Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces will relocate two lion statues located outside the current City Hall, 200 N. Church Street, to their new location near the new City Hall, 700 N. Main. Crews from the Parks section will move them on Wednesday, January 27th at 5:30am.

The lions will be moved to a designated area between the new City Hall, Johnson Park and Branigan Library.

The placement of the lions will be visible from Main Street.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested a man believed to be responsible for a drive-by shooting that occurred Sunday evening.

Ramon Baca-Valles, 33, of the 200 block of Romero Drive, is charged with one count of shooting at or from motor vehicle, and one count of tampering with evidence. Baca-Valles was transported to the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $10,000.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State University is hosting the annual Career Connections Job Fair.
KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces Munson Senior Center has closed temporarily due to a mechanical issue. The center will remain closed until further notice. All activities are cancelled. Meals will be available at Mesilla Park Community Center, 304 W. Bell.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces City Council members are expected to discuss concerns raised about City Manager Terrence Moore during a closed meeting Monday.

As many as five anonymous calls were made to the hotline involving trips Moore made last year to Chicago and Santa Fe and claims that a city employee was required to baby-sit Moore's two sons in December while he attended a City Council meeting.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, members of city council and City Manager Terrence Moore met in closed session Monday to discuss limited personnel matters relating to Moore.

According to Miyagishima, "As a result of the meeting, it was agreed by all to, at a later time, revisit certain terms of Mr. Moore's employment agreement with the City of Las Cruces, and offer further clarification where needed. Mr. Moore has agreed to this and will accept council direction as determined at the later meeting."

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Every Monday at 7:51 a.m., Fred Martino speaks with Las Cruces Sun News Business Editor Brook Stockberger.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A New Mexico district judge has set bond at $1 million for each of the three teenagers charged with the murder and robbery of a Texas man at a rest stop in southern New Mexico.

The teens appeared before Judge Fernando Macias.

Jorge Murillo, Javier Orozco and Irvin Ramirez face charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, conspiracy, tampering with evidence and disposing of stolen property. The charges stem from the Jan. 5 slaying of 20-year-old Adam Espinoza of San Antonio, Texas.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Proceeds from next month's concert and rally on the New Mexico State University campus will go toward helping the Haiti earthquake victims.

A rally and concert in the afternoon of Feb. 15 will take place at the Corbett Center Outdoor Stage. A concert featuring local bands will follow at the Hurricane Alley nightclub in Santa Fe.

At the "Harmonies Helping Haiti" event, participants can purchase shirts for $10. Each shirt sold will generate enough revenue for the Global Aid Network to send 100 meals to Haiti.

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By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico lottery players will soon be able to buy tickets for another game that offers big jackpots.

The first Mega Millions drawing is scheduled for Feb. 2. Ticket sales will start Jan. 31.

The lottery's board of directors voted in October in favor of introducing the multi-state Mega Millions jackpot game to New Mexico. Currently, the only multi-state game offered in New Mexico is the 31-state Powerball.

Mega Millions is played in 12 states and some of the biggest cities in the nation.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Gov. Bill Richardson plans to unveil the next phase of New Mexico's supercomputer during a statewide event on Monday, including a stop at NMSU.

The demonstration will link the supercomputer to eight "gateway" sites around the state. The governor, state legislators, business leaders and educators will participate through the supercomputer's teleconferencing capabilities.

Eventually, the supercomputer called Encanto will be linked to 33 gateway sites across New Mexico.

By KRWG News

Alamogordo – Three television stations and several radio stations were knocked off the air Friday morning after a 100-foot broadcasting tower in Alamogordo was toppled by high winds.

Stations affected were Alamogordo television station KVBA and Albuquerque stations KWBQ and My50TV. Several radio stations also use the tower, including KUPR and KVCC.

KVBA station manager Bill Eisner says he doesn't know when the tower will be repaired. He says it could take 30 to 60 days, depending on weather.

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By KRWG News

Deming – The New Mexico Environment Department has approved a discharge permit allowing a chile and jalapeno pepper processor in Deming to release more wastewater.

Border Foods Inc. plans to discharge up to 1.1 million gallons a day of chile wash water, up from 826,000 gallons a day.

The company is one of the world's largest processors of the peppers.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A former New Mexico Motor Vehicles Division employee has been indicted after being accused of issuing false drivers' licenses.

A Santa Fe grand jury last week indicted 24-year-old Martin Garcia of Santa Fe on three felony counts of issuing fraudulent documents.

He is accused of issuing two false driver's licenses and tampering with a public record while employed at the MVD.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Six members of the New Mexico Air National Guard and a Reconnaissance Cargo-26B have left the state to help with earthquake relief efforts in Haiti.

A spokesman for the New Mexico Guard, Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, says the aircraft will fly daily missions to provide real-time video to authorities who need information about such things as where roads are blocked or what areas might be used to put up hospitals.

Herrera says the flights also could show where people are gathered who need resources.