Regional

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The current District one commissioner Oscar Vasquez-Butler is term limited which leaves the seat open for the general election.

Democrat Billy Garrett who is a retired national Park Service Administrator is up against Republican challenger John Zimmerman, a retired missile test engineer and Navy commander.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A White Sands Missile Range Soldier supporting Operation Enduring Freedom has died.

Sgt. Brian J. Pedro, 27, of Rosamond, Calif., died Oct. 2 in
Pol-e-Khumri, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked
his unit with small arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades. He was
assigned to the Forward Support Company, 2nd Engineer Battalion. This
was his second combat tour to Afghanistan.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Democrat Jeff Steinborn has held the state representative office for district thirty-seven since 2007. On this year's general election ballot he is up against Republican Terry McMillan.

McMillan who is a an ear, nose and throat doctor and native New Mexican says his top priority for the state and district is to create jobs and balance the state budget.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Bill payment drive-up services at the old City Hall closed in 2007 and the city contracted with El Paso Electric for City staff to accept utility payment at the Solano location. However, the city closed operation there in fall of last year and opted to open Western Union sites instead. Due to an increase in resident demand for the return of the drive-up window the council looked into the possibility during Monday's meeting.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Democratic Attorney General Gary King holds the lead over Republican challenger Matt Chandler in a new poll as the candidates head into the final month of campaigning for the Nov. 2 election.

The Albuquerque Journal reports in a copyright story Tuesday that King is supported by 52 percent of the voters and Chandler by 32 percent, with 16 percent undecided.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that New Mexico will receive $10.7 million to help struggling homeowners stay in their homes. The funds come through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law earlier this year, set aside funding to implement the Emergency Homeowners Loan Program.

By KRWG News

Lordsburg – U.S. Border Patrol agents in New Mexico arrested a convicted murderer Monday near mile marker 23 on Hidalgo County Rd., located 23 miles south of Animas, New Mexico.

Agents from the Lordsburg, New Mexico Station encountered 59-year-old Manuel Diaz-Marquez during routine patrol operations. Diaz-Marquez who is a citizen of Mexico was taken into custody and transported to the Lordsburg, New Mexico Border Patrol Station for processing.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Election Day is four weeks away but New Mexicans can start voting with absentee ballots.

County clerks can start mailing out absentee ballots on Tuesday to those who have requested them.

Voters also can go to their county clerk's office, obtain an absentee ballot and cast it immediately.

Early in-person voting at other polling locations will start Oct. 16 and run through Oct. 30.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Members of the youth soccer league have notified members of the City Council regarding the playing conditions at the Field of Dreams.

In 2007, city staff reported that fields were being overused, demand continues to grow and there is not enough money to maintain the fields. There was also an ad hoc board created for a year to work on solution for how to improve the conditions of the fields.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – On Monday the Council awarded ASA Architects of Las Cruces with a contract for the new facility totaling over four hundred seven thousand dollars.

A feasibility study recommended a relocation of the Museum of Natural History to a location downtown closer to two other museums. In 2007, the City acquired the former Bank of the Rio Grande building for a new location.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The debate over whether New Mexico should adopt new regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions is continuing in Santa Fe, and questions remain about whether the regulators considering the matter are too closely aligned with environmental interests.

By KRWG News

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

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Census Bureau reports that New Mexico ranks fifth nationally for the percentage of children living in poverty.

The agency's American Community Survey found that slightly more than 25 percent of children under 18 in New Mexico were below the federal poverty level in 2009.

That's an increase of about 1 percent from 2008.

Three states and the District of Columbia had higher rates of child poverty than New Mexico. Mississippi was the highest at 31 percent.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – If you're looking for work and don't mind taking a temporary job, the holiday season presents an opportunity.

Many companies in the Las Cruces area are bringing on extra help before Christmas shopping. With the holiday season seeming to start sooner and sooner each year, many businesses have already started the process or soon will.

By KRWG News

Texas – The state of Texas has given more than $16 million to high-tech startups whose investors are big donors to Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

The Dallas Morning News reports companies with ties to at least eight big donors have received awards from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund administered by Perry's office.

Perry says the donations played no role in the awards and he often doesn't know who has invested in the companies.