Regional

By KRWG News

New Mexico – The Cibola National Forest plans trail work on the Sandia, Magdalena and Mountainair ranger districts with federal stimulus funds.

Some $260,000 will go to maintain and build trails, including motorcycle and mountain bike trails in the Cedro area in Bernalillo County, and hiking and horseback riding trails in the Sandia Mountain, Manzano Mountain, Apache Kid and Withington wilderness areas.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – A Park and Ride Service connecting Las Cruces and El Paso should be up and running by the end of the month, according to state officials. The project, which has been in the works for quite some time, recently gained momentum, and as KRWG's Marco Grajeda reports, beginning this month several busses should be making up to 19 trips a day between the two cities.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The recent shooting death of a U-S Customs and Border Protection Agent in California highlighted the dangers faced by agents along the border. In southern New Mexico and west Texas agents are often the focus of attacks, but as KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports, the federal agency is taking steps to reduce the risk for officers.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico Secretary of State Mary Herrera was in Las Cruces Thursday announcing a new plan to encourage early voter registration. KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports.

By KRWG News

New Mexico – Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories are being funded for three projects under a new initiative called Energy Frontier Research Centers.

Sandia will receive $18 million as the lead agency in a project to study improvements in solid state lighting, while Los Alamos is receiving $38 million, equally divided between projects to design better materials for converting sunlight into electricity and to study materials under extreme stress.

Money for the research centers will be spread over five years.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – Gov. Bill Richardson has proclaimed Friday as "Purple Heart Day."

Richardson said he joins New Mexicans as they pause to give thanks to the men and women who have been hurt or killed while defending the nation.

The Purple Heart, the oldest military decoration in the world, is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces who is wounded, killed or who died as a result of a combat injury.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – New Mexicans can save money on hundreds of items this weekend as the state's fifth annual tax-free weekend kicks off Friday.

But shoppers should be prepared for crowds.

Retailers say the tax-free event is one of their busiest weekends of the year.

Jeff Black, manager of a Target store in Albuquerque, says his stores' sales will be double what he sees on a normal weekend.

Consumers will save on gross receipts taxes on certain items.

By KRWG News

Clovis – A Cannon Air Force Base commander says he would like to see Clovis and Portales build at least 440 new homes in the next five years to house military families.

Colonel Stephen Clark, commander of the 27th Special Operations Command Wing, says the base is quickly reaching capacity on housing it has for the base's transition.

Clark says Cannon is expected to undergo major changes over the next two years. The base projects its manpower will be 4,900 people.

Clark expects two-thirds of Cannon personnel to live off-base.

By Marco Grajeda

Las Cruces, NM – New Mexico's two United States Senators welcomed the appointment of the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. On Thursday, Judge Sonia Sotomayor won confirmation to the highest court after a 68 to 31 vote, with mostly Democratic support. KRWG's Marco Grajeda has more.

By Vanessa Dabovich

Las Cruces, NM – The nation's top homeland security and border officials are meeting at the University of Texas at El Paso next week for a two day conference. KRWG's Vanessa Dabovich has the details

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – From NMSU:
New Mexico State University's Doing What Counts fundraising campaign has raised $210 million to date and continues to move toward its $225 million goal by December 2010.

The comprehensive campaign is the most ambitious fundraising endeavor undertaken by the university and has already exceeded expectations. The original goal of $150 million by December 2008 was met early in the effort causing the NMSU Foundation Board of Directors to revise the goal to $225 by December 2010.

By Melissa Aguilera

Las Cruces, NM – The first steps in attracting cross-border businesses to southern New Mexico are underway with improvements to the state's international ports of entry. As KRWG's Melissa Aguilera reports, officials hope the projects, paid for with stimulus money, will spur interest in New Mexico's border region.

By KRWG News

El Paso – The Defense Department says a 19-year-old Fort Bliss soldier from Ohio has died in Maysan Province, Iraq and his death is under investigation.

The military said Wednesday that Pvt. Keiffer P. Wilhelm, of Plymouth, Ohio, died Tuesday from a noncombat related incident which is being investigated. No other details were provided.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – The New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission has been awarded more than $3.4 million in federal funding to help victims of crime.

The funding from the U.S. Department of Justice was announced Wednesday by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.

The commission will use the money to provide grants to organizations throughout the state to enhance, expand and develop new programs to serve victims. That could include counseling services, housing, crisis intervention and assistance with court proceedings.

By KRWG News

Las Cruces – A Dona Ana County jury has convicted a Las Cruces woman of 21 embezzlement counts after she was accused of taking almost $11,000 from her employer, a title loan company.

Elizabeth Marie Martinez, 34, took payments from customers and doctored records to hide it for 15 months in 2006 and 2007, prosecutor Richard Wellborn said.

The theft was discovered in September 2007 by corporate officials in Atlanta. Despite being the only employee at the Las Cruces office, Martinez claimed someone had framed her.