Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Education Secretary Veronica Garcia has upheld a Public Education Commission decision to deny the applications of two prospective charter schools in Albuquerque and Las Cruces.

Garcia said Wednesday the applications to receive a state charter from Sandia Academy in Albuquerque and Senator Dennis Chavez school in Las Cruces were inadequate. The decision was announced Friday.

By KRWG News

Alamogordo – The Armed Services Blood Program and Holloman will hold the first blood drive of 2010 on Feb. 1, at the Holloman Community Activity Center from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The goal for this drive is 80 donations with all units collected going directly to benefit active duty servicemembers and their families. Donations ensure life-saving blood products are available whenever and wherever servicemembers and their families are in need.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A House committee has shelved a proposal to tax medical marijuana in New Mexico.

The measure would impose a 25 percent tax on the production value of marijuana grown for medical purposes.

A 2007 law allows people with certain medical conditions to get relief by using marijuana and about 1,000 patients are registered with the state.

The House Taxation and Revenue Committee voted 14-to-1 to table the bill, which likely dooms the measure for the session.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Eight New Mexico fire departments, including Las Cruces, will share nearly $585,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Most of the departments will receive grants for operations and safety programs. The money can be used for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – El Paso Electric customers in Dona Ana and Otero counties who live outside municipal boundaries could soon see lower electricity bills.

The state Public Regulation Commission has ordered the utility to stop collecting franchise fees from certain customers and to refund some of the money already collected.

PRC commissioner Sandy Jones says decreases on bills will range from $3 to $6 per month.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A Las Cruces Police officer was in the right place at the right time to hear a burglar alarm and begin an investigation that resulted in four arrests.

Ray D. Rapchak, 18, Coty Jimenez, 17, and 16-year-olds Randy Dean Malone Jr. and Dominique Jordan were arrested early Friday morning after an investigation revealed the four took part in a burglary at a south Solano Drive business.

All four are charged with non-residential burglary and conspiracy. Rapchak and Jordan also face charges of auto burglary.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's unemployment rate hit 8.3 percent in December, up from November's 7.8 percent rate and the 4.7 percent rate of December 2008.

The state's unemployment rate currently is at a 22-year high.

New Mexico lost 4,800 jobs in December. State labor officials say that could indicate reduced holiday season hiring.

The state Department of Workforce Solutions says the job growth for the year, compared to the previous year, registered a minus 3.1 percent, which represents a loss of 25,900 jobs.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A 27-year-old Fort Bliss soldier has been arrested after border agents say they found nearly 200 pounds of marijuana in his car at a highway checkpoint.

Fort Bliss spokeswoman Jean Offutt says Sgt. Octavio Hernandez was arrested Wednesday night at the U.S. Border Patrol's Sierra Blanca checkpoint, about 90 miles east of El Paso. Border Patrol officials say Hernandez, whom they didn't identify by name, was arrested after agents found 196 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle in which he, his wife and his children were traveling.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's assistance in locating a suspect wanted for 1st Degree Kidnapping and other related charges.

According to Sheriff's Investigators, on Thursday, January 28, JOSE FRANK MADRID, age 28, of the 3115 block of El Camino Real, allegedly held his girlfriend, age 29, for approximately two hours, against her will, at their residence, refusing her medical treatment after she sustained a laceration to her left wrist.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – Residents in Las Cruces say President Obama's first year was not all that it could be. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – In conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Health, the LCPS Health Services Department has scheduled H1N1 flu vaccination clinics for students at all elementary schools, February 3-12.

To schedule an appointment, visit secure.flubusters.com.

Here are the dates, times and locations of the clinics:

Wednesday, February 3:

3:30-6:30 p.m.: 1) Hermosa Heights Elementary School, 1655 E. Amador Ave., and

2) Booker T. Washington Elementary, 755 E. Chestnut Ave.;

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – President Obama's State of the Union address this week emphasized a major push to deal with the nation's debt. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating two Thursday morning robberies that appear to have been committed by the same men.

Just before 12:30 a.m. today police responded to the 1000 block of south Triviz Drive after a 20-year-old woman was robbed at gunpoint. The woman told police she had just exited her vehicle when she heard footsteps of someone approaching. She was confronted by a man who threatened her with a handgun and demanded her purse. The man then jumped into an awaiting sports utility vehicle.

By KRWG News

Texas – Gov. Rick Perry proposes that Texas high school-aged students must hit the books if they want to legally hit the road.

At a news conference in Houston on Wednesday, Perry said students should have to prove that they're enrolled in school and working toward a diploma or GED if they want to get and keep a driver's license.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – An analysis of swine flu cases in New Mexico shows that children younger than five have the highest rate of hospitalizations and people aged 50 to 64 have the highest death rate.

The New Mexico Department of Health's Epidemiology and Response Division analyzed data collected since April 2009.