Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A dark cloud over Gov. Bill Richardson's political future has lifted after the federal government's decision against indictments in a pay-to-play investigation that prompted the governor to withdraw his nomination as U.S. commerce secretary earlier this year.

Political analysts said the yearlong probe's end could even revive Richardson's chances of finding a place in President Barack Obama's administration in the future. The governor's second term expires at the end of 2010 and he can't seek re-election.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's unemployment rate hit 7 percent last month, up from 6.8 percent in June and 4.2 percent in July 2008.

The state's labor agency says New Mexico lost 25,900 jobs between July 2008 and July 2009, for a negative 3.1 percent growth.

Officials say the decline is the worst New Mexico has seen since 1954.

Only two of New Mexico 13 industries have posted any job growth since last year government and private health care.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Belen police are investigating a 10-year-old boy in the shooting death of his father.

Officers say they responded to a call of shots fired about 6:30 p.m. Thursday at a Belen home, and found a 42-year-old man shot once in the head.

They say two children were at the home at the time, and that they believe the 10-year-old boy fired the shot.

The father was later pronounced dead at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

No names have been released.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Albuquerque Public Schools officials say an Albuquerque High School student has tested positive for swine flu.

District officials say the student began showing symptoms on Aug. 21 and was out of classes this week.

The state Department of Health confirmed the student had swine flu.

State health officials have said they expected more cases of swine flu to arise once students returned to classes.

By Copyright KUNM

Albuquerque, NM – As the H1N1 Virus appears to be spreading once again in New Mexico, health officials continue to warn that pregnant women are especially susceptible to it and should be immunized as soon as a vaccine is available. KUNM's Jim Williams has more.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – Tearing down a historic building in Las Cruces can be done without much hassle. A property owner simply has to apply for a demolition permit before bringing down an aging structure. As KRWG's Marco Grajeda reports, city officials are now considering a proposal that will add a few more steps to the process in hopes of protecting historic properties.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The expansion project on Interstate 10 from Las Cruces to the Texas state line is being postponed, after a local contractor accused the Department of Transportation of illegally rejecting their bid. As KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports, company officials say they made the lowest bid for the project and still weren't awarded the contract.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The administrator of a government worker pension fund says there's no need to increase payroll contribution rates to shore up the program because of investment losses over the past year.

Terry Slattery, executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico, made the comment to legislators on Wednesday in outlining how the pension fund was rebounding as financial markets improved.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Mexico now has one of the world's most liberal laws for drug users.

Mexico has eliminated jail time for small amounts of marijuana, cocaine -- even heroin, LSD and methamphetamine.

Stunned police on the U.S. side of the border say the law contradicts President Felipe Calderon's drug war. Some fear it could make Mexico a destination for drug-fueled spring breaks and tourism.

San Diego Police Chief William Lansdowne says he's concerned that now students will go to Mexico -- because they can get drugs.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – An Arizona company has won a $13 million contract to build two pumping plants in northwestern New Mexico as part of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project.

The pumping plants are key to the project, which will provide water for the Navajo Nation's farming enterprise.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the contract with Archer Western Contractors, Ltd., on Wednesday.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico has been awarded $2.6 million in federal stimulus money for transit improvements.

The funding was announced Wednesday by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The state Transportation Department will use about $600,000 to buy three buses, a van, property for use as a transit facility in Hobbs. About $2 million will be used for renovations and to purchase property for a transit facility in Espanola for the north-central regional transit district.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Four tribal police departments in New Mexico have been awarded $1.25 million in grants from the federal government's Office of Community Policing Services.

The grants will support American Indian law enforcement agencies by funding the salaries and benefits of additional sworn officers. The money can also be used to purchase equipment and pay for training.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – This school year, the Las Cruces Public School District is kicking off a program, which encourages parents to be more involved in their kid's future while getting an education of their own. KRWG's Marco Grajeda has the details.

By Copyright KUNM

Santa Fe, NM – One of the leaders of the New Mexico State Senate is questioning whether Governor Bill Richardson's call for an additional 3 percent cut to state agency expenditures will be enough.

Richardson earlier this week ordered agencies to find that amount in their budgets for consideration by lawmakers later this year. But Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, a Roswell Democrat, in a letter to the press Wednesday, said the state's fiscal crisis requires a 5 percent across-the-board cut.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – With the passing of influential longtime U.S Senator Ted Kennedy late Tuesday, the political world has reflected on his many contributions and accomplishments. As KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports, New Mexico U.S Senators Tom Udall and Jeff Bingaman praised his life and legacy.