News

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Some 80 soldiers from the 515th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the New Mexico Army National Guard are to arrive Wednesday at Fort Bliss, Texas, after a year's deployment to Iraq.

The Belen-based 515th acted as the headquarters element for more than 700 soldiers from around the United States who were doing combat support operations such as transportation, supply, security and medical work in Iraq.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico health secretary says requirements for patients with chronic pain to join the medical marijuana program will not change.

Dr. Alfredo Vigil decided Tuesday against eliminating a requirement that both a primary care physician and a chronic pain specialist sign off on such cases.

He says that's to ensure medical marijuana is available only to those who need it as a treatment of last resort.

Chronic pain patients also have to have objective proof such as CT scans or X-rays.

By KRWG News

Texas – An audit confirms more than 900 Veterans Affairs nurses in Texas mistakenly received extra pay and could have to give the money back.

Marie Weldon with the South Texas Veterans Health Care System says administrators will help the 800 registered nurses and 120 licensed vocational nurses seek waivers. But Weldon, in an April 19 letter, says there are no guarantees that the wrongful pay raises will be forgiven.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The City of Las Cruces is extending a working agreement for inmate crews in the area. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Dona Ana County is holding several celebrations today to mark significant infrastructure projects. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich has more

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Las Cruces Police Department has investigated an increased number of daytime burglaries over the past month where a perpetrator has kicked open the front door to gain entry to a home.

Since mid-April LCPD has investigated more than 20 such crimes, most of which were committed while residents were away from home. But, on at least three occasions, the invasion has occurred while a resident was home and has resulted in a hasty exit on the part of the perpetrator.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Students in the New Mexico State University Pre-Pharmacy Society are hoping to save lives by educating the local community about the Vial of Life.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Owen Boberg, a New Mexico State University student majoring in physics, has won a Fulbright Fellowship. The prestigious award will allow him to study in Chile and to use various telescopes at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory while collaborating with world-class astronomers.

"Finding out was one of the most exciting days in not only my college career, but my life," Boberg said. "I could not believe my eyes. I literally handed the letter to my sister and said, 'Please read this and tell me I'm not crazy.'"

By KRWG News

El Paso – A one-time El Paso Times circulation manager has been named the far West Texas paper's publisher.

Sergio H. Salinas, a native of Laredo, was appointed to lead the MediaNews-owned newspaper Monday. He replaces Ray Stafford, who resigned and then retired earlier Monday.

Salinas was also named president and chief executive officer of the Texas-New Mexico News Partnership, which also publishes seven newspapers in New Mexico.

By KRWG News

Elephant Butte – Rangers with New Mexico State Parks will continue searching Elephant Butte for an Albuquerque man who went missing at the lake over the weekend.

Authorities say Martin Stevenson fell backward into the water from a sailboat Saturday afternoon in the middle of the lake due east of Hot Springs Landing.

New Mexico State Police dive teams have searched the 50-degree water at depths of 85 feet for the past 72 hours. They called off their search Tuesday, but the park rangers will continue looking for Stevenson.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico Insurance Superintendent Morris Chavez announced Tuesday he will step down from his post.

He says it was a tough decision but he decided to submit his resignation letter to the chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on Tuesday after talking with his family.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Today's successful launch of the UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL rocket for the New Mexico Second Annual Education Launch was greeted by cheers from students across the state of New Mexico as their payload experiments reached space, and tears of pride for the memory of a Farmington science and technology teacher who dreamed of this day. The launch took place at about 6:45 a.m. MDT.

By KRWG News

Texas – Gov. Rick Perry is praising the results of his immigration enforcement talks with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.

That's after a steady drumbeat of criticism from Perry about the federal approach toward those enforcement needs and fears that Mexico's drug-related violence might spill into the United States.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Absentee voting for New Mexico's June 1 primary begins Tuesday.

The primary election is open only to registered Republicns or Democrats, who are allowed to vote only in their own party's primary.

Voters can apply for an absentee ballot by contacting the county clerk in the county in which they live.

The primary election decides the Republican and Democratic nominees for the Nov. 4 general election.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson has proclaimed Tuesday as "Mining Health and Safety Awareness Day."

With the proclamation, Richardson recognizes the 6,000 men and women working in the 225 mines within New Mexico. He also points out that mining jobs in the state account for more than $300 million in wages.

The governor says the mining occupation requires stringent safety management policies and procedures to prevent injuries and fatalities.