Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – About three quarters of voters approved a $65 million dollar bond issue and two mill capital improvement levy for the Las Cruces Public Schools.

The bond will pay for construction projects at nearly every school in the district.

The mill levy will help pay for improvements to school buildings and will purchase property for future schools.

The district says the tax rate will remain the same. That's because the district continues to pay off bonds approved by voters in previous years.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Las Cruces City Council has approved penalties for violations of the city ordinance that prohibits the use of cell phones while driving, without the use of hands free devices that becomes effective Friday, Feb. 5th.

Penalties are:

First offense: Fixed fine of $25.
Second offense: Fixed fine of $50.
Third or subsequent offense: Up to a maximum of 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, or both.

All violations will require a mandatory court appearance before a municipal court judge.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – President Barack Obama's proposed budget for 2011 contains several measures to protect the environment. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico U.S Senator Jeff Bingaman says President Obama's proposed budget could benefit the state in many ways. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are trying to identify the man who attempted to steal cash from two stores Tuesday morning and, in the process, received injuries during both attempts.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Every Monday at 7:51 a.m., Fred Martino speaks with Las Cruces Sun News Business Editor Brook Stockberger.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A House committee has approved proposals to increase income and sales taxes by $300 million to help balance the state's budget.

One measure will provide nearly $240 million next year by raising the gross receipts tax by one-half cent to 5.5 percent. The tax rate will decline annually until it returns to 5 percent starting in July 2014.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces City Councillor Miguel G. Silva, Dist. 1, is requesting a New Mexico Attorney General's (NMAG) opinion pertaining to the recent fatal shooting of a Las Cruces man by officers with the Las Cruces Police Department.

In his letter of request, Silva states in part, "As is standard procedure incidents such as this one are investigated by a Joint Shooting Task Force. The purpose of this letter is to request that the New Mexico Attorney General's office assist with reviewing the final report."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A measure that would allow the state natural resources trustee to pursue damages from polluters who have compromised groundwater or other natural resources is running into opposition.

Critics say language of the legislation goes too far and would essentially transfer power from the Legislature to the trustee, an unelected position that has no public oversight.

By KRWG News

Santa Fe – Dozens of supporters have gathered at the New Mexico Capitol in support of domestic partnership legislation that has the backing of Gov. Bill Richardson.

The legislation would give unmarried same-sex and opposite-sex couples the legal protections and benefits of married couples on issues ranging from medical decision-making to adoption and child support.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's two national laboratories would see increases in 2011 under a budget President Barack Obama sent to Congress on Monday.

The total Energy Department request for Los Alamos National Laboratory totals $2.21 billion, up from $1.82 billion in 2010.

The budget for weapons activities at the northern New Mexico lab would be $1.6 billion, up from $1.3 billion, while nonproliferation activities would get $233 million, up from $188 million.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Las Cruces City Manager Terrence Moore has been selected to serve on a national board. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – A new report shows that industrial facilities in New Mexico are dumping toxic chemicals into the state's waterways at an alarming rate. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Campus police say an expelled student will be charged with harassing New Mexico State University President Barbara Couture.

According to documents filed Friday in Las Cruces magistrate court, 31-year-old Marshaun Lah-teef Quinney is being sought on an arrest warrant charging him with telephone harassment.

University police say Quinney was convicted in 2008 of criminal trespass and ordered last August to stop sending harassing e-mails to faculty.

By KRWG News

Albuquerque – Weekend riders on the Rail Runner Express commuter train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe will pay $2 more on the weekends to make up for a $750,000 budget shortfall.

The Rio Metro Transit Board also decided Friday to raise weekday fares by $1 on a one-way ticket between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

The Rail Runner's transit marketing coordinator, Jay Faught, says the weekday fare increase was needed to meet a Federal Transit Administration rule and is unrelated to the budget shortfall.