Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state is providing additional financial help to New Mexicans for winter heating bills.

The Human Services Department said Wednesday that qualified families on average can get an extra $40 from the low-income home energy assistance program.

About 60,000 New Mexicans have received benefits of averaging $151 per household. The state is offering more assistance because money remains available in the program.

By KRWG News

Silver City – The Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Board of Regents has approved a 6.19 percent increase in tuition and fees for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Full-time undergraduate resident students currently pay $1,794.25 per semester. Students enrolling in the fall will pay $1,905.25 per semester for 12 to 18 credit hours resulting in a 6.19 percent tuition and fee increase.

By KRWG News

Texas – Rio Grande levees in Presidio are being raised by as much as 3 feet and repaired in areas eroded by a 2008 flood that swamped part of the border city's Mexican neighbor.

The International Boundary and Water Commission, which maintains the border levees in Texas, announced Wednesday that it has approved a plan to raise the border levees from zero to 3 feet and make other repairs along the U.S. side of the river.

By KRWG News

Texas – A judge has denied Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's request to intervene in a same-sex divorce case in Travis County.

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the decision by state District Judge Scott Jenkins on Wednesday lets his February decision stand, granting the divorce to two women wedded in another state.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State University's Institute for Energy and the Environment is holding its 20th Environmental Design Contest. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – A large number of volunteers in the community will come together in the coming weeks to package meals for hungry children in Haiti. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Las Cruces City Hall will be closed tomorrow (Friday) as city staff and officials prepare to make the move to their new home. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich has more

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – "Gunfight at La Mesa," a LionsGate Films release, was shot in Las Cruces, Mesilla and La Mesa, with the help of a cadre of local talent and resources, including equipment and personnel from New Mexico State University and the Creative Media Institute. There will be a screening of the film at the CMI theater at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 8.

By KRWG News

Texas – Hispanic lawmakers and academic experts are blasting the Texas State Board of Education for minimizing the contributions of minorities as it attempts to rewrite guidelines for the teaching of history and social studies.

Democratic state Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher of San Antonio said Wednesday the board had become a "national circus" amid fiery debates over proposed new curriculum standards that will dictate what students in Texas learn over the next decade.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A former state senator has been named by the Legislature to a state board that oversees New Mexico's permanent funds.

Former Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, a Las Cruces Republican, was appointed Wednesday by a legislative leadership panel to serve on the State Investment Council.

Also selected were Clayton banker Craig Reeves, Lordsburg banker Michael Martin and Peter Frank, a retired corporate executive from Santa Fe who until recently was a member of the Investment Council.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico National Guard is planning how to put more troops along the state's border with Mexico to beef up surveillance after Gov. Bill Richardson on Wednesday ordered guardsmen to patrol the border.

The order came days after an Arizona rancher was shot to death. Authorities believe he was killed by an illegal immigrant who fled to Mexico.

Details are still being worked out for how many troops will be sent to the border and where they will be based.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested a man for breaking into and burglarizing self-storage units.

Marcus A. Ortiz, 25, of the 300 block of Willow Street, was arrested on a warrant and is charged with two counts of non-residential burglary and one count of possession of burglary tools. Ortiz was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $15,000.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Eric Layer, a junior majoring in economics at New Mexico State University, has been awarded the 2010 Truman Scholarship, a prestigious award given to students with outstanding academic records who have demonstrated potential for leadership and the commitment to pursue a career in government or public service.

Layer was among the 60 students from around the nation who received the award, which provides funding of up to $30,000 for the pursuit of a graduate degree in public service fields.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Two Republican members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are concerned the Department of Energy could be easing safety and security oversight at national laboratories.

U.S. Reps Joe Barton and Michael Burgess of Texas sent letters Monday to the Government Accountability Office and Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

They asked the GAO to review the proposed plan, which they say would allow contractors to implement safety and security programs without strong federal oversight.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Legislature is preparing to name four members to a state board that oversees New Mexico's permanent funds.

A legislative leadership panel is scheduled to meet Wednesday in Santa Fe and make appointments to the State Investment Council.

A new state law expanded the council's membership, but lessened the influence of the governor by reducing the number of his appointees and administration officials serving on the group.