Regional

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas announced recently that a northern New Mexico School District employee may have embezzled close 3.4 million dollars from the school's budget; and as KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports, Balderas is now urging school districts to check their books often.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – From NMSU:
U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will be one of the keynote speakers at New Mexico State University's and honorary co-chairman Congressman Harry Teague's initiative to explore America's energy future at a two-day conference titled "Re-Energize America: Policy, Practice and Possibility for America's Future" Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 at NMSU's Corbett Center Ballrooms.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – From NMSU:
Renewable energy from any of the potential sources requires adaptability for the current system in electrical production and delivery. Critical to these requirements are the electrical codes and standards that ensure safety of the users, installers and operators.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – From NMSU:
Local business owner Connie Hines has dedicated many of her volunteer hours during the last 10 years to the arts at New Mexico State University, including, along with her husband, Jerry, donating $100,000 to the Center for the Arts project.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – Researchers at New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute announced a new variety of pepper this chile season; and as KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports, they say it's sure to win the taste buds of many New Mexicans.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state Public Education Departments says 10th graders in public schools will be able to take college board exams for free during the upcoming school year.

The department said all school districts, on a voluntary basis, will have the opportunity to have 10th graders participate in the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test for free. This will save the districts about $13 per participating student.

By KRWG News

Texas – Drought has damaged crops across Texas, but another weather problem earlier this year added to the trouble for wine growers.

Freezing temperatures devastated some grapes at the Driftwood Vineyards, about 20 miles southwest of Austin.

Owner Gary Elliott told KXAN-TV that he started 2009 with an estimated 60 tons of fruit, but in early April the temperature dropped below freezing and "pretty much wiped out all the fruit."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Elephant Butte Irrigation District plans to shut off irrigation water at a month earlier than usual, and blames a dry summer and less runoff from snow last winter.

The district, which usually releases irrigation water until late September or into October, will end the season Aug. 28 this year.

Irrigation district manager Gary Esslinger says rains that typically come in July and August have not arrived, and water demand has remained high. In addition, temperatures have remained hot.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's revenues are down more than $700 million over two years, and the shortfall is large enough to wipe out the state's cash reserves.

That's the message delivered Friday to legislators in a new revenue forecast from economists.

According to the projections, state revenues will drop to about $5 billion in the budget year that started in July. That's $433 million less than what had been anticipated when lawmakers enacted the budget.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – A southeast New Mexico man is fighting for his life at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque after developing a severe form of West Nile Virus. KRWG's Marco Grajeda this report.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – United States Congressman Harry Teague took advantage of the August recess to visit with southern New Mexicans and discuss the national health care reform proposal. As KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports, the proposal will be at the top of the agenda in September, and Teague says he wants opinions on the controversial issue.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Efforts to clean up football field-sized coal pits and other signs of 16 years of mining at the now-closed La Plata Mine outside Farmington are earning high praise from the U.S. Department of Interior.

Mine owner BHP Billiton has removed 1,700 acres of coal pits and re-created rolling hills and valleys covered with native vegetation.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Nearly $1.4 million worth of methamphetamine, marijuana and cocaine has been seized by state police and motor transportation officers in New Mexico.

State police said Wednesday that Eduardo Magneo of Mexico was recently stopped on Interstate 40 for failing to signal. Inside a hidden compartment in his vehicle, officers found two sealed packages of meth worth $19,500.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Albuquerque area has surpassed its water conservation goal for July despite little rainfall.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority says customers used 18.39 billion gallons of water through the end of July. That's 749 million gallons under the year-to-date conservation goal of 19.14 billion gallons.

The water authority's conservation officer, Katherine Yuhas, said this is a significant achievement considering the lack of rain. She said the utility's water by numbers system is working.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The mayor of Las Cruces wants to end talking or texting while driving.

Mayor Ken Miyagishima has scheduled a Las Cruces City Council work session for next month to discuss the proposal.

Miyagishima said Wednesday the city would be looking at a partial ban, meaning he's OK with using a hands-free device.

Miyagishima said initial response has been particularly strong. Of the 50 to 60 responses received through e-mail, the mayor said most of those "have been in favor of some kind of restrictions."