Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – President Barack Obama is helping with get-out-the-vote efforts for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish.

Denish's campaign said Friday that Obama has recorded a telephone message that's being used in calls to nearly 150,000 Democrats across the state. The calls target Democrats who backed Obama in 2008 and were either new voters or had voted infrequently.

In the recording, Obama urges voters "to stand with me again and pledge your support for Diane Denish for governor by voting early."

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The state Court of Appeals has ruled that New Mexico's domestic well law is constitutional.

The court 's unanimous decision on Friday overturned a 2008 ruling by a state district judge in Silver City.

Under New Mexico law, the state engineer must grant permits for new domestic use wells and can't reject a permit because of concerns how the well might affect the water rights of other users.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Federal marshals say if registered sex offenders answer their doorbells on Halloween night, they probably won't see trick-or-treaters.

The Marshals Service is teaming with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department and New Mexico Probation and Parole Office to conduct address verification, house checks and random patrols to monitor sex offenders in Las Cruces and Albuquerque on Halloween night.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez has collected $151,000 in last-minute campaign contributions.

Artesia-based Chase Oil Corp. was the largest donor, giving $75,000. Espanola-based Akal Security Inc. donated $10,000 to Martinez.

Also giving $10,000 was Stephen Bechtel, retired chairman of the Bechtel Group, an engineering and construction company headquartered in San Francisco, Calif.

Martinez filed the contribution disclosure Friday with the secretary of state.

By KRWG News

Albuquerque – A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement to reassess how the expansion of a coal mine on the Navajo reservation will impact the environment and cultural and historic resources.

The San Juan Citizens Alliance and Dine Citizens Against Ruining our Environment sued in 2007, claiming the agency violated federal laws when renewing the mine's permit in 2004 and approving a revised permit in 2005.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – New Mexico State University's Board of Regents has approved phases six and seven of the Dona Ana Community College's East Mesa Center.

Michael Rickenbaker, university architect, said this project implements the last phases of construction at the central plaza area of the East Mesa Center.

By KRWG News

SANTA FE, N.M. – Much of the work involved raising and realigning the rows of white marble upright headstones, as well as work to keep flat grave markers level and in their prescribed position with their tops no more than 1 inch above the soil.

The cemetery also $500,000 worth of new paving on roads and replacement curbs and drains, as well as new equipment such as a backhoe, snowblower and aerator. Some funds went for turf rehabilitation.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Election Day is Tuesday and the fate of many political hopefuls will be decided.

The 2010 midterm election will produce the first female governor in New Mexico whether it be Democrat Diane Denish or Republican Susana Martinez.

All seats in the U.S and State House of Representatives are up for grabs including Southern New Mexico's second congressional district that has Incumbent Democrat Harry Teague and Republican Steve Pearce vying for the position.

By KRWG News

SANTA FE, N.M. – Martinez reported spending $2.1 million, with three-fourths of that for broadcast advertising. Denish had expenditures of $1.6 million, with nearly two-thirds for advertising.

Martinez raised nearly $1.1 million. That included $50,000 each from the Republican Governors' Association and Larry Mizel, a Denver, Colo. developer.

By KRWG News

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – County Republican party chairman Mark Van Dyke says it appears someone in his organization tampered with the forms and he said on Thursday evening that he was "deeply sorry."

Las Cruces police spokesman Dan Trujillo say seven prospective voters chose a "no party" affiliation when they filled out the cards last month. But the cards had a handwritten "R'' on them when they were turned in to the Dona Ana County Clerk's Office and were rejected.

By KRWG News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The state Department of Workforce Solutions released its monthly employment report Thursday. It shows the state's over-the-year job growth was negative 0.3 percent, meaning the state has lost about 2,400 jobs.

State labor officials say New Mexico is now several months into a slow recovery and the extent of the job losses is far less than earlier in the year. Officials say if the trend continues, the state could expect to see a net gain in jobs before the end of the year.

By KRWG News

SANTA FE, N.M. –
Duran spent about $130,500 during the past three weeks and Herrera had expenditures of $78,800. Advertising accounted for most of the spending.

Campaign finance reports filed Thursday show Duran raised $77,600 and Herrera collected about $41,200.

The state Republican Party gave $25,000 to Duran and Foster Friess, an investor from Jackson, Wyo., contributed $5,000. Friess has been a large donor to GOP gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez.

By kRWG News

New Mexico – It's not even Halloween yet, but the Lincoln National Forest is getting ready for the Christmas season.

Beginning Nov. 1, forest officials will have Christmas tree permits available at a cost of $5 each, one per household.

The permits can be purchased through Dec. 24 or by mail until Dec. 11.

If you're holding a permit, any live evergreen tree up to 10 feet high can be cut down or dug up in the Smokey Bear, Sacramento, or Guadalupe Ranger Districts.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A former youth pastor in Las Cruces has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping and molesting three young girls he met through his family's church between 2005 and 2007.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports 31-year-old Rico Dominic Escudero entered a no contest plea in May to two counts of kidnapping, three counts of rape, four counts of attempted rape of a child younger than 13 and two counts of molesting a child younger than 13.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – County elections officials say problems with New Mexico's voter registration computer system have disrupted early voting in some locations.

Elections officials in Dona Ana, San Juan and Santa Fe counties say early voting was delayed at some locations Tuesday evening because poll workers weren't able to access the statewide voter registration system.