marc Schwartz.

By KRWG News

Texas – Former Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Phillips and his wife have been sued over the 2009 death of a teen in a traffic accident.

The wrongful death lawsuit alleges Phillips and his wife, Lyn, let minors drink alcohol at their home.

The Austin American-Statesman reports the suit was filed Tuesday in Bastrop by Cheryl and Bobby King, whose 17-year-old daughter Audrey died in the single-vehicle wreck. They seek unspecified damages.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A bicyclist haphazardly carrying his 2-year-old daughter as he pedaled in and out of traffic lanes has been charged with negligent child abuse.

Peter Leon Rodriguez, 21, was spotted at around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1, by a Las Cruces Police Department detective who was on-duty and driving north on Mesquite Street.

By KRWG News

Silver City – Western New Mexico University is hosting El Futuro Del Mariachi, a concert celebrating the youth in mariachi on Saturday, September 11, 2010.

Two concerts are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Fine Arts Center Theatre.

At least five groups and three solo acts are scheduled for the two performances with a special appearance by Mariachi Tierra Bella at the 2:00 p.m. showing.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Several people, including a West Texas mayor and the El Paso County district clerk, have surrendered after being indicted in an ongoing widespread public corruption case.

Socorro Mayor Willie Gandara Sr. and District Clerk Gilbert Sanchez on Thursday morning turned themselves in at the El Paso FBI office.

Federal authorities say several other people, including former El Paso County Judge Luther Jones, also turned themselves.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A recently resigned Las Cruces judge has been suspended without pay.

The New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission filed an emergency petition Tuesday to temporarily suspend Magistrate Court Judge Joseph Guillory retroactively on Aug. 13.

Guillory has announced his resignation.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The chairman of New Mexico's educational pension fund has resigned after it was disclosed he borrowed $350,000 from a man whose son shared in millions of dollars in finder's fees from the fund's investments.

Bruce Malott's resignation was reported Thursday by the Albuquerque Journal. The newspaper says he stepped down after an interview concerning the loan.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White has released his plan to secure the U.S.-Mexico border with 1,000 new local law enforcement officers and 250 state troopers.

White, speaking to reporters Thursday, says Republican incumbent Rick Perry has been a failure on the issue over his 10 years in office.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Warning of serious consequences if no action is taken, former Sen. Pete Domenici says it's time to resolve the federal government's huge debt.

The 78-year-old Domenici, who retired in 2009, spoke Wednesday at a public policy conference at New Mexico State University.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico Spaceport Authority (NMSA) has announced that Armadillo Aerospace of Rockwell, Texas, plans to launch three NASA-funded tests of their vertical takeoff and landing rocket technology from Spaceport America this winter.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The National Motorists Association has named Las Cruces the most likely small city in New Mexico to get a speeding ticket; Albuquerque was named most likely overall. In Texas, Houston was named most likely overall, while Tyler was the most likely small city.

To view information on over 60,000 specific speed trap reports by city, state or province, you can visit the Exchange at www.speedtrap.org.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A Las Cruces man was arrested early Wednesday morning after he rammed the Cadillac Escalade he was driving into a car carrying his ex-girlfriend, her friend and a 10-month-old boy.

Matthew A. Alarcon, 24, of the 1035 N. 3rd St., is charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a household member using a deadly weapon, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of child abuse and battery against a household member.