Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state Human Services Department will begin automatically signing up students for free and reduced lunches each month.

Human Services Department Secretary-designate Kathryn Falls said Wednesday children enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs qualify for the National School Lunch Program.

Falls says checking for new children participating in those federal programs each month will allow more students to get free and reduced lunches.

By KRWG News

Lordsburg – U.S. Border Patrol Agents in Lordsburg keep 662 pounds of marijuana from hitting the streets Tuesday in three separate events.

During the early morning hours on December 15, 2009, agents assigned to the Lordsburg Station were out in a remote location near Cotton City when they discovered foot prints heading north and originating from the U.S./ Mexico border.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A New Mexico spaceport official wants $7.5 million to pave a southern road to the facility, a route that would reduce travel time from Las Cruces.

Spaceport director Steve Landeene says money for the project was authorized with 2006 legislation approving the spaceport. But he says it never was included in a budget bill, a second step for the funding to be appropriated.

Landeene plans to lobby for the funding during next month's legislative session. He calls the road a "critical need."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson wants to make it illegal to use a hand-held cell phone for talking or texting while driving.

Richardson said Tuesday his administration plans to introduce a measure calling for a statewide ban when the Legislature convenes next month. The proposed ban also would apply to hands-free devices for operators of public transportation, including school bus drivers.

The governor says driver distraction is a major cause of accidents, and the use of cell phones while driving is increasingly a problem.

By KRWG News

Texas – A Texas law that allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at colleges and universities is facing a legal challenge.

David A. Rogers with the Immigration Reform Coalition of Texas says the lawsuit filed in Houston alleges the state is violating federal law and seeks an injunction to halt the practice.

The lawsuit, filed Monday, names the University of Houston, Houston Community College and Lone Star College systems.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested a man who was involved in a hit-and-run crash Monday evening.

Michael Phillip Peralta, 25, of Mesilla Park, N.M., is charged with leaving the scene of an accident, resisting or obstructing an officer, criminal trespass and violating terms of his probation. Peralta is being held at the Dona Ana County Detention Center without bond.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that helps solve the 1983 death of Maria Dolores Molina.

The Cold Case Unit from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office is investigating the Sunday, Aug. 14, 1983, death of Molina who was 17-years-old at the time. Molina's body was discovered on the railroad tracks off of Highway 478, near mile marker 7, in Berino, N.M.

The New Mexico medical investigator's office ruled that Molina died of head injuries.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The transition to LED traffic lights in Las Cruces this fall has proven to be cost-saving measure. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The city of Las Cruces is taking several steps to make the community more bicycle friendly. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Silver City – A Town Hall Meeting is planned for Thursday in Sliver City focusing on one of the nation's most crucial priorities: job creation.

New Mexico's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 7.9 percent in October, up from 7.7 percent in September and just 4.5 percent a year ago.

The national unemployment rate was ten percent in November .last month's jobless rate in New Mexico is scheduled for release this week.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – An international conference hosted by New Mexico State University and Beijing Normal University will bring together school and university educators from across the globe to address issues in citizenship education.

The 2010 Civic Education Conference, "Educating Youth for Citizenship: East and West," will be held Jan. 4-6 in Beijing, China, to address the question of how schools can educate youth to become productive citizens. About 150-200 people are expected to attend the event.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are seeking three men believed to be involved in a Monday evening armed robbery at an apartment complex.

Just after 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, police were called to the 1500 block of La Fonda Drive where a woman reported that three men, one of whom was armed with a shotgun, forced their way into her apartment and ransacked the home. The woman told police that the men forced her into a closet and then took her wallet, some cash, a laptop computer and two cell phones.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County manager has taken an indefinite leave of absence because of health issues.

County Assistant Manager Sue Padilla said Brian Haines is "evaluating surgical options to address a chronic pain issue."

The 54-year-old Haines became Dona Ana County manager in 2004 after being appointed interim county manager the previous year. He was first hired with the county eight years ago as an audit control analyst.

In Haines' absence, Padilla will serve as acting county manager.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico Attorney General Gary King says a settlement has been reached with OppenheimerFunds, Inc. to resolve an investigation into the company's management of the state's 529 college savings programs.

Under terms of the settlement announced Monday, King says Oppenheimer agrees to pay New Mexico $67.31 million all of which will be distributed to 529 plan participants affected by the performance of Oppenheimer Core Bond Fund.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A federal judge will allow more than a dozen video and audio recordings in the El Paso bribery trial of a judge.

Prosecutors are offering 14 recordings in the trial of suspended State District Judge Manual Barraza. The defense sought to ban the recordings, over translation and other authentication concerns.

U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo on Monday ruled the recordings will be allowed, subject to expert verification.

Barraza faces allegations of offering to trade sex and cash for help with felony cases.