Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred early this afternoon at a check cashing business on Telshor Boulevard.

Just after 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, police were called to the Check N Go at 400 N. Telshor Blvd. after a man walked in, threatened an employee with what appeared to be a handgun, and took an undisclosed amount of cash from the business.

The suspect was last seen leaving the area and driving south on Telshor Boulevard in a gold or gray-colored four-door car, possibly a Nissan Sentra.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Every Monday at 7:51am, Fred Martino speaks with Las Cruces Sun News Business Editor Brook Stockberger to review the latest local business news.

By KRWG News

Texas – About 20 percent of Texas high school dropouts have graduated within a year in a $6 million recovery program that has fallen short of expectations.

Computer-based classes and career counseling have helped the 1,173 students enlisted in May 2008 in the Texas Dropout Recovery Pilot Program. But providing child care, night classes and financial incentives haven't yielded the higher graduation rates educators expected.

By KRWG News

Texas – Christianity could get more attention in Texas social studies textbooks.

The State Board of Education meets Tuesday through Friday and a preliminary vote could be taken on social studies standards. A final vote is expected in March.

Monday was the deadline to sign up to speak at the board public hearing in Austin. At least 94 people, as of last week, had signed up to speak.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Some $3.5 million is available for forest restoration projects around New Mexico.

The U.S. Forest Service is seeking grant proposals for projects on public and tribal lands. The deadline is March 1.

Southwestern Regional Forester Corbin Newman says the grants for up to $360,000 are for projects that will be implemented in four years or less.

The project encourages different groups to collaborate on the design, implementation and monitoring of restoration projects.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Saturday morning at approximately 3:30 a.m. Dona Ana County Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 1000 block of Concepcion, Berino, in reference to a trespassing complaint.

When Sheriff's Deputies arrived on scene, a male individual was observed running from the area.

Sheriff's Deputies conducted a search of the immediate area, but were unable to locate the suspect who was seen jumping several fences in his attempt to elude Sheriff's Deputies.

By KRWG News

Texas – Several thousand first-year elementary school teachers in Texas will have to take exams as early as this spring.

That's after the U.S. Department of Education rejected the state's appeal that it waive the requirement.

By KRWG News

Deming – A Deming woman accused of stealing a credit card from a nursing home resident has pleaded no contest to a charge of unauthorized use of a credit card.

Rachel Mota entered her plea Thursday before state District Judge Gary Jeffreys.

Authorities told the judge the 48-year-old Mota took the card from 88-year-old Eva Carriveau, who was a resident of Mimbres Memorial Hospital Nursing Home where Mota worked.

By KRWG News

Santa Teresa, NM – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today reported that two New Mexico clean energy manufacturing projects will receive a total of almost $5 million in tax credits as part of $2.3 billion in Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits announced today by President Obama.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Police are investigating a midday armed robbery at the Bank of the Southwest, at 605 Water St., in downtown Las Cruces.

Las Cruces Police were called at noon today after a man walked into the bank's lobby, threatened a teller with a handgun and demanded cash. The man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

No injuries were reported and witnesses told officers that the man was last seen running from the bank heading northbound through a residential area.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Friday morning at approximately 5:55 a.m. Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to the 16000 block of Sly Song Circle, Organ, after a woman reported that her pregnant granddaughter had been allegedly "punched" in the stomach and head.

The Suspect, age 41, who allegedly threatened to kill everyone in the residence, ran from the back of the residence towards the mountains.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Angry hunters and skeptical public officials grilled state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons over a package of state trust-land trades around Whites Peak in northern New Mexico.

The confrontation Thursday at the state Land Office in Santa Fe came after the first such deal closed, involving the Stanley Ranch.

Lyons held the meeting to offer state legislators more information about the trade. But the session often turned into heated exchanges, with Lyons and hunting guide Albert H. Goke shaking fingers at each other.

By KRWG News

Texas – Texas sales tax revenue continued to decline in December, falling 11.6 percent from December 2008 levels.

Comptroller Susan Combs released the numbers Friday. She says the state collected $1.65 billion in sales tax revenue in December, continuing a declining trend dating to February. She says collections are down across most major sectors, including oil and natural gas, construction, manufacturing and retail.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Sunland Park Police Department's lone investigator is getting help from the Dona Ana County Sheriff's Office.

Last month's firing of the police chief brought the number of vacancies in the Sunland Park department to six positions out of 25 overall including two sergeants, two officers and another detective.

Police Chief Luis Monarez, who is under investigation by New Mexico State Police for allegations he served alcohol to minors, was dismissed Dec. 15 by the city council.

By KRWG News

Deming – Despite weather-related delays for this year's pecan harvest, southern New Mexico producers are anticipating average to above average yields.

Recent rainfalls and snow have left fields muddy and sticky, posing a problem for machinery used by Luna County producers. Mimbres Valley farmer Rick Holdridge says his harvesting efforts have been delayed by at least three weeks.

But Holdridge says his crews should be finished with the harvest as early as this week, and his farm will be processing pecans through late January.