Otero County News

A resident of the 2200 block of East First Street reported that sometime between 8 p.m. May 22 and 11 a.m. May 23, someone damaged the driver's side seat in her green 2010 Toyota while it was parked in front of the residence.

An Otero County grand jury on Wednesday indicted seven people on 75 charges that include racketeering, trafficking methamphetamine, money laundering, arson and bribery.

Requests from Carrizozo town officials for financial help with an animal shelter and swimming pool were approved by Lincoln County commissioners as part of their Fiscal Year 2012-2013 preliminary budget.

Three Las Cruces men were arrested Saturday on various felony charges involving prescription drug trafficking, prescription forgery, identity theft and conspiracy.

The use of a class of prescription painkillers shot up dramatically in New Mexico during the past decade.

A recent report released by the New Mexico Department of Health indicates oxycodone sales led with more than 1,074 pounds sold in 2010 while hydrocodone was second with 441 pounds, followed by morphine with 396 pounds sold.

Sandia Lab researcher Susan Altman conducts research to minimize biofouling on reverse osmosis membranes used for desalination in her laboratory.

More people were working in Lincoln County during April compared with March. The New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions reported last month's unemployment rate was 4.8 percent, versus 5.5 percent in March.

A resident of the 2000 block of Scenic Drive reported that sometime between midnight May 16 and 5 p.m. May 17, someone damaged two tires on a blue and silver 2003 Saturn while it was parked at the residence.

The use of a class of prescription painkillers shot up dramatically in New Mexico during the past decade.

Jennifer Gonzalez, 25, of the 600 block of Madison Avenue, was arrested for alleged shoplifting at Walmart, escape from a peace officer and unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon.

New Mexico's Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera, left, talks with several administrators in the Ruidoso School District Tuesday.

I attended the second annual Keep Our Forests Open rally in Truth or Consequences, N.M. recently.

The owner of an Alamogordo used car dealership was arrested Tuesday for his involvement with Robert Chavez's alleged criminal enterprise to transport methamphetamine from Phoenix to Alamogordo.

Jennifer Carter, 27, of the 1200 block of Bellamah Avenue, was arrested by courthouse security deputies on a Magistrate Court warrant.

The 12th Judicial District Attorney's Office on April 30 dismissed without prejudice the first-degree felony murder and second-degree aggravated arson charges against Matias M. Loza.

Albert Lara, 29, of the 1300 block of 14th Street, was arrested on a Municipal Court warrant for alleged failure to appear.

IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE EL PASO TX 727 PM MDT SUN MAY 13 2012 THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN EL PASO HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... NORTH CENTRAL OTERO COUNTY IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEW MEXICO... * UNTIL 830 PM MDT * AT 718 PM MDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS ... (more)

Absentee balloting started Tuesday, and thus far, the turnout has been nothing to write home about.

The New Mexico Environmental Department's Liquid Waste Program Manager Dennis McQuillan, right, explains the septic tank project being done Friday at Doris Ballow's Boles Acres residence.