Billy the Kid: An outlaw, and an articulate one, as letters to New Mexico governor show

SANTA FE, N.M. — The handwritten letter to the governor is polite, articulate and to the point.

Avionics company launches low-altitude rocket at New Mexico Spaceport

UPHAM, N.M. — An Orlando, Fla.-based avionics company successfully fired a low-altitude rocket Tuesday at a new spaceport in New Mexico where the state hopes to launch commercial space tourism flights within two years.

AP review shows firms handling NM investments were big political donors to Gov. Richardson

SANTA FE, N.M. — Money managers, brokers and their marketing agents that secured public investment business in New Mexico in recent years have given more than $640,000 to Gov. Bill Richardson’s campaigns and political organizations since he first ran for governor in 2002, an Associated Press analysis shows.

GAO: Federal lands see more off-road vehicle use but management limited by tight budgets

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hampered by lean budgets and growing responsibilities, federal land management agencies have struggled in recent years to keep up with the rising popularity of off-highway vechicle use on public land, congressional investigators said in a report Thursday.

GAO: Federal lands see more OHV use but management limited by tight budgets, resources

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Hampered by lean budgets and growing responsibilities, federal land management agencies have struggled in recent years to keep up with the rising popularity of off-highway vechicle use on public land, congressional investigators said in a report Thursday.

Soldiers from looted Fort Craig cemetery in NM reburied with military honors

SANTA FE, N.M. — Three members of the famed Civil War-era Buffalo Soldiers, whose remains were disinterred during a federal grave-looting investigation two years ago, were given full military honors and reburied Tuesday at a national cemetery.

Explore the legend of Billy the Kid with travel itinerary from NM

LINCOLN, N.M. — The New Mexico Tourism Department has launched a Web site dedicated to Billy the Kid.

Multiplying like bunnies? Not this New Mexican jackrabbit, which may get federal protection

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Rabbits are certainly known for their propensity for multiplying, but one species of jackrabbit is having trouble keeping up.

Buffalo soldier remains from looted Old West fort to be reburied at Santa Fe National Cemetery

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Until a few years ago, the memory of three African American soldiers was buried beneath the sandy, desert in New Mexico, their remains left behind by the military and to the mercy of looters.

Navajo president reaffirms tribal ban on uranium mining to mark 30th anniversary of spill

CHURCH ROCK, N.M. — The leader of the Navajo Nation marked the 30th anniversary of a massive uranium tailings spill by reaffirming the tribe’s ban on future uranium mining.

NM company plans to build utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen plant

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico-based energy technology company announced plans Wednesday to develop in southern New Mexico what it calls the world’s first utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen power plant.

New Mexico company plans to build utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen plant

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A New Mexico-based energy technology company says it plans to develop what it calls the world’s first utility-scale, zero-emissions hydrogen power plant.

Aging sewer problems blamed for rotten smell at N.M. building that houses taxation department

SANTA FE, N.M. — For some state employees, going to work really stinks. Aging sewer pipes are being blamed for a rotten smell at the Manuel Lujan Sr. Building, which was built in 1974 and houses the state Taxation and Revenue Department as its main tenant.

Conservationists ask for federal inquiry into deaths of endangered wolf pups in NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Conservation groups asked the federal government Thursday to investigate the deaths of three endangered Mexican gray wolves found dead in southwestern New Mexico.

DOT study asks motorists about using on-board computer to tax miles driven

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Researchers are looking for 1,500 drivers in six cities, including Albuquerque, to test an on-board computer system that taxes motorists based on miles driven rather than fuel taxes paid at the pump.

Mesilla cafe hopes to earn world record with its 10-inch green chile cheeseburger

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Guinness Book of World Records already has a largest hamburger designation on the books, but a southern New Mexico cafe is going for a spicier title: world’s largest green chile cheeseburger.

Dad faces charge after putting his 5-year-old daughter behind wheel of speeding pickup truck

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police charged the father of a 5-year-old girl with child abuse after the girl was spotted behind the wheel of a speeding pickup truck. KRQE-TV reported the father was arrested Thurday when police saw his truck speeding and swerving on the city’s west side. Police said the father told them he was trying to teach his daughter how to drive by having her sit in his lap.

Pecan growers look beyond nutshell to space for help perfecting million-dollar nut crop

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Space is preparing to go a little nuts.

Feds rescue surviving Mexican gray wolf pups in New Mexico, 3 pups found dead

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Wildlife agents rescued two Mexican gray wolf pups found abandoned in a New Mexico forest, but three others from the same litter were found dead, officials said Thursday.

911 system fixed after problem sent Santa Fe hiker’s calls misrouted to wrong number

SANTA FE, N.M. — Authorities say a programming error on cell phone towers misrouted 911 calls from a lost hiker who died in a rescue helicopter crash last month, but the problem has been corrected.

Cross-country US Airways flight diverted to Albuquerque after passenger undresses in his seat

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A passenger stripped naked during a US Airways flight and resisted a flight attendant’s efforts to cover him with a blanket before two off-duty law enforcement officers on board subdued and handcuffed him, authorities said Wednesday.

US Airways flight diverted to Albuquerque after male passenger undresses in seat

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A passenger stripped naked during a US Airways flight and resisted a flight attendant’s efforts to cover him with a blanket before two off-duty law enforcement officers on board subdued and handcuffed him, authorities said Wednesday.

NM law enforcement busy keeping eye on Rainbow Family gathering in Santa Fe National Forest

CUBA, N.M. — Authorities have recorded more than 370 incidents, including 120 violation notices, in the past week as people flock to the Santa Fe National Forest for the Rainbow Family of Living Light’s annual gathering.

Albuquerque police ID victim, 2 suspects in fatal shooting during robbery of packed restaurant

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police were searching Monday for at least two more men suspected of carrying out a weekend robbery at a crowded Denny’s restaurant that left one woman dead.

For sale: historic hotel in New Mexico, where bullet holes and a ghost add to Old West feel

SANTA FE, N.M. — For sale: A bit of the Old West. The historic Eklund Hotel — complete with refurbished guest rooms, a saloon with bullet holes in the tin ceiling and a resident ghost — has closed its doors.

NM police looking for remaining suspects in Denny’s robbery, killing; 2 men in custody

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police on Sunday were searching for at least two more suspects they believe killed a teenage worker during a robbery at a packed Denny’s and committed 10 more armed robberies in Albuquerque this past year.

2 suspects in custody after shooting kills employee at Denny’s Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Two suspects have been jailed on suspicion of murder after a restaurant employee was fatally shot during a robbery at a packed Denny’s Restaurant, police said.

1 dead after gunmen open fire at Denny’s Restaurant in Albuquerque, NM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Police in Albuquerque say a restaurant employee has been killed after several armed suspects attempted a takeover-style robbery at a packed Denny’s Restaurant.

NM ranchers say new border barriers don’t stop sick cows from crossing into US from Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Longtime New Mexico cattle rancher Judy Keeler is keenly aware of how tough it is to raise livestock in the dusty desert near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Radio recordings from rescue helicopter reveal last seconds before crash in NM mountains

SANTA FE, N.M. — Moments before a helicopter crashed during a mountain rescue attempt, the pilot radioed to his wife — a state police dispatcher — and told her he was “going down.”