Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police want residents - especially woman who may be home alone - to be aware of a man who appears to be selecting homes occupied by women and is soliciting for a ride or financial assistance.

By KRWG News

Texas – Gov. Rick Perry says his perspective hasn't changed after state lawmakers filed Arizona-style bills intended to crack down on illegal immigration.

Perry on Tuesday reiterated his support of Arizona seeking to require police to sometimes question people about their immigration status, but said the law as written isn't right for Texas.

Republican lawmakers filed several hardline immigration bills Monday, the first day for proposing legislation to be considered in the upcoming session.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov.-elect Susana Martinez is paying a visit to the Capitol to see Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson.

Martinez is to meet with Richardson on Tuesday. It's their first face-to-face meeting since Martinez defeated Democrat Diane Denish in the general election last week.

Martinez, a Republican, will take office on Jan. 1. She's served as district attorney in Dona Ana County since 1997.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – In the continuing effort to combat hunger in Dona Ana County, the New Mexico State University English Department's La Sociedad para las Artes will hold its annual Hunger Benefit on Friday, Nov. 12, at Beverly Hills Hall, 150 N. Hermosa St.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have charged a 17-year-old mother with child abuse and her critically injured daughter remains hospitalized on life-support with what's commonly referred to as shaken baby syndrome.

Diana Atima Goenaga, 17, of the 1100 block of Monte Vista Avenue, is charged with one count of child abuse causing death or great bodily harm. Goenaga was arrested Monday evening and is being held without bond at the El Paso County Detention Center.

By KRWG News

Texas – Federal officials say gang members, a retired firefighter and a college team coach were among 35 people indicted on charges of transporting more than 40 pounds of cocaine from Mexico to the Denver area every week.

FBI agents said Monday the cocaine came from a drug cartel in Juarez (wahr-EHZ'), Mexico, and was transported through Texas to Denver. They say $650,000 in cash was seized during their investigation, including more than $500,000 from one home.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov.-elect Susana Martinez has named a former state Environment Department secretary to help in selecting who will serve as New Mexico's top water policy official.

Martinez announced Monday a search committee that will identify and recommend candidates to become state engineer.

One committee member is Peter Maggiore (Ma-JOAR'-ee) of Los Alamos, who was environment secretary under former Republican Gary Johnson.

The search committee chairman is Albuquerque developer and contractor Jack Westman.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A university study of New Mexico's pre-kindergarten program says the initiative has helped children improve their math, vocabulary and early literacy skills.

The National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University conducted the study and sampled more than 1,300 children in the 2008-2009 school year.

New Mexico started the pre-kindergarten program in 2005. However, it serves fewer than one in five of the state's 4-year-olds. New Mexico is spending about $15 million on pre-kindergarten this year.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The city's Bicycle Friendly Task Force is applying nationally in February to be considered as a "bicycle friendly community." The Bicycle Friendly Community Program or BFC provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities that actively support bicycling.

The city applied back in 2005 and received honorable mention, then applied again in 2008, but didn't receive any designation that year.

By KRWG News

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

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A public school teacher, a school superintendent and a university faculty member are among the New Mexicans helping Gov.-elect Susana Martinez select leaders for the state's Public Education and Higher Education departments.

Martinez announced Monday a search committee that will identify and recommend candidates for the cabinet-level positions.

New Mexico State University associate professor Jose Garcia is chairman of the search committee.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico is implementing a more rigorous post-election system for random audits of voting machines to ensure ballots are accurately counted.

Supporters say the auditing system also may potentially provide greater voter confidence in New Mexico's elections.

The new system replaces a post-election random audit of 2 percent of voting machines.

By KRWG News

Texas – Cracking down on illegal immigrants will be a top priority for many Texas lawmakers.

That's judging from the slew of bills that were filed Monday, the first day for lawmakers to file proposed legislation to be considered during the upcoming legislative session.

One House Republican says she spent two nights camping out on the House floor so she could be the first to file her bills when the office opened.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Sitel today announced that it is actively expanding its customer care call center in Las Cruces. The call center has begun a recruitment drive that will expand its staff by more than 140 associates by August 2011 to work with a new banking client.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A man charged in a 2008 homicide is expected to go to trial in three months, despite having to go before a grand jury a second time.

Prosecutors in Las Cruces say 32-year-old James Russell Bogart has been re-indicted on charges of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the shooting death of his housemate, a former Army Ranger and Iraq War veteran.