Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The advisory board for New Mexico's medical marijuana law will consider adding two more health conditions to the list that qualify patients to use medical marijuana.

The state Department of Health's Medical Advisory Board plans a public hearing March 30 in Santa Fe to review petitions to add auto immune diseases and severe behavioral disturbances related to autism, traumatic brain injury mental retardation or dementia.

Sixteen conditions currently qualify for medical marijuana.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state of New Mexico has launched a new toll-free number and a 24-hour line to help unemployed people claim jobless benefits.

The new number, 1-877-664-6984, has service available in English and Spanish.

People seeking unemployment insurance can do their weekly certification and reset their personal identification number using the toll-free telephone number without having to call a state Department of Workforce Solutions customer service representative.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A top staffer for Gov. Bill Richardson says the Democratic governor is leaning toward vetoing a proposed tax on food. The provision is part of a bill with about $200 million in tax increases to help balance the budget. The Legislature approved a proposal to reinstate the gross receipts tax on food at the rate imposed by local governments, which averages about 2 percent statewide.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Jet planes loaded with 450 federal police officers have arrived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to bolster a federal force struggling to control violent drug traffickers.

Juarez has become known as Mexico's murder capital.

The law-enforcement surge Tuesday boosts the number of federal agents in the border city across from El Paso, Texas, to 3,500. It comes on the same day U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and top-level security officials met with Mexico's leaders and pledged to help tackle the problem.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Current and former members of the State Investment Council want the attorney general to bring a lawsuit to recover damages or losses from investments made because of potential play-to-pay influences.

A council subcommittee made the recommendation on Tuesday in a report about improving the council's oversight of New Mexico's permanent funds.

A pension scandal in New York has raised questions about some investments made by the council. Federal investigators also are looking into New Mexico investments.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces police have arrested the mother of a 4-year-old girl who was shot multiple times by an older brother with a BB gun.

Police say 31-year-old Amanda Tarin is charged with one third-degree felony count of negligent child abuse. She has been booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.

Police were called Sunday after the girl returned to her father's home after visiting with her mother and had several BB-size bruises on both legs. The girl's injuries were not life-threatening.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has outlined a campaign plan to save the state $450 million over five years, including by cutting political appointees in the government work force.

Denish is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. She outlined measures on Tuesday that she said should make state government operate more efficiently.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – A joint law enforcement task force released the results of an investigation in the January shooting death of a young man by Las Cruces Police. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Now that health care reform has been signed into law, New Mexico U.S Senator Jeff Bingaman says he looks forward to working on other legislation. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The health care reform bill was signed by the President on Tuesday, but there's more work to be done. The Senate has to take up a reconciliation bill that already passed the House. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Mexico City – Top Obama administration officials are meeting with Mexican officials to strengthen cross-border cooperation against drug cartels and criminal gangs.

The one-day visit focuses on ways to break the power of the Mexican drug trafficking organizations.

U.S. officials see a strategic problem with their neighbor's surging violence and unstable judicial and law enforcement systems. Mexican officials blame that instability on the insatiable U.S. demand for lucrative and illegal narcotics.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A conversation with Nancy Harris of Radium Springs. The certified household manager plans to offer courses on the profession in the area this Fall.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police arrested a man Monday evening and charged him in the November 2009 shooting death of 18-year-old Jessie Angel Torres.

Jamelle Allen Lowe, 20, of the 1700 block of Pomona Drive, was arrested Monday, March 22, and is charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter. Lowe was transported to the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.

By KRWG News

El Paso – El Paso police and Texas state troopers have waged a second assault against suspected members of the Barrio Azteca border gang.

In a statement issued Monday, El Paso city officials say 25 people were arrested in what's being called Phase 2 of "Operation Knock Down. The operation is an effort to find new leads into the March 13 killings of three people with ties to the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The U.S. Postal Service plans to honor Pulitzer Prize cartoonist Bill Mauldin with the issue of a commemorative stamp.

A dedication and first-day-of-issue celebration is planned Wednesday at the auditorium of the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe.

Mauldin became known during World War II for his Willie and Joe characters in cartoons that took a humorous look at military life through the eyes of infantrymen.

In 1945, Mauldin won his first of two Pulitzer Prizes for distinguished service as a cartoonist.