Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Lawmakers in recession-wracked New Mexico who are trying to wrap up a special legislative session gave final approval to several deficit reduction bills and moved closer to deciding how much to cut schools and state agencies.

They're trying to fill a $650 million hole in this year's $5.5 billion state budget.

The House late Thursday voted 37-31 for a bill that cuts $257 million from state agencies and public schools and colleges. The cuts ranged from 2 percent to 7.6 percent.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The U.S. Senate has approved legislation that recognizes former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall for his contributions as secretary and for advancing the work of the Morris K. Udall Foundation.

The measure, introduced by New Mexico Democrat Sen. Jeff Bingaman, now heads to the White House for signature.

Bingaman says New Mexicans know the important role Stewart Udall has played to protect the environment and public land.

Udall, a former Arizona Congressman, lives in Santa Fe and will turn 90 in the coming year.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Officers with the NM State Police Carlsbad Office arrested John D. Carrasco based on a warrant obtained by the NMSU Police Department for allegedly making a bomb threat.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico State University Board of Regents gave preliminary approval for the issuance of about $85 million in system revenue bonds.

Jennifer Taylor, senior vice president of business, finance and human resources at the university, requested the bonds to finance six building and improvement projects.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The only online Master of Arts in Spanish program in the country, based at New Mexico State University, saw an impressive growth in applicants due to nationwide exposure at the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese conference this summer.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – State Investment Officer Gary Bland has resigned.

Bland submitted his resignation on Wednesday to Gov. Bill Richardson, who accepted it.

The state investment officer oversees the management of New Mexico's permanent funds valued at more than $11 billion.

In his resignation letter to the governor, Bland said he was "saddened and disappointed" to leave the post.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico health officials are reporting three new swine flu deaths in the past week.

The latest victims are a 51-year-old man from Santa Fe County with chronic medical conditions, a 6-year-old girl from Santa Fe County without chronic medical conditions and a 47-year-old woman from Valencia County with chronic medical conditions.

There have been 16 deaths related to H1N1 influenza in New Mexico this year.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A Mexican human rights official detained as an asylum-seeker even though he didn't want U.S. protection has been released by immigration authorities.

Gustavo de la Rosa Hickerson's attorney said the U.S. government would not pursue asylum for de la Rosa after freeing him Wednesday.

Carlos Spector, the attorney, said de la Rosa was detained last week while making one of his frequent trips across the border between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Hispanic farmers who say the U.S. Department of Agriculture discriminated against them are fighting to sue the federal agency as a group.

Latino farmers across the country argue they lost their land or suffered other consequences when the USDA denied or delayed loans to them, while extending help to white farmers.

Black farmers who filed a similar suit in 1999 have received a $1 billion settlement on 15,000 claims.

Latino farmers filed their suit nine years ago. They are now fighting to get class certification.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The State Land Office has collected $90 million in revenues during the first quarter of this fiscal year, a decline of $104 million from the same period last year.

Despite the significant drop, Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons says he's optimistic because commodity prices for oil and natural gas are starting to strengthen and that could lead to improved revenues in future quarters.

The Land Office says royalty earnings totaled $18.5 million in July, $22 million in August and $24 million in September.

By KRWG News

Hobbs – State police say former state Rep. Dan Berry has died in a three-vehicle crash in southeastern New Mexico.

Police say the crash happened just north of Hobbs on Tuesday afternoon. The 87-year-old Berry was a passenger in a Cadillac that pulled out in front of two northbound vehicles. Both vehicles hit the Cadillac on the driver's side.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley is teeming with puppies that need to be adopted.

Shelter Director Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock said 21 litters of puppies - more than 80 of the little critters! - are at the shelter as of today.

Adopting a puppy only costs $75, which includes the first set of vaccinations, spay/neuter and microchip.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A quarterly oil and gas lease sale administered by the Bureau of
Land Management netted $13,298,017 in revenues today from the sale of 48
federal leases in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas.

The total includes bonus bids, administrative fees and first-year rentals. The oral auction took place at the Courtyard by Marriott in Santa Fe; a total of 31
bidders registered for today's auction.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Environment Department is backing down from adopting more stringent rules targeting emissions that contribute to ozone pollution in the Four Corners region.

But state officials say they have a good reason for not considering the rules this year.

State law allows New Mexico to adopt more stringent regulations than the federal government only if ozone levels are within 95 percent of the federal standard of 0.075 parts per million.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A jury has been selected in the trial of a one-time Fort Bliss soldier charged with capital murder in the death of a toddler he and his wife were taking care of.

Nakia Jonathan Dawkins and his wife were arrested last year after a 2-year-old girl in their custody died from severe internal injuries.

A pathologist determined that Milanya Harris was severely beaten and had bruises over 40 percent of her body. She also had nine tumor-like blood clots in her brain, according to an autopsy.