Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Actor and director Robert Redford and Gov. Bill Richardson have unveiled details of a collaboration that will expand training opportunities for Native American and Hispanic filmmakers.

Redford and Richardson first announced the "Sundance in New Mexico" idea last spring.

On Friday, the two said they have settled on a new name for the project that reflects the spirit of the land and the passion of its people: "Milagro at Los Luceros."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A Kentucky bakery that makes Girl Scout cookies is pulling some batches of its Lemon Chalet Cremes because people have complained of a foul smell and taste.

Little Brownie Bakers in Louisville is one of two bakeries in the U.S. that makes Girl Scout cookies. No one has gotten sick from the stinky cookies sold in 24 states including New Mexico and Texas, and the company says they are safe to eat.

The bakery says on its Web site that the smell is caused by a breakdown of oils in the cookies.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Mexican authorities say gunmen killed a deputy police chief outside an elementary school as his wife, son and other students and parents looked on.

A state prosecutors' spokesman says Chihuahua City police coordinator Antonio Olague was dropping the boy off at school when assailants in a car attacked.

Police had no suspects in Wednesday's shooting. Prosecutors' spokesman Eduardo Ezparza confirmed the attack Thursday.

By KRWG News

Mesilla – Many Mesilla residents agree the town's government is at a crossroads as municipal elections loom for mayor and two seats on the board of trustees.

Tuesday's municipal election features incumbent Mayor Michael M. Cadena facing a challenge by Nora L. Barraza and Ella Alvarez Nelson.

Barraza currently serves as mayor pro tem. Nelson is a former town trustee who served from 1984-92.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A traveling show may have to hand over its profits from a week of buying jewelry, coins and other valuables in Las Cruces and pay a $15,000 fine.

Technically called The Great Treasure Hunt but using a sign marked "Advertising and Collectibles Roadshow," the event has earned the scrutiny of Boston public television station WGBH that produces the real "Antiques Roadshow." Roadshow is PBS's popular antiques appraisal show whose experts draw thousands to big-city convention centers to value items but not purchase them.

By KRWG News

Alamogordo – Authorities discovered what appeared to be a possible explosive device at an Alamogordo Quality Inn and evacuated the hotel and a nearby restaurant.

Experts from nearby Holloman Air Force Base investigated and determined the device was part of a spent launcher motor from a Stinger missile.

Alamogordo Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt. Gary Smith says the device posed no danger to the public.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces police say a 13-year-old boy has been arrested on sexual assault charges that date back to 2007.

The boy, whose name is being withheld because of his age, was arrested Thursday and charged with four first-degree felony counts of criminal sexual penetration and one count of aggravated assault.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – USDA Rural Development State Director Terry Brunner traveled to Socorro, New Mexico today to deliver an $87,000 USDA grant award to the Socorro County Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) which will provide equipment to stimulate the local economy.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The LCPS Board of Education voted unanimously at this week's meeting to renew the contact of Superintendent Stan Rounds through June 30, 2012. His salary will remain at $168,259.

Rounds became LCPS superintendent on February 26, 2007.

Rounds' contract with the school district called for him to receive a 2.3 percent salary increase at the time of his contract renewal, but Rounds chose to defer the increase.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Two Mexican soldiers have been killed in the crash of a small military plane in the northern state of Chihuahua.

Drug cartels are active in Chihuahua and the army is heavily involved in combatting them. But the military commander of the area says Wednesday's crash appears to have been an accident.

Gen. Felipe de Jesus Espitia says the soldiers were on a training exercise near the mountain town of Diego de Alcala when the crash occurred. He says witnesses reported the soldiers died instantly.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Communities in eastern New Mexico and West Texas will see expanded broadband Internet access thanks to an investment of more than $11 million by the federal government.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke says the Recovery Act funding will help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth and improve education and health care in the region.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The new jobs bill passed in the Senate this week will allow states to finance more infrastructure projects. As KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports, Senator Tom Udall says the program will be effective in New Mexico.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Implementation of major reforms for credit card companies began this week. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $2,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the person or persons involved in a March 2008 homicide.

On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, Las Cruces Police began investigating the death of 72-year-old James Francis Wilson whose body was found inside his home. Wilson lived alone at 1800 Camino Del Rex in Las Cruces. Police are investigating Wilson's death as a homicide.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police arrested two teenagers for their involvement in a Monday evening robbery.

Lavier B. Watters, 19, and John Paul Zapata, 17, were arrested Tuesday morning. Watters and Zapata have each been charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a third-degree felony and tampering with evidence.