WASHINGTON (AP) — As wildfires rage across California and the West, a bipartisan group of senators is seeking to help rural communities better prepare for and prevent catastrophic wildfires.

A bill sponsored by senators from three Northwestern states would authorize hundreds of millions in new spending to help at-risk communities prevent wildfires and create a pilot program to cut down trees in the most fire-prone areas.

Las Cruces police are investigating the discovery of a body found Thursday morning near the 300 block of north Valley Drive.

Sometime before 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19, a person working in the area discovered the body in an undeveloped lot near Fire Station 3 and Branigan Park. Investigators are trying to determine the identity, cause of death and how long the body has been there.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Hundreds of pages of court records related to sexual abuse allegations against clergy members are being made public in response to an order from a New Mexico judge, marking the largest disclosure of such records since alleged victims began suing the Archdiocese of Santa Fe nearly three decades ago.

Silver City, NM – Western New Mexico University signed agreements with four universities, including Universidad Tecnológica de Paquimé and Universidad de Occidente, during the First International Meeting of Universities on campus last week. WNMU also signed letters of intent with 13 other universities, including Universidad Technológica de Cuidad Juarez and Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, during the two-day convention.

  KRWG-TV and the League of Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces present this Election 2017 forum for Las Cruces city council district 5.  The candidates are Gill Sorg and Steve Montanez.

The program airs Thursday at 7pm, Saturday at 5pm and Sunday at 11am.

  A multi-agency task force is investigating an overnight shooting involving a 46-year-old male and a Doña Ana County Sheriff’s deputy.

Just after midnight Thursday, residents in the area of Berry Patch Lane and Isaacks Avenue called 911 to report hearing what sounded like multiple gunshots. A patrol deputy was dispatched to the area and made contact with a suspicious vehicle.

   According to detectives, a male subject – later identified as Zach Barela – exited the vehicle and reportedly fired a shotgun towards the deputy. The deputy returned fire, and Barela fled on foot.

Silver City, NM – New Mexico International Trade Expert Jerry Pacheco with The International Business Accelerator will give a free presentation to WNMU students and the public on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2017, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Light Hall Theater.

The seminar will cover destinations for New Mexico’s exports, New Mexico’s ports of entry, trade with Mexico, recent developments and trade leads, among other topics.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico might not have the most money to offer Amazon as it decides where to put a second headquarters, but officials say nearly limitless sunshine, hazard-free weather and a diverse population should make the state competitive.

The e-commerce giant has set Thursday as the deadline for bids from Albuquerque and dozens of other cities competing to lure Amazon. The company is promising $5 billion of investment and 50,000 jobs over the next decade and a half.