Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Campaign contributions to retired U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici paid for more than $700,000 in lawyers' bills arising from an ethics investigation into his role in the 2007 firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias.

Domenici's People for Pete committee listed $705,043 in legal fees, with $602,054 going to the Washington, D.C., firm of O'Melveny & Myers.

The spending was disclosed in an October 2008 report to the Federal Election Commission.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Police in the Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez say four state police officers have been killed and two others injured in two separate attacks.

Chihuahua state Public Safety Department spokesman Samuel Delgado says unknown gunmen opened fire on two plainclothes policemen in an unmarked car early Thursday, killing both.

About four hours later, gunmen opened fire on patrolling officers, killing two and injuring another two. A gas station attendant caught in the crossfire was injured.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson's administration is proposing to overhaul Medicaid to cope with a projected budget shortfall of $300 million next year.

The state Human Services Department is looking at scaling back medical care services and eligibility to only those individuals that must be covered by federal law, such as lower-income pregnant women and children. Others would have an option to obtain health services by paying premiums and copays, depending on their income.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Below is the statement read by Dona Ana County Chief Deputy Clerk Mario Jimenez to reporters at a press conference today.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State University has named its new president. Doctor Barbara Couture comes to NMSU from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where she's served as the University's top academic officer since 2004. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Dr. Barbara Couture has been named President of New Mexico State University.

By KRWG News

El Paso – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the El Paso port of entry seized 268 pounds of marijuana in four seizures Wednesday. In one case CBP officers arrested a 68-year-old Juarez woman who was driving a drug loaded car. A CBP drug sniffing dog helped lead CBP officers to the concealed drug load.

By KRWG News

Chaparral – Three bodies have been sent to the University of New Mexico Office of the Medical Examiner following a deadly mobile-home blaze in Chaparral.

The fire was reported at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday, with the first emergency responders arriving on scene at 11:41 p.m. Volunteers from the Chaparral and Anthony Volunteer Fire Districts responded, along with Do a Ana County Sheriff s Department deputies and investigators from the Do a Ana County Fire and Emergency Services Department.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A legislator from El Paso has criticized proposed history and social studies standards for public schools as being unfair to Hispanics.

Rep. Norma Chavez raised the issue Wednesday in Austin before the State Board of Education.

Chavez says it's "as though Hispanics don't exist in many of these standards."

Chavez seeks a meeting between board members and Hispanic lawmakers before the panel in January takes its initial vote on social studies standards. A final vote is expected in March.

By KRWG News

Albuquerque – The University of New Mexico has been awarded $20 million from the National Science Foundation for a project that aims to create a clearinghouse of scientific data about life on Earth and the environment that sustains it.

As part of the DataONE project, UNM researchers have partnered with dozens of other universities and agencies to develop a network of information that will support breakthroughs in environmental research.

By KRWG News

Los Lunas – Ground has been broken on what officials say will be a state-of-the-art substance abuse treatment and training center for New Mexico.

Gov. Bill Richardson was among the state and local officials who turned out Wednesday for a groundbreaking ceremony in Los Lunas. Richardson says the center will be instrumental in combating substance abuse issues that are taking a toll on New Mexico communities.

The center will be located on state land near the new Valencia County Judicial Complex.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – It's been on the books for two years and so far Dona Ana County officials have yet to seize any vehicles under an anti-DWI ordinance.

County spokesman Jess Williams said the county decided not to implement the ordinance because the county at the time didn't have a secure place to store any vehicles that were seized from drunken drivers.

Both County Manager Brian Haines and County Sheriff Todd Garrison decided a parking facility had to be built before enforcement could begin.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A state senator from Albuquerque who is known for his stance against drunken driving has joined the race for the lieutenant governor's job.

Kent Cravens announced Wednesday he will seek the Republican nomination next year. At least 10 others seven Democrats and three Republicans have already announced they're running for their parties' nominations.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Health officials say seven more people have died in New Mexico due to the swine flu.

Officials with the New Mexico Department of Health said Wednesday those who have died in the last week include four people from Bernalillo County a 57-year-old man, a 62-year-old man, a 58-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman. All had chronic health conditions.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Court of Appeals has overturned the convictions of a former state worker for secretly videotaping teenage girls in a bathroom.

Ronald Myers, a former employee of the Department of Transportation, had been convicted of sexual exploitation of children for videotaping girls in a bathroom next to his Santa Fe office in 2004. One of the girls was a 16-year-old intern and another was a 17-year-old daughter of a department employee.