Las Cruces Police are investigating an armed robbery committed Thursday evening at a local Family Dollar store.

Shortly after 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, officers were dispatched to the report of an armed robbery at the Family Dollar store, 745 N. Valley Dr. Investigators learned that a man, believed to be in his mid-20s, displayed a handgun and ordered employees to give him money.

The employees handed over cash from one of the registers and the suspect fled from the store in a white vehicle. No injuries were reported.

 Commentary: With more details of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election emerging daily, U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich cosponsored legislation led by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to address threats to America’s campaign finance system.

Albuquerque, NM – Today, Attorney General Hector Balderas, Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales, Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque Police Department announced the successful result of a joint operation targeting commercial sex trafficking of minors in Albuquerque. Seven men were arrested this week in Albuquerque during the operation for soliciting sex with someone they believed to be a 15-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover BCSO deputy. The men all attempted to pay $40 to $200 to have sex with 15-year-old girls.

On Saturday August 26, 2017 from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm, the Murals of Las Cruces Project will host a “launch party” for their new website at the New Mexico State University Art Gallery. The event is free and open to the public.

The afternoon will begin with a panel discussion titled “Street Art: A Public Conversation,” and will be followed by an after party with refreshments in celebration of the launch of muralsoflascruces.com.

Police arrested a Las Cruces woman suspected of stabbing her boyfriend during an argument on Thursday.

Danae Lynn Wingard, 29, of the 1700 block of Payne Street, is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and battery against a household member.

Shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday, July 20, Las Cruces Police were dispatched to the report of a stabbing victim at Mountainview Regional Medical Center. Officers arrived to find a 28-year-old man suffering from a stab wound to his back. His injuries were not life-threatening.

  Santa Fe – A lawsuit over New Mexico's teacher evaluation system has been delayed again.  It was scheduled for trial in October.

American Federation of Teachers President New Mexico President Stephanie Ly and Albuquerque Teachers Federation President Ellen Bernstein released the following statement: 

What gets elementary kids excited at school? Trash trucks!

First through sixth grade students at Desert Trail Elementary in Chaparral made their way outside the classroom for Career Day in mid-May. Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) Solid Waste Section was there to tell them about career opportunities and about helping to protect the environment.

Commentary: CLOVIS, NM: This week, as House Republicans advanced a budget proposal that includes billions in new immigration enforcement funding and deep cuts to crucial government services, federal immigration agents launched a new wave of deportation raids in Clovis, New Mexico, detaining long-time residents and disrupting the lives of countless families.

Las Cruces, NM –The New Mexico Department of Health’s Las Cruces Women, Infants, Children program (WIC) along with Children’s Medical Services, Families First and the Ideas for Cooking and Nutrition (ICAN) program will host its annual Breastfeeding Celebration on August 04, 2017 from 1pm to 4pm at the Las Cruces Public Health Office, 1170 N. Solano.SaferNM will also be providing free car seat safety checks.