Regional

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The Whole Enchilada Fiesta will be held beginning today (Friday) and ending Sunday. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera has all the highlights.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces city government is initiating an action plan to deal with an outbreak of the H1N1 Flu as the fall and winter flu season draws near.

The Las Cruces Fire Department is scheduled to deliver an in-depth presentation on the action plan at a city council work session Tuesday, September 29th at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

By KRWG News

Silver City – From WNMU: Enrollment increases at Western New Mexico University set a new record for student population numbers during the Fall 2009 semester.

A 16% increase in student headcount has led to the highest enrollment at WNMU since its inception in 1893 with more than 3,200 students enrolled.

Credit hours are up 22% when compared to fall 2008.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The unemployment rate for August held steady in Las Cruces, but rose statewide.

The Las Cruces unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, just below the New Mexico's rate of 7.5 percent, a half point increase from July.

While the labor markets remains difficult statewide, the national unemployment rate is significantly worse at 9.7 percent.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Authorities say they have found three human heads along a highway in northern Mexico, and the search continues for the bodies.

A spokesman for the Chihuahua state Attorney General's Office says the heads were placed in three coolers beside a roadside monument known as "The Seven Little Heads". With it was a banner saying, "For those who keep stealing."

Police found the heads after receiving a call.

Soldiers are searching for the bodies.

By KRWG News

El Paso – A 33-year-old El Paso man is in federal custody after U.S. Customs agents stopped him from allegedly leaving the country with almost $90,000 in undeclared cash.

In a statement issued Thursday, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said agents stopped a sport-utility vehicle at the Ysleta (ee-SLEH'-tah) international bridge Wednesday. The driver said he had nothing to declare, but a currency-detecting dog surveyed the vehicle and hit on the front right side of the vehicle.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The U.S. Forest Service has installed solar-powered reservoir circulators to improve water quality in Quemado Lake.

The circulators pull colder, oxygen-deficient water up from the bottom of the lake and spread it along the lake surface. The cold water then falls back to the bottom of the lake, resulting in continual mixing of the water.

Forest officials plan to monitor water temperature, dissolved oxygen and the acidity or alkalinity levels to gauge the impact of the devices on water quality.

By KRWG News

Texas – The deadline has been extended by one month for those who invested in the state prepaid college tuition program seeking full refunds.

The previous deadline was Oct. 30 for people who paid into the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan to request full refunds. The new deadline is Nov. 30.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports letters went on Thursday to investors. A large number of inquiries prompted the extension by the Texas comptroller's office.

By KRWG News

Texas – A Lower Colorado River Authority staff analysis indicates the current drought appears more intense than the dry spell of the 1950s.

The LCRA could seek stricter water restrictions from users after mid-September heavy rains did little to ease the drought.

Staffers this week told board members that the LCRA may ask for "special emergency relief" from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for flexibility in managing supplies.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department was notified that 19 year old Ralph Lira surrendered himself to the Ector County Adult Probation Office.

Lira is wanted for Second Degree Kidnapping and other related domestic abuse charges, stemming from an incident that occurred on the East Mesa this past Sunday.

Lira was also wanted by the Ector County Adult Probation Office for Probation Violation on credit card abuse charges.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Las Cruces Police motorcycle officer Michael Clifton was transported to an area hospital Thursday for injuries he received in a crash on I-25.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The Dona Ana County Sheriff's Department was notified that 19 year old Ralph Lira surrendered himself to the Ector County Adult Probation Office.

Lira is wanted for Second Degree Kidnapping and other related domestic abuse charges, stemming from an incident that occurred on the East Mesa this past Sunday.

Lira was also wanted by the Ector County Adult Probation Office for Probation Violation on credit card abuse charges.

By KRWG News

By KRWG News

New Mexico – A judge says medical staff at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility can decide whether it's necessary to force feed an imprisoned sect leader who has refused for weeks to eat.

Wayne Bent is the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church. He was sentenced in December for criminal sexual contact of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He's serving a 10-year prison term.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Gov. Bill Richardson says $685,000 will be used to supplement programs for older unemployed workers in New Mexico.

Richardson says the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will provide on-the-job training for low-income New Mexicans who are at least 55 years old.

A news release from the governor's office says the stimulus money will supplement the Senior Community Service Employment Program. It has been helping older workers since 1965.