Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Susana Martinez has declared a state of emergency as thousands of New Mexico residents lost natural gas service due to the bitter cold.

Martinez sent all nonessential state workers home for the day Thursday, and urged all residents to turn down their thermostats, bundle up and shut off appliances they don't need for the next 24 hours.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico Congressman Steve Pearce says Americans face a bleak economic future unless the federal government stops running deficits.

Pearce told a joint session of the Legislature on Thursday that it will take a bipartisan effort to bring spending in line with revenues. He also said the nation must focus on creating jobs to reinvigorate the economy.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Former astronaut and New Mexico energy secretary-designate Harrison "Jack" Schmitt has made his pitch to state lawmakers.

He's asking that they help the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department fill critical vacancies that threaten to keep the agency from meeting mandates and competing for federal funding. He made the request Thursday before the Senate Finance Committee.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – City of Las Cruces offices, facilities, and Roadrunner transit will be closed Thursday. There will be no trash pickup. Service will resume Friday and extend through Saturday. Residents with Wednesday and Thursday trash days are asked to leave their containers out. Juvenile Citation Offices will be closed and classes canceled.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – El Paso Electric Company has notified the Dona Ana County Emergency Operations Center that the local power grid is stable, however with much colder temperatures expected overnight, additional planned, rolling blackouts are likely to occur. El Paso Electric will have crews activated 24/7 to keep power flowing to as many customers as possible at any given time.

Residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to conserve power in all possible ways until the weather warms up again.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – RoadRunner Transit will not operate Wednesday and will operate on a two hour delay Thursday, beginning service at 8:30 a.m.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Utilities is asking customers to limit water usage today to help conserve electricity. Water wells are electrically powered and reduced water consumption will save power. El Paso Electric continues to conduct rolling blackouts to help reduce power consumption.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Due to the inclement weather, El Paso Electric is in an emergency situation and we are asking all customers to immediately curtail as much electrical usage as they can. EPE has lost some generation at:
Rio Grande and Newman power plants

We are asking you to cooperate in this effort. We are asking businesses to curtail their usage except in situations of critical needs.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – ALL LCPS SCHOOLS, NMSU, AND DACC will be CLOSED on Wednesday, February 2, 2011, due to cold weather and poor road conditions. El Paso Electric is also experiencing power generation problems due to the weather, and has asked the District not to open to reduce the power load on their system.

All school programs, including Developmentally Delayed pre-school, Head Start, Athletic events and practices, and all after school programs are also CANCELLED.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The Mardi Gras Gala in its fourth consecutive year will be among the first events held in the new convention center.

The event will include a silent auction that will include artwork, furniture and jewelry. There will also be music, hors d'oeurves, a cash bar and costume contest.
American Southwest Theater Company managing director Tom Smith says the gala proceeds will benefit programs.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – In a unanimous decision, a 12 member jury this afternoon found the City of Las Cruces and the Las Cruces Police Department not liable in the death of 68-year-old Alvin Moore.

Moore was in a crosswalk at the corner of El Paseo Road and Main Street the morning of July 25, 2005 when he was struck and killed by a man involved in a pursuit with Las Cruces police after allegedly robbing a middle aged woman and stealing her sport utility vehicle (SUV).

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces needs your input about how to spend the housing and community development funds it will receive during the next five years (2011-2015) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Activities must generally benefit low and moderate income persons. The City is starting a process called the consolidated plan, which will help determine how these federal funds will be spent. We ask you to participate in one of the following meetings:

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A gas line break has forced the closure of the intersection of Triviz Drive and Spruce Avenue to vehicular traffic.

North bound Triviz traffic is being detoured on to McClane Road, to Wingate Road back to Spruce.

South bound Triviz traffic is being detoured at Poplar Avenue, to Evelyn Street back to Spruce.

No Telshor Boulevard traffic is being allowed to turn onto Spruce.

Repair crews are on the scene.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – State Transportation Secretary Designate Alvin C. Dominguez announced Monday, January 31, 2011 that highway crews were being mobilized in anticipation of the first severe winter storm of 2011. The storm has impacted a large portion of the entire state with most regions under winter storm warnings or winter weather.

By KRWG News

Truth or Consequences – The New Mexico Department of Transportation is working with law enforcement with the closure for I-25 between T or C and Socorro, NM that will affect north and southbound motorists. US-70 is closed from Alamogordo to Las Cruces.

The winter storm has brought heavy snow and icy roadway conditions, which has caused multiple vehicle accidents.