Regional

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – With state officials preparing to make spending cuts across the board, two groups concerned with an increase in crime, are urging Governor Bill Richardson to make some exemptions. KRWG's Marco Grajeda has more.

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

Lordsburg – The State Land Office has sold 25 acres of state trust land near Interstate 10 in Hidalgo County for $750,000 to federal officials who are planning to build a Border Patrol station.
The facility will accommodate up to 350 agents and employees. It will have an administration building, vehicle maintenance shop and fueling station, equestrian center, dog kennels and a firing range.
State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons says there's a possibility the station also could include a heliport pad.

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A dark cloud over Gov. Bill Richardson's political future has lifted after the federal government's decision against indictments in a pay-to-play investigation that prompted the governor to withdraw his nomination as U.S. commerce secretary earlier this year.

Political analysts said the yearlong probe's end could even revive Richardson's chances of finding a place in President Barack Obama's administration in the future. The governor's second term expires at the end of 2010 and he can't seek re-election.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's unemployment rate hit 7 percent last month, up from 6.8 percent in June and 4.2 percent in July 2008.

The state's labor agency says New Mexico lost 25,900 jobs between July 2008 and July 2009, for a negative 3.1 percent growth.

Officials say the decline is the worst New Mexico has seen since 1954.

Only two of New Mexico 13 industries have posted any job growth since last year government and private health care.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Belen police are investigating a 10-year-old boy in the shooting death of his father.

Officers say they responded to a call of shots fired about 6:30 p.m. Thursday at a Belen home, and found a 42-year-old man shot once in the head.

They say two children were at the home at the time, and that they believe the 10-year-old boy fired the shot.

The father was later pronounced dead at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque.

No names have been released.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Albuquerque Public Schools officials say an Albuquerque High School student has tested positive for swine flu.

District officials say the student began showing symptoms on Aug. 21 and was out of classes this week.

The state Department of Health confirmed the student had swine flu.

State health officials have said they expected more cases of swine flu to arise once students returned to classes.

By Copyright KUNM

Albuquerque, NM – As the H1N1 Virus appears to be spreading once again in New Mexico, health officials continue to warn that pregnant women are especially susceptible to it and should be immunized as soon as a vaccine is available. KUNM's Jim Williams has more.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – Tearing down a historic building in Las Cruces can be done without much hassle. A property owner simply has to apply for a demolition permit before bringing down an aging structure. As KRWG's Marco Grajeda reports, city officials are now considering a proposal that will add a few more steps to the process in hopes of protecting historic properties.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The expansion project on Interstate 10 from Las Cruces to the Texas state line is being postponed, after a local contractor accused the Department of Transportation of illegally rejecting their bid. As KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports, company officials say they made the lowest bid for the project and still weren't awarded the contract.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The administrator of a government worker pension fund says there's no need to increase payroll contribution rates to shore up the program because of investment losses over the past year.

Terry Slattery, executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico, made the comment to legislators on Wednesday in outlining how the pension fund was rebounding as financial markets improved.