Regional

By KRWG News

Anthony, NM – A 31-year-old Las Cruces man who is a teacher at Chaparral High School was arrested Tuesday evening after he repeatedly threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and her family.

Samuel Mario Lara, of the 2800 block of Erminda Street, is charged with one count of aggravated stalking and one count of criminal trespassing.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out a district judge's determination that the federal government has the authority to take irrigation water in the Rio Grande for the endangered silvery minnow.

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King calls Wednesday's decision "essentially a victory for state's rights" but says the ruling will preserve habitat for the silvery minnow.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A first-grade boy underwent surgery for a skull fracture after an apparent fight with another boy on a school bus in Las Cruces.

Las Cruces Public Schools spokeswoman Jo Galvan says the first- and second-grade boys were riding home April 14 when there was an apparent shoving match and one boy hit his head.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The Senate will soon begin debate on Wall Street reform and New Mexico U.S Senator Tom Udall says institutions that are deemed too big to fail are a major part of the problem. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico U.S Senator Tom Udall introduced legislation this week that aims to update compensation for people exposed to uranium and atomic weapons tests. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – Congressman Harry Teague is asking for funding to help curb the violence in Mexico from further spilling into the United States. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces has installed a second speed and red light traffic enforcement camera at the intersection of Telshor Boulevard and Lohman Avenue.

The second camera is for traffic travelling west on Lohman Avenue as it approaches the Lohman/Telshor intersection. A camera for eastbound traffic has been operational since last year.

The second camera is scheduled for activation on Friday, April 30th.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A total of 2,060 students at New Mexico State University's Las Cruces campus have applied for graduation this spring. Of those, an estimated 1,400 will take part in the university's spring 2010 commencement ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at the Pan American Center. An additional 738 students are candidates for degrees at NMSU's community colleges.

By KRWG News

Texas – Two senators say it's time to consider ending a contract for a "virtual fence" along the U.S.-Mexico border that they contend isn't keeping illegal immigrants out of the United States.

Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman said Tuesday the government should either terminate the contract with Boeing Co. or take from it any working parts and scrap the rest.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Environment Department has concluded pollution in the Rio Grande coming from Los Alamos National Laboratory remains below standards for drinking water.

The department says concentrations fell below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standard for PCBs in drinking water and are not a threat to Albuquerque's drinking water supply.

The results released this week come from a 2009 study on water quality in the river near Santa Fe's Buckman diversion project and during storm flows in Albuquerque.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A legislative task force will look at whether New Mexico state government should be reorganized.

The task force holds its first meeting Wednesday in the Capitol, and is to hear testimony about past governmental restructuring efforts, including during the 1970s when Democratic Gov. Jerry Apodaca pushed to streamline agencies, boards and commissions.

By KRWG News

Texas – Dozens of tax exemptions drew scrutiny as the Texas House Ways and Means committee prepares to deal with an estimated budget shortfall of $11 billion.

About 150 lobbyists and interest groups filled a hearing room yesterday in Austin.

A representative from the state comptroller's office said Texas lost $2.7 million in potential tax revenue in 2009 from exemptions on solar and wind energy devices.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – As school districts in the area face record budget deficits and cuts our U.S Senators have co-sponsored a bill to keep teachers in the classroom. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A vehicle registered to two of the victims murdered in a Las Cruces area home was located at approximately 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning at the City of Las Cruces Utilities Complex, Visitor Parking lot, located at 680 Motel Boulevard, by City Utility workers.

City Police were called to the scene, which in turn preserved the vehicle for processing, notifying Dona Ana County Sheriff's Investigators.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico U.S Senator Jeff Bingaman says he does not support efforts to shift offshore oil drilling revenues. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports