Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) The effects of extending tax incentives for alternative energy investment and domestic manufacturing will be the focus of a hearing being hosted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

The New Mexico Democrat's hearing will begin Wednesday morning in Washington, D.C.

Bingaman is chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and chair of the Finance Subcommittee on Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) A subsidiary of Xcel Energy Inc. has reached an $800,000 settlement with the New Mexico Environment Department over alleged air quality violations at a natural gas-fired power plant in southeastern New Mexico.

The settlement is one of the largest reached by the department this year.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police and the FBI are investigating the Tuesday afternoon robbery of the First New Mexico Bank on east Lohman Avenue.

The man believed to be responsible for the robbery was located within minutes at a nearby store and is in police custody at this time. LCPD detectives and agents from the FBI will be interviewing the man who is in custody and witnesses to the robbery.

No charges have been filed at this time.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – During a taping of KRWG-TV's Newsmakers' television show Tuesday, USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner presented two certificates of obligation to New Mexico State University (NMSU).

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner traveled to Berino, New Mexico Tuesday to present over $700,000 in certificates of obligation to Tierra Del Sol Housing Corporation, Inc (TDS).

The funding will be used to administer the construction of 36 new homes in Berino, New Mexico. TDS is also receiving additional funding for the repair and upgrading of five homes owned by the elderly. The third award is a loan to provide business opportunities in the southern part of the state.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – SANTA FE, N.M. (KRWG) New Mexico contractors have a chance at getting a 5 percent bidding advantage under a new program with the state Taxation and Revenue Department.

Starting at the beginning of the year, contractors can obtain a valid resident business certificate or resident contractor certificate from the agency if they want a bidding advantage on state contracts.

State officials say this in-state preference won't apply to contracts that use federal funding.

By KRWG News

Alamogordo, New Mexico – ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRWG) The annual New Mexico Water Conference kicks off Tuesday and the discussion will center on desalination and renewable energy.

The two-day conference is being held in Alamogordo. It's being sponsored by the Bureau of Reclamation and the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRWG) The New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy is holding an emergency meeting over concerns that Attorney General Gary King's office isn't aggressively going after the certifications of disciplined police officers

The emergency meeting is scheduled Tuesday at the Albuquerque Police Academy

By KRWG News

Texas – A proposal to split Texas' 2012 primaries into two elections with some races decided in March and others in May would have a devastating effect on minority voter strength, particularly if maps drawn by the Legislature are used, attorneys argued Monday.

Attorney General Greg Abbott has suggested a separate primary be held for legislative and congressional races to allow time for court fights over redistricting to be resolved.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The latest winter storm is making its way across New Mexico, bringing rain to Albuquerque and snow to the higher elevations in western and northern portions of the state.

Forecasters are warning that the main part of the storm will hit New Mexico late Tuesday into Wednesday. That will result in colder temperatures and lower snow levels.

Travel along interstates 25 and 40 is not expected to be as widely affected as last week, when much of the state was socked with several inches of snow.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – The Mexican navy says it has caught a founding member of the brutal Zetas drug cartel.

It says marines detained Raul Lucio Hernandez Lechuga on Monday in the city of Cordoba. The city is in the state of Veracruz, where the Zetas are battling for control against a gang allied with the Sinaloa drug cartel.

A navy statement says Hernandez has been the Zetas leader for the states of Veracruz, Puebla and Oaxaca.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Prudent financial planning is allowing New Mexico State University to fund a number of campus improvements with one-time funds, including student scholarships, classroom improvements and research support for the Las Cruces campus. In addition, NMSU will give each regular employee a one-time payment of $950 on Dec. 15.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Public safety has been a strong point of discussion and top for the city council in recent months. The council was recently updated on the status of a proposed public safety facility on the East Mesa. The facility would be the site for fire station and a police command substation as well as the Mesilla Valley Regional Dispatch Authority or MRVDA.

The proposed 350 acre site is currently on Bureau of Land Management property just north of Sonoma Ranch Boulevard.

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

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