LAS VEGAS (AP) — With drought entering a second decade and reservoirs continuing to shrink, seven Southwestern U.S. states that depend on the overtaxed Colorado River for crop irrigation and drinking water had been expected to ink a crucial share-the-pain contingency plan by the end of 2018.

They're not going to make it — at least not in time for upcoming meetings in Las Vegas involving representatives from Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and the U.S. government, officials say.

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An ongoing metal detector survey of the Coronado Historic Site in Bernalillo has uncovered evidence that Spanish conquistador Francisco Vazquez de Coronado explored the area, officials in New Mexico announced recently.

The survey of the area recently uncovered the first evidence that places Coronado's group there in the form of copper arrow points from crossbows, lead musket balls, chain mail fragments and other artifacts, the Albuquerque Journal reports.

Despite drought, a lawsuit, the irrigation needs of local agriculture, and our growing population – the water future of the City of Las Cruces (City) is secure.

You probably know our region has been in a drought for at least the past 15 years. You know water levels behind Elephant Butte Dam are very low, which limits the water flowing down the Rio Grande and available for irrigation of farm fields.

  DALLAS (AP) — Police say a 31-year-old protester who told children Santa Claus is not real has been arrested for trespassing at a North Texas church.

Aaron Urbanski was arrested Saturday after authorities were called to a church in Cleburne, which was hosting a breakfast with Santa event. Police say they found three people demonstrating outside the church after responding to a trespassing complaint.

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Republican Party's next chairman will be U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, who didn't run for re-election in order to make what proved to be an unsuccessful try for governor.

Current GOP Chairman Ryan Cangiolosi announced that the party's state central committee selected Pearce "by an overwhelming margin" while meeting Saturday in Albuquerque.

Businessman John Rockwell also sought the party's top leadership post.

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Dedric Lawson had 20 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 2 Kansas got past New Mexico State 63-60 in the Jayhawk Shootout on Saturday night.

The Jayhawks' offense stalled after a hot start in their first game without injured center Udoka Azubuike, going scoreless for over five minutes in the first half. But they put it together late, as Lawson's layup with just under four minutes left gave them their first lead since the first half.

Well-known comedian, film and television star George Lopez will receive the “Outstanding Achievement in Entertainment Award” during the 2019 annual Las Cruces International Film Festival, presented by New Mexico State University and Visit Las Cruces Feb. 20-24.

Silver City, NM – Western New Mexico University will graduate nearly 300 of its students this fall. Of those, 200 graduates will walk across the Fine Arts Center Theatre stage during the fall commencement ceremony on Friday, December 14, 2018, at 2 p.m. They will receive their diplomas then shake hands with WNMU President Dr. Joseph Shepard and with newly elected Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico Howie Morales, who is an alum and WNMU’s fall commencement speaker.

More than 1,200 New Mexico State University students are projected to participate in the fall commencement ceremony. 

Commencement weekend will begin the evening of Friday, Dec. 7, with a hooding ceremony for doctoral candidates at the Pan American Center at 6 p.m.

A four-hour water outage on Valley Drive from Hadley Avenue to Picacho Avenue is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10. Adjacent areas also may be affected by the outage.

Once service is restored, water could be discolored due to iron, manganese and calcium deposits. Although the water is safe to drink, City officials recommend waiting to wash laundry until after the water becomes clear.