Regional

By KRWG News

Texas – The Texas Workforce Commission says the state's unemployment rate held steady at 8.2 percent in February despite the loss of 13,000 jobs.

The job losses announced Thursday offset a revised January gain of 12,600 jobs. The Texas work force grew by 40,200 and now stands at 12.1 million workers.

The state's jobless rate remained below the national figure of 9.7 percent.

Commission Chairman Tom Pauken says the jobless rate appears to have stabilized but that the recession is still negative affecting the Texas economy.

By KRWG News

El Paso – An immigration board says a former federal drug informant can't be deported to his home country of Mexico because he would be tortured "either directly by government agents or indirectly by government agents turning him over to the cartel."

By KRWG News

Mexico City – President Barack Obama's administration named 54 alleged Mexican drug cartel lieutenants and enforcers as drug kingpins.

The announcement today comes under a law that allows the U.S. government to freeze the alleged kingpins' bank accounts and penalize their business associates.

The action carried out as part of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act involves members of the Gulf Cartel and a gang of former Gulf cartel hit men known as the Zetas.

By KRWG News

Elephant Butte – The state will offer free boating safety courses starting this weekend at Elephant Butte Lake State Park.

State law requires anyone born in 1989 or after that date to take a safety course before operating a motorboat.

The State Parks Division will offer a class on Saturday at Elephant Butte. Classes are also scheduled at the lake on April 24, May 22, June 12, July 31, Aug. 28, Sept. 25, Oct. 30 and Nov. 13.

To reserve a space in an Elephant Butte class call 575-744-5998.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – A new report from Environment New Mexico sets a goal for solar energy use in the country and several advocates say we have the tools locally to meet the challenge. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson has vetoed a proposed tax on food, but signed other tax increases that will raise about $170 million to help balance the state budget next year.

The governor used his line-item veto powers Wednesday to reject a proposal that would have reinstated the gross receipts tax on food at the rate imposed by local governments, which averages about 2 percent statewide.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – Congressman Harry Teague is requesting a border summit to discuss the on-going drug war in Mexico. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The historic health reform bill has not come easily. Thirty-four Democrats voted against the bill, including Second District New Mexico Congressman Harry Teague.
KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Santa Teresa, NM – A creative attempt to smuggle narcotics into the U.S. in southern New Mexico was foiled this morning by vigilant CBP Border Patrol Agents, highlighting a busy 24 hours in Santa Teresa and Las Cruces.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have contacted a relative of a man who was seriously injured in a crash last week.

Anthony Santiago, 46, is being cared for at University Medical Center of El Paso where his health continues to improve. He now is listed in stable condition.

With the help from several leads that came to police, officers were able to contact a relative of Santiago who lives in New York.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have charged an 18-year-old for his involvement in the February 2008 armed robbery at a Wienerschnitzel restaurant.

Jimmy Alejandro Sauceda, of the 2200 block of Entrada Del Sol, was charged Tuesday, March 23, with one count of armed robbery. Because Sauceda was 16 at the time the crime was committed, a Juvenile Class III citation detailing the charges will be forwarded to the juvenile probation office.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The advisory board for New Mexico's medical marijuana law will consider adding two more health conditions to the list that qualify patients to use medical marijuana.

The state Department of Health's Medical Advisory Board plans a public hearing March 30 in Santa Fe to review petitions to add auto immune diseases and severe behavioral disturbances related to autism, traumatic brain injury mental retardation or dementia.

Sixteen conditions currently qualify for medical marijuana.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state of New Mexico has launched a new toll-free number and a 24-hour line to help unemployed people claim jobless benefits.

The new number, 1-877-664-6984, has service available in English and Spanish.

People seeking unemployment insurance can do their weekly certification and reset their personal identification number using the toll-free telephone number without having to call a state Department of Workforce Solutions customer service representative.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A top staffer for Gov. Bill Richardson says the Democratic governor is leaning toward vetoing a proposed tax on food. The provision is part of a bill with about $200 million in tax increases to help balance the budget. The Legislature approved a proposal to reinstate the gross receipts tax on food at the rate imposed by local governments, which averages about 2 percent statewide.

By KRWG News

Juarez, Mexico – Jet planes loaded with 450 federal police officers have arrived in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to bolster a federal force struggling to control violent drug traffickers.

Juarez has become known as Mexico's murder capital.

The law-enforcement surge Tuesday boosts the number of federal agents in the border city across from El Paso, Texas, to 3,500. It comes on the same day U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and top-level security officials met with Mexico's leaders and pledged to help tackle the problem.