Regional

By KRWG News

Alamogordo – A man who was convicted of second-degree murder has been sentenced to 34 years in prison.

State District Judge Waylon Counts sentenced Gerard Parvilus to 15 years for murder and 18 years for kidnapping to run consecutively with an 18-month sentence for aggravated assault against a household member.

Parvilus was convicted Nov. 2 in the stabbing death of Airman Pierre "Tony" Smith, who was killed at a hotel in Alamogordo.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – Pecan sales may be giving a boost to the New Mexico economy.
KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Anthony, NM – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrests of the two men wanted in the Jan. 17, 2010, shooting death of 39-year-old Jorge Rey Monje of El Paso, Texas.

Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office investigators have obtained warrants for the arrests of Juan Castillo, 22, of Anthony, N.M., and 26-year-old Ricardo "Ricky" Castillo of Chaparral, N.M.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's Rail Runner Express will continue to run on the weekends.

Gov. Bill Richardson on Monday announced a plan to move federal money from one fund to another to keep the commuter train running between Belen and Santa Fe on Saturdays and Sundays.

New Mexico had expected to cut weekend service by Feb. 15 because of a $750,000 budget shortfall, which officials blamed on the national recession.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexicans could track spending by state agencies under a proposal that would create a Web portal for gaining access to government information.

The measure by Sen. Sander Rue, an Albuquerque Republican, has the support of Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A retired federal law enforcement official from Las Cruces is running for the Republican nomination for state auditor.

Errol Chavez had earlier announced his candidacy for land commissioner, but Republican Party chairman Harvey Yates Jr. announced Tuesday that Chavez was recruited to run in the auditor's race.

Yates says Chavez's investigative and administrative experience qualify him to serve as the state's next auditor.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A Senate leader is proposing a new type of state bond that could help in balancing the budget without big tax increases.

Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a Belen Democrat, introduced legislation Tuesday for issuing up to $500 million in short-term revenue bonds, which would be purchased as an investment by New Mexico's permanent funds.

The bonds and interest are paid back with a share of tax money that flows into the state's main budget account.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces NM – New Mexico U.S Senator Jeff Bingaman says that using the reconciliation process is an option for getting portions of the health care reform bill passed in the Senate. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces NM – New Mexico U.S Senator Jeff Bingaman says President Obama's State of the Union speech this evening will help the Senate set an agenda. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect believed to be responsible for a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred Dec. 25, 2009.

Shortly before 2 a.m. on Christmas morning, Dona Ana County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the intersection of McCombs and Luna Street in Chaparral, N.M., where 36-year-old Abdel Rivera-Torres was struck by a vehicle as he walked on or near the roadway.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexicans can get free tests to check their home or business for radon.

Radon is a naturally occurring, odorless radioactive gas that causes about 22,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.

The Environment Department bought a limited number of radon kits and will provide them free to New Mexicans who are willing to share their test results for a statewide radon survey.

New Mexicans also can buy kits at a discounted price of $7 each.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Businesses could pay $20 million in higher taxes under a proposal by Gov. Bill Richardson's administration to shore up the program that provides unemployment benefits to jobless New Mexicans.

The unemployment insurance trust fund will run out of money by next year if the Legislature and governor don't agree on a rescue plan during the legislative session.

The fund is being drained because of rising unemployment.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Public Service Company of New Mexico has submitted a new plan to incorporate renewable energy into its portfolio.

It's very different from an initial proposal that sparked a firestorm of criticism from the renewable energy industry, environmentalists and consumer advocates.

The state's largest utility says it will expand incentives for customers who install solar equipment on their property and build large-scale solar plants made up of hundreds of thousands of panels at various sites around New Mexico.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – State officials say unemployment benefits were accidentally doubled for thousands of unemployed New Mexicans.

Overpayments went out around 6 a.m. Monday, but the state Department of Workforce Solutions became aware of the problem by 9:30 a.m. and worked to reverse the overpaid amounts.

The agency says about 9,000 direct-deposit recipients never saw the error since the money had not yet cleared.

By KRWG News

Texas – Two police officers credited with stopping last year's shooting rampage at Fort Hood will be guests of the first lady during Wednesday's State of the Union speech.

Sgts. Kimberly Munley and Mark Todd will watch President Barack Obama's address with Michelle Obama in a gallery overlooking the House floor. On Nov. 5, the officers opened fire on Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, who is accused of killing 13 people in the worst mass murder on a U.S. military base. Munley was wounded in the incident.