Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A disease known as Valley Fever is prevalent in neighboring states but probably underreported in New Mexico, so state health officials are launching a new initiative aimed at finding more cases of the illness.

State epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelser says recent assessments have shown that a fungus called coccidioides is prevalent in Chihuahuan desert soils and is spread by wind storms.

The fungus can cause Valley Fever, which can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, skin rashes and tumors.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Police at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces say they've made a third arrest and are seeking a fourth man in the armed robbery of a couple in a campus dorm room.

Police identified three of the four men suspected of robbing the male student and his girlfriend on April 2 as students at the university. It is unclear if the one man who hasn't been arrested was also a student, but the victim told officers he knew all four.

A police report says two men burst into the dorm room after knocking on the door.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – State police have identified two people who were killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a semi on U.S. 70 near Las Cruces.

A statement from state police says 42-year-old Manuel Campos and 28-year-old Robert Walters of Las Cruces were killed in the Friday evening wreck near the Sonoma Ranch exit.

Police say Walters was going west when a westbound car left its lane and hit Walters' pickup truck. Both vehicles went across the median, and they hit Campos' eastbound pickup and the semi head-on.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Human Services Department is promoting electronic health records for Medicaid.

Human Services Secretary Katie Falls says the state has a Medicaid incentive payment program designed to help Medicaid providers interested in implementing or upgrading an electronic system.

The incentive program, funded by federal stimulus money, is scheduled to be in operation by October.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Forestry Division will use $15 million in federal stimulus funds to help prevent catastrophic wildfires and improve forest and watershed conditions on state, private and tribal lands.

State Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Secretary Jon Goldstein says the projects will help protect New Mexico residents in case of a wildfire.

He says such projects also will increase forest health and gather information to target problem areas in the future.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – According to a new report, low-income families living in New Mexico have it better than those in other states when it comes to paying state income taxes.

According to a report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, that's because New Mexico's threshold for personal income tax for working families is fairly high compared with other states.

The report was publicized by New Mexico Voices for Children, an Albuquerque-based advocacy group.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – At a regular meeting Friday, the New Mexico State University Board of Regents approved the operating budget for fiscal year 2010-2011 and moved forward on three renovation or remodeling projects.

By KRWG News

Albuquerque – San Miguel County commissioners want actor Val Kilmer to show up in the next 30 days to explain derogatory comments he's been quoted as making about northern New Mexico.

Kilmer has lived in the Pecos area near Santa Fe for more than two decades.

Residents complained about Kilmer at a commission meeting this week, alleging he's made disparaging comments about San Miguel County and veterans.

They also complain he's chased away people fishing on the Pecos River at his ranch.

By KRWG News

Texas – Gov. Rick Perry has repeated his call for more federal resources, including National Guard troops and an unmanned drone, to help secure the Texas-Mexico border.

Perry, who is running for re-election against the Democratic challenger Bill White, said "Washington needs to quit fiddling while the border region of America burns." He spoke during a campaign stop.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – New Mexico State University's Doing What Counts fundraising campaign has raised $220 million to date and continues to move toward its $225 million goal by December.

The comprehensive campaign is the most ambitious fundraising endeavor undertaken by the university and has already exceeded expectations. The original goal of $150 million by December 2008 was met early in the effort causing the NMSU Foundation Board of Directors to revise the goal to $225 million by December 2010.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A former El Paso state district judge is going to prison for his part in a bribery scheme.

A federal judge sentenced former Judge Manuel Barraza to five years in prison on Thursday.

A statement from the U.S. Attorney's office says U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo of El Paso also ordered Barraza to forfeit $5,100 in bribe money and serve three years of supervised release after his release.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The Las Cruces Police Department has investigated an increased number of daytime burglaries over the past month where a perpetrator has kicked open the front door to gain entry to more than 20 homes. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

El Paso – A man accused of leading an El Paso-based drug ring with alleged ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel is going to prison and must forfeit $2 million in cash and assets.

U.S. District Judge Frank Montalvo on Wednesday sentenced 38-year-old Rodrigo Rodney Eckenroth.

Eckenroth, who pleaded guilty in December, must serve 240 months for money laundering, 60 months for tax evasion and 240 months for drug trafficking. The sentences will be served concurrently.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – Students have a new way of getting the loans they need to pay for school. But is New Mexico State University ready for the change? KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – As part of the Blue Star Museums program, New Mexico's 14 state-run museums and historic monuments will offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families all summer long.