Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Albuquerque area has surpassed its water conservation goal for July despite little rainfall.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority says customers used 18.39 billion gallons of water through the end of July. That's 749 million gallons under the year-to-date conservation goal of 19.14 billion gallons.

The water authority's conservation officer, Katherine Yuhas, said this is a significant achievement considering the lack of rain. She said the utility's water by numbers system is working.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The mayor of Las Cruces wants to end talking or texting while driving.

Mayor Ken Miyagishima has scheduled a Las Cruces City Council work session for next month to discuss the proposal.

Miyagishima said Wednesday the city would be looking at a partial ban, meaning he's OK with using a hands-free device.

Miyagishima said initial response has been particularly strong. Of the 50 to 60 responses received through e-mail, the mayor said most of those "have been in favor of some kind of restrictions."

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – Several New Mexico and West Texas Counties are implementing a new local-federal initiative to check for immigration status in county jails. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich has more

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The New Mexico Rail Runner Express can continue to use its name and logo.

Officials with the commuter train announced Tuesday that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office determined the Rail Runner met the agency's requirements for official trademark registration.

Gov. Bill Richardson says the trademark decision is a huge victory for the people of New Mexico.

By KRWG News

Texas – Gov. Rick Perry lives, works and votes in Austin.

But The Associated Press reports Perry also claims to be a resident of College Station -- where he owns a house and gets a tax break designed for local homeowners.

Aides to Perry, who's seeking re-election, says the governor is entitled to claim a house he owns in College Station as his primary residence, even though he lives in a mansion in Austin.

But after inquiries from AP, Perry's re-election campaign said he may have to refund some of the tax break he got.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Six New Mexico pueblos will share in more than $11 million in grant funding to improve housing.

The funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development were announced Tuesday.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said the funding, a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will be a major investment in Indian Country. He said it will help ensure affordable, quality housing for pueblo members.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – More than $2.4 million in federal stimulus money will help 19 New Mexico counties prevent homelessness.

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority has awarded the funds through the agency's Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program, which provides financial assistance and services.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish said the funding will allow the counties to help people find a safe place to live and stabilize their lives.

By KRWG News

Texas – A state official says Texas will likely borrow $1.5 billion from the federal government to pay jobless benefits through December.

It's unclear when state employers will have to pay a higher tax to repay the loan and build a required $863 million cushion in unemployment compensation trust fund.

The Dallas Morning News reports the three-member Texas Workforce Commission on Tuesday sought an estimate of how much the state would need to borrow from the federal government by Dec. 31.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – The issues of drug use and homeland security took center stage in El Paso and Las Cruces this week, as high-ranking federal officials discussed ways to reduce consumption and prevent smuggling. KRWG's Marco Grajeda has this report.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico Spaceport Authority officials announced they're soliciting bids to provide the on-site electrical system for Spaceport America. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich has more

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Gov. Bill Richardson says first-time drunken driving offenses should carry three days of mandatory jail time and $2,500 in fines.

Richardson said Monday during a news conference that New Mexico has decreased alcohol-involved fatalities by 35 percent but it's not enough.

The Democratic governor announced the increased penalties and the closure of loopholes involving drunken driving as part of a package of bills he plans to put before the Legislature next year.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Three people are in jail in connection with the killing of a Mexican drug cartel lieutenant and U.S. informant.

El Paso police say three men were arrested Monday. The exact charges aren't being released.

The trio is accused of shooting to death Jose Daniel Gonzalez Galeana, a Juarez drug cartel lieutenant and informant for U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.

By KRWG News

El Paso – Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is in El Paso to give an update on border issues.

In a sort of state of the border speech Tuesday, Napolitano will be highlighting border security initiatives since President Barack Obama took office in January. She will be speaking at the sixth annual Border Security Conference at the University of El Paso-Texas.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

By KRWG News

Silver City – A man is dead after his ATV struck a hole on a forest road in southwestern New Mexico and flipped end over end.

State police said the accident that killed Lloyd Montoya of Silver City happened Saturday near Buckhorn. The 43-year-old Montoya was taken to Gila Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Montoya was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. State police said he was thrown from the vehicle and it came to rest on him after flipping over.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico Game and Fish Department is giving hunters another chance at deer, elk and javelina licenses.

The department said Monday more than 1,700 public-land hunting licenses went unsubscribed following this year's big game draw.

Assistant Game and Fish director Patrick Block said the department is offering the leftover licenses because it wants to give New Mexico hunters every opportunity to enjoy a sport they are passionate about.