Fire breaks out near Silver City

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 9:47pm

A blaze broke out in Grant County just south of Silver City Tuesday. The McKenney Road fire ignited just before 5 p.m. The fire forced the evacuation of three homes, but officials said residents should be able to return home tomorrow, if circumstances allow. About 60 to 100 acres of brush and grass were burned.

The McKenney Road fire is in the same area that burned in the Quail Ridge Fire two years ago in 2011. That fire burned 17 homes down.

Investigators said they have not determined a cause for the fire yet. They said they should know more tomorrow. Stay with KOB Eyewitness News 4 for continuing coverage.

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NM youth's trial delayed in dad's fatal shooting

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 3:26pm

SILVER CITY, N.M. (AP) - The trial of an Albuquerque youth charged with murder in the shooting death of his father on a southwestern New Mexico hunting trip is being delayed.

The Silver City Sun-News reports that defense attorney Stacy Ward says a key witness isn't available to testify in July when the trial of Thomas Manning had been scheduled.

The judge presiding over the case in District Court in Silver City has erased the trial date in July but hasn't yet a new date.

Manning is now 18 years old. He was on a hunting trip to the Gila National Foest in November 2010 when he allegedly shot Jeffrey Manning in the back of his head.

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Panel to consider vacant judgeship in southern NM

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 9:54am

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A bipartisan panel will meet in Alamogordo next month to screen candidates for a vacant state district court judgeship in southern New Mexico.

District Court Judge William Brogan is retiring this month and a Judicial Nominating Commission will recommend candidates to Republican Gov. Susana Martinez for possible appointment to the vacancy.

Lawyers wanting to be considered for the vacancy must submit applications by June 11.

The 12th Judicial District covers Otero and Lincoln counties. The vacant judgeship is based in Alamogordo but the court also holds hearings in Carrizozo.

The nominating commission will meet June 17 at the Otero County Courthouse to interview applicants and make its recommendations to the governor.

The commission is made up of judges, lawyers and members of the public.

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Judge clears Las Cruces Police in shooting

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Friday, May 3rd, 2013, 3:17pm

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - A federal judge has cleared the Las Cruces Police Department of liability in the 2010 death of a samurai sword-wielding man who shot and killed by a Las Cruces Police officer.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports U.S. Magistrate Judge Gregory B. Wormuth ruled Thursday that officer Horacio Rivera did not use excessive force or act negligently when he shot Lance Hummell to death in June 2010. The officer said he shot Hummel, a 23-year-old known as "Lizard Man," after he pulled the 4-foot sword and lunged at him.

Hummell's family had sought $14 million in a wrongful death suit alleging the city was liable for not providing adequate training for LCPD officers.

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4 lawmakers express reservations about Carruthers

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Friday, May 3rd, 2013, 12:07pm

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - Four Las Cruces state lawmakers say they have "serious reservations" about former Republican Gov. Garrey Carruthers, who's up for the New Mexico State University presidency.

Democratic Reps. Phillip Archuleta, Nate Cote, Bill McCamley and Jeff Steinborn issued a statement Thursday following an Albuquerque Journal report about Carruther's work in the 1990s for a tobacco-backed group. The Journal reported Carruthers was chairman of The Advancement of Sound Science Coalition, which was formed by a public relations group working for tobacco giant Philip Morris.

Steinborn also suggested Carruthers "isn't convinced of climate change." Carruthers didn't take a position on the issue when asked last Monday.

NMSU Board of Regents chair Mike Cheney says he wishes the legislators had commented earlier in the process. Regents are expected to reveal their pick on Monday.

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Teens advocate safety through film

Submitted by Avicra Luckey on Friday, May 3rd, 9:59 am

The City of Las Cruces needs help picking out this year’s CLC-TV Student Video PSA Contest winner.

Las Cruces middle and high school students submitted thirty-second safety themed video PSAs and the best have been selected for the public to vote on.

You can place your vote at CLCTV.com until Friday, May 31. The video producer with the most votes will win a brand new Apple iPod. The video will also be featured in CLC-TV’s monthly magazine “City Beat” on June 8, 2013.

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NMSU president close to being selected

Submitted by KOB.com Staff

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013, 3:23pm

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico State University's next president is set to be announced next week.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports regents plan tentatively to reveal their pick on Monday.

Finalists include NMSU business dean and former Gov. Garrey Carruthers, former Texas Tech University president Guy Bailey, former University of Nevada, Las Vegas president David Ashley, former Texas A&M University president Elsa Murano and University of Colorado Denver Dean Daniel Howard.

Regents chair Mike Cheney says the bulk of deliberations about the candidates will happen Friday.

NMSU president Barbara Couture abruptly stepped down last year following a mysterious administrative leave and less than three years in the job. The school's executive vice president and provost Wendy Wilkins also stepped down.

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