Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Health Department says three more people have died from swine flu, bringing the statewide total this year to 50 deaths.

The latest deaths include a 34-year-old woman from San Juan County and a 56-year-old man and 28-year-old man, both from Bernalillo County. All three had had chronic medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu complications.

By KRWG News

Texas – Texas is the nation's fastest-growing state by the numbers with a population of about 24.8 million.

New Census Bureau figures show California remains the most populous state, with 37 million, followed by Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois.

Texas gained more people than any other state between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009, adding about 478,000. The Texas increase for the period is comparable to the population of Omaha, Neb.

Census figures show the U.S. population, as of Thursday, topped 308 million.

By KRWG News

Texas – Texas will audit the state's beleaguered food stamp program in an effort to improve accuracy and efficiency in processing applications.

Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs requested the audit in an effort to "fix our system so that it works for everyone."

State Auditor John Keel on Wednesday said the review will include an examination of food stamp operations in other parts of the country in an effort to improve the Texas system.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Farm Service Agency says it will issue nearly $3 million in payments to dairy farmers in New Mexico.

The payments will be made through the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Program.

Eligible producers will receive a one-time direct payment based on the amount of milk both produced and commercially marketed by their operation during the months of February through July 2009.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The first of five furlough days for state workers will be Thursday, meaning most state offices will be closed on Christmas Eve.

Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered five furlough days giving state workers time off without pay to try to save the state $8.1 million and address a budget shortfall.

The State Personnel Board last week approved furlough dates. The others will be taken on Jan. 15, March 5, April 2 and May 28, all Fridays.

By KRWG News

Lordsburg – Border Patrol agents and Hidalgo County sheriff's deputies have seized more than a ton of marijuana from a horse trailer.

Lorsdburg-area Border Patrol agents responded to deputies pursuing a truck pulling a horse trailer that tried to elude deputies Saturday by driving off the road and through several fences.

The Border Patrol says the driver ran off on foot once law enforcement officers found the truck in the desert. He was captured less than a quarter of a mile away.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The city of Las Cruces will annex some land in order to gain additional tax revenue. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The parent corporation of First Community Bank is losing its CEO, but gaining a Chairman of the Board from Las Cruces.

First State Bancorporation has announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Michael R. Stanford is resigning effective December 31. Stanford will continue to be available to the company in an advisory capacity throughout 2010.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state has opened up swine flu vaccinations to all New Mexicans, not just people in high-risk groups.

The state says health providers have enough vaccine for more New Mexicans.

Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil says the Department of Health will continue to consider people in high-risk groups the top priority, but also will provide vaccine to as many people as possible.

The agency has distributed about 554,000 doses to providers and public health offices statewide.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Every cabinet-level agency in New Mexico has signed and adopted a collaboration policy as part of an effort to improve the state's relations with American Indian tribes.

The collaboration policies stem from legislation signed into law by Gov. Bill Richardson earlier this year.

By KRWG News

Santa Fe – The Santa Fe official in charge of determining adjustments in the city's minimum wage says the current $9.85 hourly minimum is likely to hold through 2010.

Santa Fe has an ordinance that requires city officials to determine each year whether the minimum wage should be adjusted based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for certain wage earners.

The head of Santa Fe's constituent services division, Sebastian Gurule, says the Consumer Price Index through October was down 8 percent.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Every Monday on Morning Edition at 7:51am, Fred Martino speaks with Las Cruces Sun News Business Editor Brook Stockberger.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested the man responsible for a shooting that occurred at a party early Saturday morning.

Eric Torres, 20, of the 1900 block of Embassy Drive, is charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, six counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, one count of shooting at or from a motor vehicle, one count of shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, and one count of tampering with evidence.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Five New Mexico tribes will get part of $3.68 million in federal money to improve housing and economic opportunities.

The largest slices of the money from the Indian Community Development Block Grant program go to the Mescalero Apache Housing Authority in southern New Mexico, the San Felipe Pueblo Housing Authority in central New Mexico and Taos Pueblo Housing in the northern part of the state. Each will receive $825,000.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – State Education Secretary Veronica Garcia is supporting a proposal by University of New Mexico President David Schmidly to raise admissions requirements.

Garcia says the UNM proposal builds on her department's high school redesign course requirements.

She says 2013 high school seniors will graduate with a diploma of excellence, which aligns with course requirements UNM is proposing for admission.