Regional

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating two drive-by shootings that occurred Monday morning at a residence on Birch Court.

Just before 4 a.m. Monday, Dec. 14, police were dispatched to the 1600 block of Birch Court after residents reported hearing gunshots. Officers arrived to find one vehicle damaged by gunshots. About two hours later, at around 6:15 a.m., police were called back to the neighborhood after shots were fired at the same home.

No injuries were reported during either incident.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Police arrested four men after they physically assaulted Las Cruces Police officers in front of a downtown nightclub.

Gerald Fernandez, 42, Shane Andrews, 38, and Russell Andrews, 35, all of Carlsbad, N.M., and 37-year-old Eleutero Galindo of Las Cruces are each charged with assault on a peace officer, and resisting or obstructing an officer.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are continuing to investigate an armed robbery that occurred Sunday evening at an apartment on Telshor Boulevard.

Just after 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, officers were dispatched to 1555 S. Telshor Blvd. where the residents of an apartment reported an armed robbery had just occurred. Officers arrived and learned that several men forced their way into the apartment, struck a woman, and took a television and a video game console.

The woman suffered a broken nose during the incident.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating a Sunday evening shooting that sent one man to the hospital with two gunshot wounds.

Shortly before 6:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, police were called to the Pic Quik store at 4675 north Sonoma Ranch Boulevard where witnesses reported seeing shots fired from a vehicle and the possibility of at least one victim. Officers arrived and found blood and shell casings in the parking lot.

By KRWG News

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

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – As the world's first commercial spaceship was unveiled last week in California, many New Mexicans found themselves wondering how long it will be before the aircraft launches from a New Mexico spaceport now under construction.

The spaceship, dubbed SpaceShipTwo, had been under secret development for two years in the Mojave Desert.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – It's going to be a busy day at the post office. This is the so called busiest day of the year for postal workers as they accept, sort and ship holiday and regular mail.

They ask that you be prepared for long lines at the post office.

A ton of mail is expected to flood New Mexico post offices, as postal workers will handle roughly 200,000 packages and 750,000 cards and letters.

Postal workers suggest print the address on the front and side of the box.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating the armed robbery of a Domino's Pizza delivery man.

At around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, police were called to the 100 block of Shoshone where a Domino's Pizza delivery man reported he was confronted by two men who displayed a handgun and took several pizzas.

Both suspects were described as either white or Hispanic and in their early 20's. Both were said to be around 6-feet tall. One of the men had short, dark, hair and was clean shaven while the other suspect had facial stubble.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Sunday at approximately 12:30 a.m. Dona Ana Sheriff's Deputies responded to the 920 block of Vado Drive, after a woman reported arriving home to her residence and found her home in disarray.

The Victim, age 48, who is employed with the Las Cruces Police Department, stated she heard a noise, a "Rustling" and believing someone was in the residence, ran towards her bedroom locking the door behind her and called 911.

By KRWG News

Texas – The Texas health department is recommending unrestricted distribution of the swine flu vaccine thanks to an increase in supply.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said Friday that providers could offer the vaccine to the general public. Since early October, the agency targeted a more limited supply to priority groups.

Nearly 1.2 million of the 6.7 million doses available to Texas have been allocated this week by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A report issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ranks New Mexico 26th in the nation for the number of alcohol-impaired driving deaths per vehicle miles traveled in 2008.

State officials say this marks the first time New Mexico has a rate equal to the national rate of .40 for DWI fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Gov. Bill Richardson says the state has "thrown the kitchen sink at drunk driving" over the last seven years and the state's ranking is improving as a result.

By KRWG News

El Paso – About half of the staff at El Paso's CBS-affiliated television station has been laid off.

Margaret Carrillo, the station's accounting and personnel supervisor, said Friday that about half of KDBC 4 News' nearly 50 employees were let go as part of a new joint sales agreement with the local NBC affiliate, KTSM.

Carrillo said about two-thirds of the layoffs were of editorial staff. The remaining employees were offered "the same or very similar" jobs.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico State University Board of Regents honored and thanked Waded Cruzado and Manuel Pacheco for their service and dedication to the university at their regular meeting.

"We truly sit in the presence of excellence," Regents Chair Blake Curtis said of Cruzado and Pacheco after each was presented with a resolution in their honor.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The state Public Regulation Commission has approved a proposed settlement that establishes the rates that El Paso Electric Company can charge its New Mexico retail customers.

Thursday's settlement was supported by the Commission's Staff, the New Mexico Attorney General, the City of Las Cruces, and other parties in the rate case.

Although El Paso Electric had originally proposed a $12.7 million increase in rates, the commission-approved settlement reduces that increase to $5.5 million.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A medical advisory board is considering petitions for adding new health conditions to the New Mexico Department of Health's medical marijuana program.

The board will review five petitions and make recommendations to the department secretary, who will then make a final decision.

If a condition is approved, anyone with that medical condition can apply to the program.