Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a total of $26.4 million to help New Mexico health care centers expand access to quality health care.

The funding was made possible through grant programs established under new health insurance law that took effect six months ago.

Funding was awarded to the following New Mexico health care centers and can be used for construction and renovation needs and to expand access to quality health care.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Environmentalists are concerned that a revised plan by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department would allow more cougars to be hunted around the state.

The Game Commission will make a final decision on the hunting limits for both cougars and bears during an Oct. 28 meeting.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Two federal grants will help New Mexico senior citizens and people with disabilities navigate through their options for health care and long-term care.

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department announced the grants for more than $871,000 to New Mexico's Aging and Long-Term Services Department.

State Aging and Long-Term Services Secretary Michael Spanier says the grants will help senior citizens and adults with disabilities understand their long-term support options and help them make informed decisions.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A state commission is offering New Mexico voters an evaluation of judges up for retention in the November general election.

The New Mexico Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission provides its recommendations on a website www.nmjpec.org.

Two Supreme Court justices and two judges on the Court of Appeals are on the ballot statewide and the commission recommends that voters retain them.

By KRWG News

Eagle Pass, TX – Federal authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old Eagle Pass drug suspect, allegedly by a U.S. Border Patrol agent.

Maverick County Sheriff Tomas S. Herrera said Friday deputies found no evidence Juan Mendez of Eagle Pass was armed when he was shot. The agent's identity hasn't been released.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – On Wednesday, Las Cruces Agents arrested a Sex Offender with warrants for his arrest while Ysleta Agents arrested two individuals with possible links to narcotics traffic organizations.

Border Patrol agents at the I-10 Traffic Checkpoint, west of Las Cruces, arrested a United States Citizen being sought by Putnam County, Florida Sheriff's authorities on charges related to "One Count of Sexual Battery" and "Four Counts of Sexual Activity with a Child in Familial Custody".

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The campaign is in its 16th year and is hosted by The Keep Las Cruces Beautiful and New Mexico Clean and Beautiful programs.

The event consists of local volunteers who help collect litter at parks, schools and on area streets and business properties. The New Mexico State Aggie men's basketball team, girl and boy scouts and students from several local grade schools are set to participate.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A visit to Cuba is not possible for most people without lengthy paperwork and, ultimately, a special visa. However, New Mexico State University is providing access to this off-limits island and an important piece of Cuban history in the form of a photography exhibit entitled "El Cubano se Ofrece: An Exploration of Cuban Identity."

The show features the work of internationally recognized Cuban photographer, Iv n Ca as, from Friday, Oct. 15, until the end of the semester, at the William Conroy Honors Center at NMSU.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Mexican President Felipe Calderon has sent lawmakers a proposal to abolish Mexico's notoriously corrupt and ineffective municipal police forces.

Under the initiative, each of Mexico's 31 states would have just one police department under the command of the governor.

Calderon raised the idea months ago and formally submitted it to the Senate on Wednesday. He says the goal is to reduce corruption by eliminating hundreds of small police departments whose officers are poorly educated and badly paid.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexicans wanting a preview of their voting options for the Nov. 2 general election can find sample ballots on the secretary of state's website.

The website www.sos.nm.us provides sample ballots by precinct in all 33 counties.

Voters can click on their precinct and see the state and local candidates on their ballot as well as review proposed constitutional amendments and bond issues. The location of polling places for each precinct also is provided.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The Dona Ana County Commission District one seat is up for grabs this year. Outgoing Commissioner Oscar Vasquez-Butler is term limited.

On this year's ballot is Democrat Billy Garrett who is a retired national Park Service Administrator and Republican John Zimmerman, a retired missile test engineer and Navy commander.

Both candidates have an extensive list of priorities for the county ranging from health and safety programs to the county's master plan.

By KRWG News

Texas – Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says state sales tax collections were $1.57 billion in September, up 6.8 percent compared with the same month a year ago.

The figures released Wednesday showed a larger monthly percentage gain than the state had been seeing recently.

Combs says sales tax increases were posted across almost all sectors, including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade and restaurants.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing pollution controls that would mean an 80 percent reduction in nitrogen oxides from the Four Corners Power Plant on the Navajo Nation in northwestern New Mexico.

The EPA says that would reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides from about 45,000 tons per year to 9,000 tons per year, and improve public health and visibility at 16 national park sites in the area.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation will enable New Mexico State University and Las Cruces Public Schools to integrate the problem-solving tools of computer science into local science classrooms.

The program committee chose four eligible graduate fellows and four teachers to implement the program. Work on the project began at the start of the fall 2010 semester.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Authorities say a man sought in the death of his estranged wife in Kansas has been found dead in southern New Mexico.

Dona Ana County sheriff's investigator Lindell Wright confirmed the body found Tuesday was that of Hoseah Masabah Kaminja, but said any information had to come from Kansas detectives.

Hutchinson, Kan., police Capt. Troy Hoover says the man's body was found inside his car parked in a Las Cruces neighborhood.

An autopsy was ordered, but Hoover says the death appeared to be a suicide.