Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces will hold a public meeting regarding a proposed amendment to the City's sign code Tuesday, July 13th, 6 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall, 700 N. Church St.

The proposed amendment establishes a regulatory framework including the minimum standards for the use of on-premise and off-premise digital signs.

The public is invited to attend the meeting to provide input.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A 36-year-old Barrio Azteca gang member will spend the rest of his life in prison for leading a cocaine distribution ring in El Paso.

Gualberto Marquez was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distributing narcotics earlier this year.

Marquez is one of nine Barrio Azteca gang members who have been sentenced for their roles in the trafficking ring. Prosecutors say he led the group that distributed more than 400 pounds of cocaine in El Paso and Midland.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico is offering residents a new way to check the credentials and background of investment advisers.

The state Securities Division has added a link to its www.protectYOURmoney.org website that accesses the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website.

That gives residents access to information about people who work for money management, financial planning and other firms offering investment advice to clients.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico Department of Agriculture is receiving federal funds to create a Food Protection Task Force in the state.

The grant, $10,000 a year for five years, comes from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Such grants support meetings that help foster cooperation among state, local and tribal food protection, public health, agriculture and regulatory agencies.

The New Mexico task force will bring together different groups to improve the safety of food in the state.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Department of Public Safety says it plans to speed up the availability to law enforcement of DNA information about crime suspects by taking over DNA analysis for a statewide database.

The department announced Thursday it will take responsibility for the processing of DNA tests and entering the information into a statewide database. Currently, an Albuquerque police crime lab has performed the work for the state's DNA Administrative Center.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Las Cruces Police Department's SWAT team - assisted by officers from New Mexico State Police, the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - arrested a man Thursday morning after detectives learned that he taught his 6-year-old son how to build explosives and threatened to kill the boy's mother.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – On July 19, 2010, Branigan Library will temporarily close its public computer lab in order to move into the recently completed Dresp Room Computer Lab. Public computers will be unavailable from July 19th to 24th while the computers are moved, cleaned, repaired and updated.

By KRWG News

Texas – The Department of State Health Services has outlined nearly $246 million in possible cuts as Texas faces a potential $18 billion shortfall in the next budget period.

The 2011 Legislature will have the final say as agencies respond to budget-trimming orders from Texas leaders, including Gov. Rick Perry.

More than 20,000 Texans who receive state-funded mental health services would lose care under proposed DSHS budget cuts released this week.

By KRWG News

El Paso – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists working at the El Paso port of entry have made an important pest interception. They discovered 12 living fruit fly larvae in a mango that a California bound traveler had in his possession.

"The introduction of living fruit fly larvae to citrus growing regions could be devastating," said William Molaski, U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Port Director. "Stopping this type of pest at the border is another way CBP is protecting the nation."

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico has settled a lawsuit over compliance with the so-called "motor voter" law that lets people register to vote at state agencies, including the Motor Vehicle Division when they get a driver's license.

The settlement requires the designation of staffers as National Voter Registration Act coordinators to help ensure compliance.

That will be done through education and training and making sure agency offices have the equipment needed for voter registrations.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has canceled an annual meeting of 10 Mexican and U.S. border state governors that was scheduled in Phoenix later this year.

Six governors from Mexican border states refused to attend because they object to Arizona's tough new immigration law.

Brewer told the Mexican governors in a letter late last month that she has no choice but to cancel the summit.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Due to the dedication ceremony for the new federal building in Las Cruces on Friday, July 9th, the outside lane of Church Street from Amador Avenue to Las Cruces Avenue will be closed to traffic. The inside lane will remain open.

Also, Griggs Avenue from Main Street to Church Street will be closed to traffic.

The closures will be in effect from 3 to 8 p.m.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Mexican authorities say a suspect is in custody in the June 30 killing of a top prosecutor for the northern state of Chihuahua.

Prosecutor Sandra Salas had been responsible for evaluating the work of public prosecutors and special investigatory units in Ciudad Juarez, which borders El Paso, Texas.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – People with active arrest warrants against them are being given a chance to surrender to law enforcement officers in southern New Mexico.

Las Cruces police are participating in the New Mexico Fugitive Safe Surrender program, which will let fugitives surrender at the city's Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral between July 28 and July 31.

Anyone with an active warrant can surrender at the church from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. any of those days.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexicans from across the state can now tune into live audio streaming of proceedings of the Legislature's interim committees.

The Legislative Council voted last week to begin webcasting audio from the interim committee meetings. With this year's meetings being held in Santa Fe, the meeting rooms were already wired and ready to go for webcasting to begin in July.

A link for the webcasts is available at the Legislature's Web site.