Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The House has approved a $5.6 billion budget bill and a package of tax increases that are the largest in more than 20 years.

Lawmakers endorsed bills for an income surtax and to raise the gross receipts by a half-cent. Those will raise $300 million next year to balance the budget.

The proposed budget will cut spending slightly more than 1 percent below this year's levels. The budget does not require salary cuts for public employees but eliminates hundreds of positions in state government, some of which are vacant.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A Dona Ana County grand jury has indicted three Anthony, N.M., teenagers on first-degree murder, robbery and other charges in the death of a 20-year-old man at a rest stop along New Mexico's border with Texas.

Prosecutors say 19-year-old Jorge Murillo, 17-year-old Irvin Ramirez, and 15-year-old Javier Orozco are accused of the Jan. 5 death and robbery of Adam Espinoza, who was moving from San Antonio to San Diego.

By KRWG News

Lordsburg – The state Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department has awarded a construction contract to safeguard 17 abandoned mine openings near Lordsburg.

Pioneer Industries, Inc., will construct permanent closures on the mines. Work is expected to be completed by this summer.

The Hidalgo County mines were active from 1916 to 1952. The project will protect habitat for bats that have moved into the empty mines, keeping humans out while allowing the bats to come and go.

By KRWG News

Columbus, NM – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Columbus port of entry seized 5.3 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were hidden in a backpack being carried by a 14-year-old girl.

The seizure was made just before 7 a.m. when the juvenile entered the port from Mexico as a pedestrian. CBP officers selected the girl for a secondary exam and while searching her backpack they spotted several rectangular packages. CBP officers removed a total of five packages from the backpack.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – New Mexico Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons says he still believes exchanges of state trust lands for private land in northern New Mexico's White Peak area are in the best interest of the trust he was elected to manage.

He said Thursday he takes issue with a petition filed with the state Supreme Court by Attorney General Gary King. The court agreed Tuesday to temporarily halt the land swaps.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – This week the New Mexico House Taxation and Revenue Committee approved a measure that would temporarily raise the gross receipts tax by one-half percent.
KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – As part of a bankruptcy filing, Movie Gallery, Inc. is holding a closing sale at its store in Las Cruces, located at 5702 Bataan Memorial East.

It is one of 760 closures, as the company announced that it and all of its subsidiaries, with the exception of its Canadian subsidiary, filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganization in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

The restructuring will include the immediate liquidation and closure of approximately 760 stores in the U.S.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A House committee has endorsed a proposal to raise $90 million next year by eliminating an income tax deduction for some taxpayers.

The measure goes to the House floor for consideration and becomes part of a package of tax measures that will provide more than $400 million next year to help balance the state budget.

Currently, New Mexico allows the same itemized deductions that are used for federal tax purposes. That would change under the bill approved Thursday by the Taxation and Revenue Committee.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A proposal to free up nearly $150 million by canceling thousands of capital improvement projects is heading to the Senate.

The bill cleared the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday night after lawmakers placed more projects on the chopping block.

Most of the new projects added to the cancellation list were initiatives of Gov. Bill Richardson. Those included nearly $6 million for film and media training facilities and almost $7 million for an equestrian center proposed by the governor that has not been built.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – President Obama's proposed budget for 2011 includes some major cuts to the NASA Constellation program which could have an impact on the NASA White Sands Test Facility. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The Obama administration's proposed budget contains several requests for funding New Mexico's military installations. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich reports

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Some Las Cruces residents who live east of I-25 in the East Mesa may be experiencing some water discoloration Thursday. Those in the following areas may be affected:

High Range

Las Colinas

Four Hills

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Harry "Pete" Connelly has been named interim Las Cruces City Attorney
effective February 16th. Connelly will serve in that capacity during the
search process to replace outgoing City Attorney Fermin Rubio who will
retire on Feb. 28th.

Connelly has been deputy city attorney since 1994 and served as acting
city attorney for 18-months. He received his Juris Doctor from Washburn
University School of Law and his Master of Law from Georgetown College
of Law.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Repair work and modifications to the Munson Senior Center heating system are nearly complete and the center is scheduled to reopen on or about Tuesday, February 16th.

The center was closed January 25th after a carbon monoxide leak associated with the heating system boiler was discovered.

"Once repairs and modifications conclude, final inspections and a thorough cleaning of the facility will follow. When all that is done, the center will reopen," said Senior Programs Administrator Shelley Modell.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Public employees who disclose governmental misconduct will be protected from retaliation under a bill passed by the Senate.

Whistleblower protections also will be given to workers who testify as part of a governmental investigation into wrongdoing.

More than two dozen states have similar laws, according to Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, a Sandia Park Republican who sponsored the measure.

A worker who faces retaliation can bring a lawsuit for damages, reinstatement to their job and back pay with interest.