News

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico Spaceport Authority has a new executive director, and he's no stranger to the job.

The spaceport board met Tuesday in Truth or Consequences and voted unanimously to hire Rick Homans. He will take over as permanent director on July 1 after stepping down from his position as head of the state Taxation and Revenue Department.

Homans served as the first chairman of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority from 2005 to 2007 and was briefly its executive director in 2007.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Three men who attempted to elude police after stealing beer from an area convenience store abandoned their vehicle and the 5-year-old boy who was in the car with them.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Instructors at New Mexico State University and Do a Ana Community College are seeking volunteers to participate in a Community Adobe Education Day at the historic Phillips Chapel CME church on Saturday, June 19.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County/City of Las Cruces Office of Emergency Management is aware of the wildfire burning in/near the Soledad Canyon area of the Organ Mountain Range. Dona Ana County OEM has been in contact with White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) emergency personnel, who advise that both WSMR and Ft. Bliss Fire personnel are attempting to gain access to the fire, which is burning in a remote location of the mountain range.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested the suspect wanted for a sexual assault that occurred in February 2009 at an apartment complex on the 1900 block of Wyoming Avenue.

Luis Anthony Cobarrubia, 35, is charged with three second-degree felony counts including criminal sexual penetration, kidnapping and aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon. Cobarrubia is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center with bond set at $500,000.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Some southern New Mexico business owners say now is not the time to hike the sales tax.

Dona Ana County commissioners are weighing their options for presenting voters with a plan to hike the sales tax.

County Commission Chairman Oscar Vasquez-Butler said he realizes new taxes are unpopular. But he said the commission also faces plenty of criticism from the public when it considers cutting medical services, senior meals, 4-H and other programs.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico State University's Sustainable Science Center at Alcalde is beginning several research trials for growing lavender in the area. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect who stabbed a woman last Thursday on the campus of New Mexico State University.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Ismael Zambrano Chavira, 38, who is charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. A $30,000 cash-only bond has been set and New Mexico State University police are considering additional charges again Chavira.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – From June 19 to June 21, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff from the New Mexico Fire District will be conducting prescribed burns on the east side of the San Andres mountain range on San Andres National Wildlife Refuge. Approximately 11,000 acres in the lower foothills on the east side of the refuge are slated to be burned.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Fred Martino speaks with Ben Brown, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, about energy legislation being debated in Congress.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Fred Martino speaks with John Cornell, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, about the energy legislation being debated in Congress.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Every Monday, Fred Martino speaks with Las Cruces Sun News Business Editor Brook Stockberger.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department is asking for the public's assistance in attempting to locate a fugitive, wanted for the alleged stabbing of his brother on Friday, June 11, 2010.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The man wanted for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in Las Cruces was arrested over the weekend in El Paso, Texas.

Oscar A. Luevano, 33, of the 1900 block of south Telshor Boulevard, was arrested by El Paso Police on a warrant out of Las Cruces. Luevano is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Firefighters are battling a lightning-caused wildfire that has charred more than 2,500 acres on the Santa Fe National Forest near Polvadera Peak.

The South Fork Fire is one of three fires burning on the northern New Mexico forest. Fire officials say the blaze has been pushed by strong winds, which have produced flame lengths of more than 200 feet and grounded all air support on Saturday.

South of Gallinas Canyon on the Pecos district, the Tecolotoe Fire has burned more than 1,300 acres.