An action against the Downs at Albuquerque Inc. and EXPO New Mexico was issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in order to stop the discharges of animal waste, industrial run-off and other pollutants into the Rio Grande.

The New Mexico Environmental Department (NMED) conducted an on-site inspection on November 15, 2011 and found that the facility did not have a properly designed storm water runoff containment structure and also did not have a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit that allows facilities to discharge to U.S. Waters.

SILVER CITY, N.M. (AP) - Despite recent rain and snow in southwest New Mexico, officials are still concerned about dangerous wildfires.

Grant County Fire Manager Gary Benavidez tells the Las Cruces Sun-News that Sunday's 1,300 acre Whippy Fire in the Cullum Estates neighborhood of White Signal had the potential to be as devastating as the Quail Ridge fire from nearly a year ago.

That fire destroyed 13 homes and 60 buildings. Benavidez added that had the wind been blowing harder, the situation could have been a lot worse.

Fire officials say now is an excellent time to get the grass mowed, do some pruning and thinning of brush around your house.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

KOB Eyewitness News 4 is getting a closer look into what a man endured while in solitary confinement for two years.

On Tuesday, a federal jury awarded Stephen Slevin $22 million for the inhumane treatment he endured while at the Dona Ana County Jail. Slevin had been driving through Dona Ana County in 2005 when he was arrested for a DWI.

From day one, Slevin said he fought to see a doctor to treat his depression.

His lawyer, Matt Coyte, said Slevin was immediately labeled suicidal and had just one medical examination before being forced into solitary confinement.

Slevin wrote more than a dozen letters, all with the same message. 

" He hand writes these letters, please help me. The medication is not working," Coyte said.

One of the first letters was written on September 4, 2005 - just days after Slevin was arrested. In it he said he's not sleeping, is in a deep depression and cannot eat.