Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are seeking three men believed to be involved in a Monday evening armed robbery at an apartment complex.

Just after 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, police were called to the 1500 block of La Fonda Drive where a woman reported that three men, one of whom was armed with a shotgun, forced their way into her apartment and ransacked the home. The woman told police that the men forced her into a closet and then took her wallet, some cash, a laptop computer and two cell phones.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County manager has taken an indefinite leave of absence because of health issues.

County Assistant Manager Sue Padilla said Brian Haines is "evaluating surgical options to address a chronic pain issue."

The 54-year-old Haines became Dona Ana County manager in 2004 after being appointed interim county manager the previous year. He was first hired with the county eight years ago as an audit control analyst.

In Haines' absence, Padilla will serve as acting county manager.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico Attorney General Gary King says a settlement has been reached with OppenheimerFunds, Inc. to resolve an investigation into the company's management of the state's 529 college savings programs.

Under terms of the settlement announced Monday, King says Oppenheimer agrees to pay New Mexico $67.31 million all of which will be distributed to 529 plan participants affected by the performance of Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A federal judge will allow more than a dozen video and audio recordings in the El Paso bribery trial of a judge.

Prosecutors are offering 14 recordings in the trial of suspended State District Judge Manual Barraza. The defense sought to ban the recordings, over translation and other authentication concerns.

U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo on Monday ruled the recordings will be allowed, subject to expert verification.

Barraza faces allegations of offering to trade sex and cash for help with felony cases.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Frontier Airlines is shutting down its Las Cruces call center with the final shift that ends at midnight Tuesday.

The closure will cost about 100 jobs.

The airline opened the customer support center in 2000, and at one time, it employed about 200 people.

Frontier's parent company, Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holding Inc., announced earlier this year it would close the center.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating two drive-by shootings that occurred Monday morning at a residence on Birch Court.

Just before 4 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14, police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Birch Court after residents reported hearing gunshots. Officers arrived to find one vehicle damaged by gunshots. About two hours later, at around 6:15 a.m., police were called back to the neighborhood after shots were fired at the same home.

No injuries were reported during either incident.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Police arrested four men after they physically assaulted Las Cruces Police officers in front of a downtown nightclub.

Gerald Fernandez, 42, Shane Andrews, 38, and Russell Andrews, 35, all of Carlsbad, N.M., and 37-year-old Eleutero Galindo of Las Cruces are each charged with assault on a peace officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are continuing to investigate an armed robbery that occurred Sunday evening at an apartment on Telshor Boulevard.

Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, officers were dispatched to 1555 S. Telshor Blvd. where the residents of an apartment reported an armed robbery had just occurred. Officers arrived and learned that several men forced their way into the apartment, struck a woman, and took a television and a video game console.

The woman suffered a broken nose during the incident.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating a Sunday evening shooting that sent one man to the hospital with two gunshot wounds.

Shortly before 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, police were called to the Pic Quik store at 4675 north Sonoma Ranch Boulevard where witnesses reported seeing shots fired from a vehicle and the possibility of at least one victim. Officers arrived and found blood and shell casings in the parking lot.

By KRWG News

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

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – As the world's first commercial spaceship was unveiled last week in California, many New Mexicans found themselves wondering how long it will be before the aircraft launches from a New Mexico spaceport now under construction.

The spaceship, dubbed SpaceShipTwo, had been under secret development for two years in the Mojave Desert.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – It's going to be a busy day at the post office. This is the so called busiest day of the year for postal workers as they accept, sort and ship holiday and regular mail.

They ask that you be prepared for long lines at the post office.

A ton of mail is expected to flood New Mexico post offices, as postal workers will handle roughly 200,000 packages and 750,000 cards and letters.

Postal workers suggest print the address on the front and side of the box.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating the armed robbery of a Domino's Pizza delivery man.

At around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, police were called to the 100 block of Shoshone where a Domino's Pizza delivery man reported he was confronted by two men who displayed a handgun and took several pizzas.

Both suspects were described as either white or Hispanic and in their early 20's. Both were said to be around 6-feet tall. One of the men had short, dark, hair and was clean shaven while the other suspect had facial stubble.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Sunday at approximately 12:30 a.m. Dona Ana Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 920 block of Vado Drive, after a woman reported arriving home to her residence and found her home in disarray.

The Victim, age 48, who is employed with the Las Cruces Police Department, stated she heard a noise, a "Rustling" and believing someone was in the residence, ran towards her bedroom locking the door behind her and called 911.

By KRWG News

Texas – The Texas health department is recommending unrestricted distribution of the swine flu vaccine thanks to an increase in supply.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Friday that providers could offer the vaccine to the general public. Since early October, the agency targeted a more limited supply to priority groups.

Nearly 1.2 million of the 6.7 million doses available to Texas have been allocated this week by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.