Regional

The U.S. Marshals Service in Albuquerque has auctioned seized vehicles and raised more than $200,000.

The agency said the auction over the weekend netted $212,175 for law enforcement and victims of crime groups. Among the items auctioned were a 1980 Chevrolet Corvette that sold for $3,800 and a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette that sold for $20,500.

Officials say the items auctioned once belonged to individuals and companies involved in criminal activity.

Crews with the Doña Ana County Fire and Emergency Services Department are on standby after several brush fires ripped through the southern part of the county near Sunland Park and Santa Teresa late into Monday night.

The flames were brought under control early Tuesday morning, according to Sunland Park Fire Chief Andres Burciaga.

“We still have a few hot spots, but they’re in an area that isn’t easily accessible,” Burciaga said. “The next step is to go in on foot and clear the area with chainsaws and hand tools to put out those hot spots.  

New Mexico State University is seeking to help ranchers with wildlife management and brush control amid a dangerous fire season.

The school is hosting a wildlife management round-table discussion Tuesday at the Southwest Center for Rangeland Sustainability for area ranchers.

Shad Cox, ranch manager of the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center, says reduced income for ranchers due to drought conditions has made managing wildlife for income diversification a very important component to land management.

AUSTIN, May 20- Today, the Legislature passed SB 124, which increase penalties for reporting false school data.

The Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) is used by TEA to collect student and teacher data from school districts and open-enrollment charters. Collecting accurate and complete data through PEIMS is vital to ensure accountability in the Texas school system.

Superintendent Steve Riley announced today that the Gila Cliff Dwellings will be closed from June 3 through 7, 2013 for hazard rock removal from the cliff face directly above the dwellings.  Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument will offer twice-daily, ranger-guided tours of the TJ Site while the cliff dwellings are closed.

New Mexico is switching gears on its plan for a health insurance exchange and initially will partner with the federal government for computer services needed for an online marketplace for uninsured individuals.

Exchange board chairman J.R Damron said Monday that New Mexico will focus on having a state-run insurance exchange ready for small businesses this fall and will use a federally operated exchange to offer insurance coverage to individuals for the next year.

The League of United Latin American Citizens says two recent cases of Spanish being banned at New Mexico high school games are examples of a "disturbing" pattern.

Ralph Arellanes, New Mexico LULAC state director, said Monday that the group has heard of a least five cases of high school players being ordered this school year not to speaking Spanish. Arellanes says LULAC will begin an aggressive effort to monitor future cases, and if necessary, will file lawsuits.

A classroom curriculum system used by hundreds of Texas school districts will stop offering lesson plans after some tea party groups claimed it was promoting anti-American values.

State Sen. Dan Patrick said Monday that officials who created the system known as CSOPE will vote to scrap thousands of lesson plans this week, effectively killing the entire system.

CSCOPE had helped teachers adhere to complicated state educational requirements with Web-based lesson plans and exams.