Regional

By KRWG News

Texas – The Department of State Health Services has outlined nearly $246 million in possible cuts as Texas faces a potential $18 billion shortfall in the next budget period.

The 2011 Legislature will have the final say as agencies respond to budget-trimming orders from Texas leaders, including Gov. Rick Perry.

More than 20,000 Texans who receive state-funded mental health services would lose care under proposed DSHS budget cuts released this week.

By KRWG News

El Paso – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists working at the El Paso port of entry have made an important pest interception. They discovered 12 living fruit fly larvae in a mango that a California bound traveler had in his possession.

"The introduction of living fruit fly larvae to citrus growing regions could be devastating," said William Molaski, U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director. "Stopping this type of pest at the border is another way CBP is protecting the nation."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico has settled a lawsuit over compliance with the so-called "motor voter" law that lets people register to vote at state agencies, including the Motor Vehicle Division when they get a driver's license.

The settlement requires the designation of staffers as National Voter Registration Act coordinators to help ensure compliance.

That will be done through education and training and making sure agency offices have the equipment needed for voter registrations.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has canceled an annual meeting of 10 Mexican and U.S. border state governors that was scheduled in Phoenix later this year.

Six governors from Mexican border states refused to attend because they object to Arizona's tough new immigration law.

Brewer told the Mexican governors in a letter late last month that she has no choice but to cancel the summit.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Due to the dedication ceremony for the new federal building in Las Cruces on Friday, July 9th, the outside lane of Church Street from Amador Avenue to Las Cruces Avenue will be closed to traffic. The inside lane will remain open.

Also, Griggs Avenue from Main Street to Church Street will be closed to traffic.

The closures will be in effect from 3 to 8 p.m.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Mexican authorities say a suspect is in custody in the June 30 killing of a top prosecutor for the northern state of Chihuahua.

Prosecutor Sandra Salas had been responsible for evaluating the work of public prosecutors and special investigatory units in Ciudad Juarez, which borders El Paso, Texas.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – People with active arrest warrants against them are being given a chance to surrender to law enforcement officers in southern New Mexico.

Las Cruces police are participating in the New Mexico Fugitive Safe Surrender program, which will let fugitives surrender at the city's Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral between July 28 and July 31.

Anyone with an active warrant can surrender at the church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. any of those days.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexicans from across the state can now tune into live audio streaming of proceedings of the Legislature's interim committees.

The Legislative Council voted last week to begin webcasting audio from the interim committee meetings. With this year's meetings being held in Santa Fe, the meeting rooms were already wired and ready to go for webcasting to begin in July.

A link for the webcasts is available at the Legislature's Web site.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – DWI arrests over the extended Fourth of July holiday weekend increased slightly from 2009 while the police and fire departments kept busy responding to several fireworks-related calls.

This past holiday weekend, from Friday through Monday, the Las Cruces police arrested seven motorists on charges of driving while intoxicated. In 2009, LCPD recorded six such arrests over the same four day period surrounding July 4.

Independence Day was on a Sunday this year and on a Saturday in 2009.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A former Qwest accountant is seeking sanctions against the Securities and Exchange Commission for a civil lawsuit it filed against him, former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio and others.

The pending lawsuit alleges James Kozlowski and others misrepresented Qwest's revenues between 1999 and 2002. Kozlowski argues he was a mid-level accountant who isn't to blame.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Bacteria, electric fish and cancer may not sound like they have a lot in common, but students in the New Mexico State University Minority Access to Research Careers program may one day change the biomedical field through their research in these areas.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Famed film historian, writer, actor, producer and director Peter Bogdanovich will join the growing list of special guests at this year's Plaza Classic Film Festival, event organizers announced today. The Plaza Classic, now in its 3rd year, premiers August 5, 2010 in El Paso and will run through August 15, 2010 at the Plaza Theatre. The event is sponsored by the El Paso Community Foundation.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Some $1 million in federal stimulus money has been released to support early childhood programs across New Mexico.

Some $234,000 will go to programs for homeless children and their families, while $766,000 will be spent on home visiting services for infants and their families.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – An organization in Truth or Consequences has received a rural development grant.

Bountiful Alliance is receiving $98,942 to establish a commercial kitchen to prepare products for sale locally and regionally.

A second New Mexico organization, Tierra del Sol Housing Corp. in Anthony, has been awarded a $138,058 grant to provide technical assistance and revolving loan funds to small businesses.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Department of Veterans Affairs says more female veterans in New Mexico are taking advantage of a program designed to provide primary health care for women within the VA's system.

The VA says it offers a full range of services through the Women's Comprehensive Care Clinic at the VA hospital in Albuquerque and care at 11 clinics across the state.