Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The State Land Office has collected $90 million in revenues during the first quarter of this fiscal year, a decline of $104 million from the same period last year.

Despite the significant drop, Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons says he's optimistic because commodity prices for oil and natural gas are starting to strengthen and that could lead to improved revenues in future quarters.

The Land Office says royalty earnings totaled $18.5 million in July, $22 million in August and $24 million in September.

By KRWG News

Hobbs – State police say former state Rep. Dan Berry has died in a three-vehicle crash in southeastern New Mexico.

Police say the crash happened just north of Hobbs on Tuesday afternoon. The 87-year-old Berry was a passenger in a Cadillac that pulled out in front of two northbound vehicles. Both vehicles hit the Cadillac on the driver's side.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Animal Services Center of the Mesilla Valley is teeming with puppies that need to be adopted.

Shelter Director Dr. Beth Vesco-Mock said 21 litters of puppies - more than 80 of the little critters! - are at the shelter as of today.

Adopting a puppy only costs $75, which includes the first set of vaccinations, spay/neuter and microchip.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A quarterly oil and gas lease sale administered by the Bureau of
Land Management netted $13,298,017 in revenues today from the sale of 48
federal leases in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas.

The total includes bonus bids, administrative fees and first-year rentals. The oral auction took place at the Courtyard by Marriott in Santa Fe; a total of 31
bidders registered for today's auction.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Environment Department is backing down from adopting more stringent rules targeting emissions that contribute to ozone pollution in the Four Corners region.

But state officials say they have a good reason for not considering the rules this year.

State law allows New Mexico to adopt more stringent regulations than the federal government only if ozone levels are within 95 percent of the federal standard of 0.075 parts per million.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A jury has been selected in the trial of a one-time Fort Bliss soldier charged with capital murder in the death of a toddler he and his wife were taking care of.

Nakia Jonathan Dawkins and his wife were arrested last year after a 2-year-old girl in their custody died from severe internal injuries.

A pathologist determined that Milanya Harris was severely beaten and had bruises over 40 percent of her body. She also had nine tumor-like blood clots in her brain, according to an autopsy.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Transportation police with the state Department of Public Safety are cracking down this week on aggressive and distracted drivers as part of a nationwide effort to improve highway safety.

Officers will be using marked and unmarked vehicles during the special operation. Both commercial and noncommercial vehicles will be targeted.

The department says a similar effort by motor transportation officers last year resulted in 266 citations for speeding, following too close and other moving violations.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A Vietnam War veteran from New Mexico and the other surviving members of Alpha Troop, First Squadron, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, have been honored with the Presidential Unit Citation.

The award was presented by President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today applauded the passage of a bill that supports several of New Mexico's national security initiatives.

The Senate approved the fiscal year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill; this measure can now be sent to the White House for signature.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – JUAN JARAMILLO JR., age 24, of Milagro, was apprehended earlier Tuesday at approximately 4:00 p.m. at the Border Patrol Checkpoint north of Las Cruces on Intestate 25, for Kidnapping in the First Degree and other related Domestic charges.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Several Democratic Senators are expressing their strong frustration over the limitations imposed on their deliberations by the Governor's Proclamation convening the special session.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Edward M. Avalos will be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Avalos was raised on a family farm in the Mesilla Valley where they grew cotton, wheat and a variety of specialty crops. He is a member of several agricultural promotion organizations in the state and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from New Mexico State University.

By KRWG News

El Paso – An attorney for a Mexican human rights official jailed by immigration officials says his client doesn't want asylum in the U.S. and wasn't seeking it when he crossed the border last week.

Gustavo de la Rosa Hickerson is the human rights official for Chihuahua state, which includes Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Although he has complained about abuses by the Mexican army and has said he fears for his life, he often visits El Paso legally.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Thousands of acres will be up offered this week at the Bureau of Land Management's regional oil and gas lease sale, but some of the land near the Organ Mountains is being held back.

Fifty-one parcels will be available in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Kansas although the agency has pulled back a dozen parcels in New Mexico that are near a national park and proposed wilderness.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Department of Insurance has approved rate reductions in workers' compensation premiums for the fourth year in a row.

Workers' Compensation Administration director Glenn Smith says such rate reductions make it cheaper to purchase insurance and, hopefully, make New Mexico more attractive to businesses.

He credits efforts by employers and workers for reducing on-the-job injuries.