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New Mexico District: ‘Mistake’ to ask student to remove flag from car

By news editor and partners • 13 hours ago

HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico school district has apologized because administrative staff asked a high school student to remove a U.S. flag from his car on Veterans Day.

Hobbs Municipal Schools said on the district’s Facebook page that the school’s staff was acting under a policy instituted “due to past incidents” barring students from flying flags of any kind on their vehicles.

New Mexico lawmakers discuss building future soccer stadium

By news editor and partners • 20 hours ago

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — State lawmakers have met with New Mexico United officials to talk about the possibility of building a new soccer stadium in Albuquerque.

President and CEO of New Mexico United LLC Peter Trevisani and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael in Albuquerque discussed a potential arena with the Economic and Rural Development Committee officials Thursday.

United needs room to grow after it led the league in merchandise sales and attendance with more than 12,600 people each game, Trevisani said.

Some Las Cruces Business Owners Criticize City's Minimum Wage Analysis

By Michael Hernandez • Nov 15, 2019

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Beginning next year, the minimum wage in Las Cruces will increase to $10.25 an hour. That’s because the City of Las Cruces is indexing its minimum wage to keep up with inflation. At a recent work session, the City Council reviewed a report projecting how future increases could impact the local economy. Michael Hernandez was there.

The 15-cent increase is based on a cost-of-living adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index.

Economist Dr. Manuel Reyes-Loya from the Hibbs Institute for Business and Economic Research at the University of Texas at Tyler presented the study to City Council at a recent work session.

The analysis simulated the economic impact of CPI indexing from 2020 to 2022.

Camerata Del Sol to perform two concerts featuring Mendelssohn and Golijov

By Leora Zeitlin • Nov 15, 2019

One of the foremost composers of our day, Osvaldo Golijov grew up in Argentina when Astor Piazzolla was composing and performing his famous tangos worldwide. After Piazzolla’s death, Golijov wrote a work for nine string players called “Last Round” that pays tribute to his fellow Argentinian composer. His goal was to “imitate the wonderful, amazing, beautiful sound of Astor Piazzolla’s bandoneon,” said Daniel Vega-Albela, speaking of the small accordion-like instrument that Piazzolla made famous.

New Details In Officer-Involved Shooting In Which Las Cruces Man Later Died

By news editor and partners • Nov 15, 2019

The New Mexico State Police has provided more details about the officer-inolved shooting in which a Las Cruces man later died from his injuries:

On November 1, 2019, at about 7:15 a.m., New Mexico State Police Officer Jantzen Duran conducted a traffic stop on a black Chevrolet Malibu for traveling 106 mph in a 60-mph zone on US 70, near mile marker 209, west of Alamogordo, New Mexico.

During the traffic stop, the male driver, identified as Benjamin Diaz (22) of Las Cruces, NM pulled over onto the left shoulder of the median of US70. After Officer Duran identified Diaz, he returned to the driver’s side of his police vehicle to issue Diaz a traffic citation. Diaz exited his vehicle and ran toward Duran’s police vehicle. Officer Duran gave verbal commands for Diaz to stay at the front of his police vehicle. Diaz refused and attacked Officer Duran with a folding box cutter. During the physical altercation, Diaz stabbed at Officer Duran’s chest. Officer Duran feared for his life, drew his department issued sidearm and fired once at Diaz, striking him. Diaz and Officer Duran fell to the ground and Diaz attempted to disarm Officer Duran. Officer Duran was able to gain control of Diaz and handcuffed him.

Enforcement Operation Targets ATVs Prohibited on Las Cruces Roads

By las cruces police • Nov 15, 2019

Photo by Supertrooper / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Police are conducting an enforcement operation issuing citations to drivers of all-terrain vehicles and off-highway recreational vehicles who are in violation of the current City of Las Cruces ordinance.

Whether the vehicle is licensed or not, Las Cruces City Ordinance prohibits the operation of off-highway motor vehicles on any public access road, paved street or highway. Off-highway motor vehicles include ATVs, 4-wheelers, side-by-sides and dirt bikes.

Four NMSU Las Cruces students selected as Fulbright winners

By news editor and partners • Nov 15, 2019

Four students from New Mexico State University were named 2019 Fulbright winners, the most NMSU has produced in a year so far. The students received the prestigious recognition following a record year for Fulbright applicants from NMSU.

5 Las Cruces Auto Burglary Suspects Caught with Items Stolen from Unknown Locations

By news editor and partners • Nov 15, 2019

A 20-year-old man and four juveniles are suspected in a string of auto burglaries committed Wednesday evening and Las Cruces police are trying to reunite some of the stolen property with their rightful owners.

NMSU Men's Basketball Wins 79-63 Over Southern

By KRWG News And Partners • Nov 15, 2019

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — Trevelin Queen scored 20 points, including three 3-pointers, Ivan Aurrecoechea added 19 points, and New Mexico State beat Southern 79-63 on Thursday night.

Shawn Williams hit 4 of 6 from 3-point range and finished with 17 points for New Mexico State.

Las Cruces Recycling Bins Being Inspected By Employees

By Cassie McClure and Suzanne Michaels for SCSWA • Nov 15, 2019

A watchful neighborhood dog follows South Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) employees checking blue bins placed curbside for pickup on Encino Avenue. The employees made it just before the Friedman Recycling truck arrived to empty the recycling bins.

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The Dematerializing Economy

By Chris Erickson-Ph.D. • Nov 15, 2019

Commentary: Left wing environmentalists would have you believe that the insatiable needs of capitalism are inexorably stripping way precious resources. That greed and the desire for more and more is destroying the planet. Well, there is no doubt that capitalists are greedy, but that greed is not stripping the planet but rather driving the development of new technologies that allow us to make stuff with fewer materials.

The U.S. economy is, in fact, dematerializing. We use fewer and fewer molecules each year. Less copper, less iron, less of just about everything. The reason for this is the capitalist drive for efficiency—the drive to get more from less.

Udall, Welch Introduce Legislation to Reform the Renewable Fuel Standard to Benefit the Environment

By office of senator tom udall • Nov 14, 2019

Commentary: Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-Vt.) introduced companion bills in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to reform the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) by mitigating harmful environmental impacts of the corn ethanol mandate and advancing the next generation of biofuels that actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The GREENER Fuels Act (Growing Renewable Energy through Existing and New Environmentally Responsible Fuels Act) would phase out the corn ethanol mandate and immediately reduce the amount of ethanol in fuel by as much as 1 billion gallons by capping the amount of ethanol that can be blended into conventional gasoline at 9.7 percent. After thirteen years of increasing mandates, corn ethanol is now a mature technology, but one that has contributed to habitat loss and greater water pollution from pesticides and fertilizers.

New Las Cruces board member doesn’t grasp public schools

By Walt Rubel • Nov 14, 2019

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Walt comments on a newly elected Las Cruces Public Schools board member who has suggested children take a test to enter Kindergarten

Commentary: One of the two incoming members of the Las Cruces school board believes we should have an entrance exam for kindergartners, and only those who pass should be let in.

“I believe that there should be requirements for children entering kindergarten,” Carol Lynn Cooper said during an on-air radio forum on KTAL-LP community radio in September. “It puts the responsibility on parents. I mean, if we say five years from now, a student must come to school being able to read … with certain skills that they probably get best from their parents. The point is that they are really ready for school. And so, when a kindergarten teacher is working with these students, they are ready for what she has to give and develop.”

Pearce Blasts Impeachment Hearings As "Partisan Witch Hunt"

By rpnm • Nov 13, 2019

The following is a statement from Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Steve Pearce regarding the public impeachment hearings in Washington:

"These impeachment hearings are nothing more than"travesty theater." There's no due process here, no one has first-hand knowledge, and there's no quid pro quo. It's all heresay and second hand knowledge. It's unbelievable the lengths to which the Democrats will go in this partisan witch hunt. The President has to endure this charade all while he continues to deliver on his promises to make this country great again."

Torres Small Statement on DACA Supreme Court Oral Arguments

By office of Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small • Nov 12, 2019

Commentary: Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, NM-2, released the following statement after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, a case that could decide the fate of nearly 7,000 Dreamers across New Mexico:

“Dreamers are students, small business owners, first responders and essential parts of our community who strive to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the only places they’ve called home. Earlier this year, I voted to pass the DREAM and Promise Act in the House, a bill which an overwhelming majority of the country supports. When most of the country wants to protect Dreamers, Congress would be smart to act accordingly. As the justices weigh the merits of this case, I will continue to fight for a clear and moral immigration system that keeps our border communities vibrant and safe.”

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