Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – State Auditor Hector Balderas says 90 governmental bodies including school districts, counties and municipalities are late in submitting financial audits required by law.

Balderas told a legislative committee on Tuesday that some agencies are years behind in completing their audits. He called it a serious financial problem because more than $1 billion in taxpayer money is going unaudited. More than 800 governmental agencies are required to submit audits annually.

By KRWG News

Texas – A published report says some Texas medical examiners rely on medical school interns, unlicensed doctors and others with questionable expertise even in capital murder cases.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Wednesday that some offices use work by physicians who repeatedly failed certification exams or were disciplined for poor work. Growing caseloads and a shortage of licensed forensic pathologists could be to blame.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Navajo Partnership for Housing will be able to help more American Indian families get access to home loans thanks to $470,000 from the federal government's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.

The Gallup organization will use the funds to expand access to home mortgages, home improvement and construction loans as well as development services for families living on or near the Navajo Nation.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A study by the New Mexico Department of Health shows there are high rates of hepatitis C infection among truck drivers, and many of them aren't aware they have the disease.

The medical director for the department's Infectious Diseases Bureau, Steve Jenison, says studies in other countries have linked the spread of sexually transmitted disease to long distance truck drivers, but little is known about the industry in the United States.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The seven candidates certified to run for city office in the November 3rd Las Cruces municipal election just concluded a drawing to determine their position on the ballot.

The candidates' names will appear on the ballot in the following order:

City Council District 3:

Incumbent Dolores C. Archuleta

Olga Pedroza

City Council District 5:

Incumbent Gil Jones

Gill M. Sorg

City Council District 6:

Incumbent Sharon K. Thomas

James W. Harbison

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police are investigating a stabbing that sent one man to a local hospital.

Just after 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, police were called to a residence on the 100 block of north Mesquite Street where the 24-year-old victim was suffering from a stab wound to his neck. The victim was transported to Mountain View Regional Medical Center with what are believed to be non life-threatening injuries.

Detectives are interviewing witnesses and trying to determine what led to the man's injuries.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – U.S. Senator Tom Udall has announced New Mexico State University will receive a $350,000 grant from the Department of Justice to combat domestic violence.

The funds will be used to enhance the safety of child, teen and adult victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking by supporting projects that are uniquely designed to address and prevent these crimes.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces today announced that a final settlement has tentatively been reached in legal proceedings against local developer Philippos T. Philippou.

In early July 2009, the City filed two lawsuits against Philippou seeking compliance with subdivision requirements.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A consultant reviewing Dona Ana County's fleet has concluded it has too many vehicles and its management is "woefully inadequate."

The president of New Jersey-based Chatham Consulting, Sal Bibona, says the county does not have an adequate way to track conditions of its vehicles and that maintenance and repair costs have risen rapidly in recent years.

The county owns 724 vehicles. Bibona says that's more per employee than six comparable-size counties in Colorado, Arizona and California.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico's budget problems keep getting bigger.

State Controller Anthony Armijo told legislators Monday the state likely will need to draw down its cash reserves more than expected possibly by $100 million to cover a budget shortfall in the just-ended 2009 fiscal year.

Doing that will add to the difficulties facing lawmakers and Gov. Bill Richardson as they try to wipe out a more than $400 million deficit in the current budget year, which started in July.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson has traveled to Malaysia to participate in a conference for international business leaders.

Richardson spoke Monday about the economic downturn, U.S. politics and health care at the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Kuala Lumpur, the governor's office announced.

The Democratic governor participated in a session with Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, a Republican, and Forbes chairman Steve Forbes.

Richardson left New Mexico on Saturday and will return to the state on Thursday.

By KRWG News

Alamogordo – Alamogordo paid a Holloman Air Force Base sergeant $21,000 after he alleged the city violated his right against unreasonable search and seizure when police removed him from a theater for wearing a gun.

Matthew St. John's attorney, Miguel Garcia, says the settlement pays damages and legal fees.

Federal court records say St. John went to a theater June 27, 2008, and another patron complained he was wearing a gun.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The City of Las Cruces will hold a public meeting regarding the need to continue or discontinue the current stipend allocations received by local leagues and organizations.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, October 8th at 6:00pm inside city council chambers, 200 N. Church Street.

Currently, leagues and organizations receive a combined total of $54,500 a year from the City. Public comment will be welcomed. The meeting will be facilitated by City Manager Terrence Moore.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police have arrested a man who, over the weekend, took two crated carports from a local home improvement store.

David Avalos Saavedra, 43, of the 3200 block of Oak Street, is charged with two counts of felony shoplifting and two counts of tampering with evidence.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – In an effort to optimize operations in advance of its emergence from Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. announced today that it will close its Las Cruces reservations operation, cutting more than 100 local jobs.