Regional

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The passage of an Arizona law to deal with illegal immigration is gaining some support in Texas. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The passage of an Arizona law to deal with illegal immigration is gaining some support in Texas. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Silver City – Lance is back with his bike in New Mexico.

Seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong has returned to Silver City to compete this week in the Tour of the Gila stage race.

The event begins Wednesday with a 95-mile ride from Silver City to Mogollon.

Armstrong is riding in the Tour of the Gila for the second straight year with teammate Levi Leipheimer. They are joined by a third member of Team RadioShack, Jason McCartney.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Attorneys say Las Cruces will pay $100,000 in a settlement to end a wrongful death lawsuit a Las Cruces family filed against city police.

The family of 38-year-old Michael Molina sued after he was shot and killed by police on Dec. 26, 2006.

Officers were called to the residence after an apparent domestic dispute involving Molina and some family members.

Police say Molina was armed with a knife.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A newly appointed member of the State Investment Council is questioning whether New Mexico should be using one of the state's permanent funds to make interest-free loans to films.

Former state Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson of Las Cruces voiced his doubts Tuesday as the council decided to to temporarily extend a contract with a Hollywood lawyer to advise the state on film investments.

The contract with Peter Dekom will be extended through May while the council looks to hire a permanent film adviser.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The secretary of state's office is offering training for candidates and their campaign treasurers in how to use a new state computer system for campaign finance reports.

Secretary of State Mary Herrera announced the first training sessions will be Friday in Farmington at the San Juan Community College.

Other training will be provided next week in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Clovis.

By KRWG News

Texas – A Texas lawmaker says she plans to push for a law similar to Arizona's get-tough immigration measure.

Republican Rep. Debbie Riddle of Tomball tells the San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle in Wednesday's editions that she'll introduce the measure in the January legislative session.

The new Arizona law would require local and state law enforcement to question people about their immigration status and make it a crime for immigrants to lack registration documents.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Several gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups are pushing congress to outlaw job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Heavy mountain snowfall over the winter translated into a bountiful season for New Mexico ski areas. The ski industry reported a 23 percent increase in skier days during the just-completed season compared with the year before.

The state's ski areas also reported the most skier visits since the 2000-01 season. Ski New Mexico executive director George Brooks says the industry was hoping to hit 1 million skiers, but the final number came up just short of that 964,793.

Brooks says the national economy helped New Mexico.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's three Catholic bishops are speaking out against a new law in Arizona that cracks down on illegal immigrants.

The bishops have issued a statement saying they are concerned the law could lead to racial profiling, community distrust and a pervasive fear among immigrants.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the New Mexico insurance superintendent have signed off on a rate hike on insurance premiums, less than an hour before a state Public Regulation Commission hearing to hear opposition to the plan.

Public Regulation Commissioner Jason Marks calls Monday's agreement a back room deal announced before the public had a chance to comment.

The hearing was called after a 24 percent increase in Blue Cross and Blue Shield premiums in December.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico U.S Senator Jeff Bingaman says the issue of derivatives in financial reform includes much more than many people think. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – A bill has been introduced in Congress to name the U.S. Department of Interior building in Washington after the late Stewart Udall. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

New Mexico – State records show the oil and natural gas industry provided half of the campaign contributions that Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez raised during the past six months.

An analysis of the latest campaign finance reports by The Associated Press found that Martinez collected about $215,000 from oil and gas donors from October through early April.

Martinez, the Dona Ana County district attorney, is one of five Republicans seeking the party's nomination for governor in the June 1 primary election.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Mexican police say they've arrested five suspects in the killings of seven police officers and a bystander in the border city of Ciudad Juarez.

Authorities said today that the suspects are members of La Linea gang, the enforcement arm of the Juarez drug cartel. they say the men confessed to Friday's ambush of two police patrol trucks as they were flagged down for help by an unidentified man. Six federal police officers and one local police woman were killed.