Regional

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.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Frontier Airlines is shutting down its Las Cruces call center with the final shift that ends at midnight Tuesday.

The closure will cost about 100 jobs.

The airline opened the customer support center in 2000, and at one time, it employed about 200 people.

Frontier's parent company, Indianapolis-based Republic Airways Holding Inc., announced earlier this year it would close the center.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating two drive-by shootings that occurred Monday morning at a residence on Birch Court.

Just before 4 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14, police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Birch Court after residents reported hearing gunshots. Officers arrived to find one vehicle damaged by gunshots. About two hours later, at around 6:15 a.m., police were called back to the neighborhood after shots were fired at the same home.

No injuries were reported during either incident.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Police arrested four men after they physically assaulted Las Cruces Police officers in front of a downtown nightclub.

Gerald Fernandez, 42, Shane Andrews, 38, and Russell Andrews, 35, all of Carlsbad, N.M., and 37-year-old Eleutero Galindo of Las Cruces are each charged with assault on a peace officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are continuing to investigate an armed robbery that occurred Sunday evening at an apartment on Telshor Boulevard.

Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, officers were dispatched to 1555 S. Telshor Blvd. where the residents of an apartment reported an armed robbery had just occurred. Officers arrived and learned that several men forced their way into the apartment, struck a woman, and took a television and a video game console.

The woman suffered a broken nose during the incident.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating a Sunday evening shooting that sent one man to the hospital with two gunshot wounds.

Shortly before 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, police were called to the Pic Quik store at 4675 north Sonoma Ranch Boulevard where witnesses reported seeing shots fired from a vehicle and the possibility of at least one victim. Officers arrived and found blood and shell casings in the parking lot.