Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Gov. Bill Richardson says he would support an effort to consider national monument status for southern New Mexico's Otero Mesa.

The governor's comments come in a letter sent Thursday to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

An internal Interior Department document lists 14 sites, including Otero Mesa, that could be designated as national monuments through the federal Antiquities Act. The act gives presidents the authority to designate monuments without congressional approval.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Federal authorities have announced the indictment of seven people in connection with kidnapping of a Texas man later found slain in a Mexican street with his arms chopped off.

Rafael Vega, 26, of Tornillo, and Cesar Obregon-Reyes, 21, and Omar Obregon-Ortiz, 21, both Mexican citizens living in Tornillo, were charged with kidnapping and conspiracy in the death of Sergio Saucedo, officials said Thursday.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico regulators have denied a motion by Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico to dismiss the suspension of health insurance premium increases for a dozen plans.

The denial from the Public Regulation Commission's Insurance Division was issued Wednesday, about a week after it called for a hearing to give the public a chance to comment on the rate increases sought by the company.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Military personnel in New Mexico will be able to buy a general hunting and fishing license at a discount under a new state law.

The license will cost $28 rather than the $59 charged for most residents of New Mexico.

The license is good for hunting deer, squirrel, game birds and for fishing. License buyers also must pay $3 for a big game depredation stamp.

There are about 7,000 military personnel in New Mexico, according to the state Department of Veterans' Services.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Several County and City officials and staff are sacrificing their hair to help New Mexico children with cancer. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports...

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State University's American Indian Program will host a variety of events to celebrate American Indian Week in the beginning of April. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports...

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces was informed of a decision by the New Mexico Transportation Commission to allow the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to restrict or prohibit the use of traffic enforcement cameras, or red light cameras, on any state roadway, highway or federal interstate under its jurisdiction in New Mexico.

The City implemented its traffic enforcement camera program in February, 2009 at four of Las Cruces' busiest intersections:

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – An El Paso man was arrested Wednesday evening after his 48-year-old ex-girlfriend walked into a Las Cruces Wal-Mart store battered, bruised and asking for help.

Miguel Antonio Hoffman, 49, of the 14,500 block of Eckelberger in El Paso, Texas, is charged with one count each of battery against a family member and false imprisonment.

The woman, who had been reported missing earlier this week from El Paso, was transported to Memorial Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

By KRWG News

El Paso – More than 200 law officers swept through El Paso today -- picking up suspected members of the Barrio Azteca gang.

"Operation Knock Down" is meant to find new leads into Saturday's shooting deaths of three people with ties to the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez.

FBI Special Agent Andrea Simmons says law enforcement came together to locate members of Barrio Azteca, which started as a Texas prison gang.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – David and Michelle Gordon, owners and operators of Desert Sage Building and Development incorporated, were indicted by a Grand Jury Thursday.

The indictments include six (6) counts of Embezzlement over $20,000.00 a second degree felony, two (2) counts of Embezzlement over $2500.00 a fourth degree felony and sixty-two (62) counts of Non Payment of Labor and Suppliers, a fourth degree felony, for a total of seventy (70) felony counts.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – NMSU Police are investigating a report of an early morning sexual assault that took place in Family Housing on the Las Cruces campus.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A Saturday funeral is scheduled in El Paso for an employee of the U.S. consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and her husband.

Consulate employee Lesley A. Enriquez and her husband, Arthur H. Redelfs, were killed Saturday in Juarez when gunmen opened fire on their sport utility vehicle. Funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in El Paso.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – More than 541,000 New Mexicans are enrolled in taxpayer financed programs providing medical assistance.

The state Human Services Department says there's been a 10 percent enrollment increase in the past year.

Of those receiving publicly funded health coverage, more than 300,000 are children. Medicaid covers the largest number of low-income New Mexicans and children. Nearly a fourth of the state's population lacks health insurance.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police arrested a man who, shortly after noon Wednesday, fired a handgun from his car toward a vehicle occupied by three people.

Christopher Michael Sanchez, 18, of the 5000 block of Answer Drive, is charged with three fourth-degree felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State University Men's Basketball team has reached the National Collegiate Athletic Association or NCAA finals by being the Western Athletic Conference Champions. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.