News | Las Cruces Bulletin

Students walk to Sonoma Elementary School in Las Cruces in 2022.

LCPS nets $200,000 grant to teach students a second language

Las Cruces Public Schools announced that the district received a $200,000 grant to promote bilingualism and biliteracy throughout the district. The announcement on Jan. 16 stated that the … more

Bulletin report | 1/17/25

Attorney General Raul Torrez speaks at a news conference on Jan. 16, 2025 for his proposed legislation on hazing.

NMSU hazing scandal prompts attorney general to propose new crime

ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Department of Justice announced on Jan. 16 that it would spearhead legislation to make hazing a criminal offense following a report detailing the administrative … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/16/25

Mesilla Marshal Sgt. Tress Diaz holds up a photo of Oscar Renee Sandoval, the person of interest named in the April 1 homicide.

Sandoval convicted in 2024 Mesilla killing

A jury voted on Jan. 15 to convict Oscar Renee Sandoval of Chaparral, N.M. in the killing of his wife, Shiereen Al-Jibury, in April 2024. Sandoval, 58, was convicted of first-degree murder … more

Bulletin report | 1/16/25

Doña Ana County Commission appoints new leadership in contested vote

Christopher Schaljo-Hernandez was reelected as chairperson of the Doña Ana County Board of County Commissioners during a meeting on Jan. 14, while Commissioner Susana Chaparro was elected as … more

Bulletin report | 1/16/25

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez at a briefing at the federal High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area office in Las Cruces on Aug. 12, 2024.

Vasquez announces road grants for Las Cruces, Permian Basin

Over $61 million in federal dollars is set to hit the Las Cruces area for road infrastructure development. U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., announced the money in a news release on Jan. 10, … more

Bulletin report | 1/14/25

Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story, at podium, speaks during a previous police department town hall.

Las Cruces police to host town hall on crime stats, legislative proposals

The Las Cruces Police Department announced a town hall for Jan. 23 that will focus on crime statistics and possible legislative changes for the upcoming session. The meeting is part of a … more

Bulletin report | 1/14/25

In a Jan. 13, 2025, special session addressing open meetings violations, Las Cruces City Councilor Bill Mattiace expressed regret over errors in the process while affirming his confidence for City Manager Ikani Taumoepeau.

Las Cruces cures transparency violation, but not unanimously

The Las Cruces City Council passed four resolutions on Jan. 13 to remedy a violation of a state transparency law. The actions cure the violation after the New Mexico Department of Justice … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/13/25

Volunteer Carol Allen is seen among some of the cats served at the Cat’s Meow Adoption Center.

Cat’s Meow addresses feral colonies in city

Thanks to a grant from Petco Love foundation, The Cat’s Meow Adoption Center was able to spay or neuter an additional 44 cats in 2024, preventing the births of “lots and lots of … more

Mike Cook
For the Bulletin | 1/13/25

Fernando Macias is sworn in as Third Judicial District Attorney by Judge Conrad Perea on Dec. 30, 2024.

Macias becomes DA amid crime panic

Fernando Macias has a lot of expectations coming into 2025. Some of those expectations are his own — his plans to reshape and rebuild a district attorney's office that’s been … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/10/25

Gloria Gameros, newly-sworn Doña Ana County Commissioner, is seen at Adams Ball Park in Anthony, N.M. on Jan. 6, 2025.

New commissioner aims to reconnect southern Doña Ana County

Gloria Gameros has as much stake in southern New Mexico as anyone could. She grew up in Chamberino, attended Gadsden High School, owned a business in Las Cruces and served as an elected … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/10/25

New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martinez and Attorney General Raúl Torrez lead a news conference in Albuquerque on Jan. 9, 2025.

Attorney General seeks court action on WNMU president's severance

The Attorney General is asking a court to act after WNMU paid outgoing president Joseph Shepard a $1.9 million severance payment negotiated, he says, in violation of state laws. more

Algernon D'Ammassa
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/9/25

Las Cruces City Councilor Johana Bencomo and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, center, were among the officials participating in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Amador Crossing housing project in Las Cruces on Jan. 8, 2025.

Gov. leads groundbreaking for Amador Crossing project

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham joined local officials for a groundbreaking on a $15 million apartment housing project in Las Cruces. more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/8/25

Bicyclist killed in Alameda crash

Police are investigating a fatal crash that killed a Las Cruces bicyclist on Jan. 7 but said in a news release that no charges have been filed as of yet. The crash on N. Alameda Boulevard and … more

Bulletin report | 1/8/25

The Silver City campus of Western New Mexico University, as seen in a virtual campus tour.

WNMU regents depart in wake of spending scandal

Western New Mexico University’s governing board appeared bound for a complete reset following a series of controversies stoked by a November review by New Mexico State Auditor Joseph Maestas. … more

Bulletin report | 1/7/25

The Las Cruces City Council meets in council chambers at city hall on Jan. 6, 2025.

Council approves financing for $20 million shooting settlement

The Las Cruces City Council voted unanimously on Monday, Jan. 6, to approve a funding mechanism for a $20 million settlement in the police killing of Teresa Gomez. The vote marked another … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/7/25

Governor picks El Paso Electric boss for NMSU regent slot

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham nominated El Paso Electric Regional Vice President Ricardo Gonzales to fill a four-year term on New Mexico State University’s Board of Regents last week. The … more

Bulletin report | 1/6/25

Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez speaks during the city council meeting on Jan. 6, 2025.

City pushes transparency remedy to next week

Las Cruces Mayor Eric Enriquez announced during a meeting on Jan. 6 that an ordinance to remedy a violation of the Open Meetings Act, which had been part of the day’s agenda, will be moved to … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/6/25

Acting athletic director Amber Burdge takes questions about her next steps as she assumes leadership of New Mexico State’s beleaguered athletics department following the termination of Mario Moccia as athletic director. The press conference was held at the Fulton Athletics Center on the Las Cruces campus, Jan. 3, 2025.

‘NMSU needed a change.’ Ferme speaks after firing Mario Moccia

New Mexico State University’s athletics department is turning the page after a decade of Mario Moccia at the helm. That was the main message that new NMSU president Valerio Ferme and … more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/3/25

U.S. Rep Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., is sworn in for his second term in Congress by Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin in Las Cruces on Dec. 30, 2024.

Swearing-in ceremony welcomes new faces to government

Fourteen people were sworn in as elected officials at a ceremony on Dec. 30, 2024, at the Doña Ana County Government Center. more

Justin Garcia
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/2/25

Soum Sanogo, professor of fungal plant pathology at New Mexico State’s Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Weed Science, is seen among chile pepper plants at NMSU in 2021.

Preserving agriculture in a drier New Mexico

A unique feature of New Mexico government is that the state department of agriculture is housed at New Mexico State University, a land grant institution home to research and education in agricultural … more

Algernon D'Ammassa
Las Cruces Bulletin | 1/2/25