News

Boy Scouts Appeals Order To Turn Over "Perversion Files"

KRWG News And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:26:13 +0000

The Boy Scouts of America is asking the Texas Supreme Court to review an order requiring it to turn over years of so-called perversion files in a child abuse lawsuit.

BSA filed its request last week, a month after the San Antonio-based 4th Court of Appeals sided with a district judge's order. Attorneys for a former Scout who says he was abused by his Scout leader are asking for about a decade's worth of the internal files.

As Fires Rage, Feds Cut Prevention Funding

KRWG News And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:23:44 +0000

The federal government is spending less and less on preventing wildfires even as the nation endures increasingly destructive blazes.

The Obama administration is proposing a 31 percent cut to the main program that clears brush and overgrown trees to prevent forest fires. That program is already funded at lower levels than 11 years ago. Automatic budget cuts that kicked in in March have made the gap worse. As a result, the Forest Service treated 1 million fewer acres this year than last and expects to treat far fewer next year.

Appeals Court Vacates El Paso Fraud Conviction

KRWG News And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:22:11 +0000

A federal appeals court has overturned a ruling by a West Texas judge that resulted in a six-year prison sentence for a man accused of fraud.

South County Well Back In Service

KRWG News And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:11:59 +0000

Water users within the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority should see water pressure improving soon as gravity-feed tanks fill, now that all the wells in the system have been repaired and are pumping at full capacity. Customers are advised to continue to conserve while the tanks fill.

The last broken well was repaired at about 1 a.m. today.

The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority provides water service for the City of Sunland Park and most of the unincorporated areas in and around the Santa Teresa County Club and the Santa Teresa Port of Entry.

Silver Fire Continues To Grow; Smoke Increasing

KRWG News And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:10:16 +0000

Dry conditions and wind are fueling growth of the Silver Fire. The fire grew 5,500 acres to reach 30,300 acres. Firefighters were able to hold containment lines and protect the community of Kingston. The fire burned actively in Railroad Canyon, Carbonate Creek and Little Bear Canyon.

Silver Fire May Grow Another 9 Square Miles

News Editor And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:06:28 +0000

A large blaze charring through southern New Mexico's Gila National Forest is expected to grow and become more visible thanks to high winds and low humidity.

Officials say the 47-square-mile Silver Fire could grow another 9 square miles Wednesday with smoke spreading across the region. It remains only around 5 percent contained.

Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed Alleging Illegal Search By Dona Ana County Sheriff Deputies

News Editor And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:03:48 +0000

A man and his young grandson have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, alleging Dona Ana County Sheriff's deputies unjustly ordered them out of a vehicle at gunpoint and illegally searched them.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the complained filed last week in U.S. District Court in Las Cruces says the search occurred when Mike Castro and his then-8-year-old grandson were rabbit hunting in 2001 on a private road.

Residents: Action Needed On NM Mine Due To Cancer

News Editor And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:58:47 +0000

Western New Mexico residents say federal officials need to either move the tailings from an abandoned uranium mill near Milan or relocate the owners of about 75 nearby homes.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that residents told a top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official Tuesday that a cluster of cancer cases in subdivisions near the Homestake Mining Co. uranium mill show a need for immediate action by the agency.

Audit Questions $6 Million In Federal Payments To New Mexico

KRWG News And Partners — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:03:15 +0000

Federal auditors are recommending that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recover more than $6 million in grant funding from New Mexico.

The EPA's Office of Inspector General says three bureaus within the New Mexico Environment Department did not always comply with federal requirements when it came to charging labor, fringe benefits and indirect costs to federal grants.

Registration Open For NMSU Robotics Camp In Las Cruces

KRWG News And Partners — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:13:22 +0000

The New Mexico Engineering Resource Network, New Mexico State University College of Engineering, will host a beginning robotics camp in Las Cruces from July 10-12 for students ages 10 and older.

El Paso Railroad Museum Evicted In Rental Dispute

KRWG News And Partners — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:00:24 +0000

A railroad museum in West Texas has left a locomotive behind after being evicted in a rental dispute at a city-operated building.

Volunteers with the Railroad and Transportation Museum of El Paso on Monday finished removing items as they seek a larger location.

The city had allowed the museum, which was founded in 2004, to operate without paying rent. A May eviction notice says the city needs a paying tenant as property values rose.

Texas Counties Can Seek Feral Hog Control Grants

KRWG News And Partners — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:58:55 +0000

Texas counties needing financial help controlling feral hogs are being encouraged to pair up and apply for $30,000 in grants.

The Texas Department of Agriculture on Tuesday announced the County Hog Abatement Matching Program, or CHAMP.

Holloman Airman's Death Under Investigation; Memorial Service Planned

KRWG News And Partners — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:55:48 +0000

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – The Holloman Airman who died June 11 has been identified as Tech Sgt. Melissa L. Shroka. Her death is currently under investigation. Shroka was assigned to the 4th Space Control Squadron as the NCO in charge of material management.

Silver Fire Activity Increases

KRWG News And Partners — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:19:02 +0000

A hot and dry air mass with stronger winds and lower relative humidity has settled over the Silver Fire resulting in an increase in fire behavior. The fire continues to grow. It now stands at 24,800 acres and remains just five percent contained.

NM Man In Kidnapping Case Stopped By Mom Arraigned

News Editor And Partners — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:13:40 +0000

A New Mexico man accused of trying to kidnap a 4-year-old girl but was thwarted by the girl's mother who chased him down and crashed into his car has pleaded not guilty.

David Hernandez was arraigned Monday in New Mexico District Court in Albuquerque and ordered held on $100,000 cash bail.