Las Cruces strip club rejection appealed

Lawyers for a company that wants to open the first strip club in Las Cruces have appealed a city zoning board's decision to reject their permit application.

The appeal was filed Thursday. It calls the Planning and Zoning Commission's rejection of a permit for "The Bronx" club illegal.

Attorney Lisa Wootton says the commission's 3-1 vote last week denying a special use permit was contrary to the city's design code, New Mexico zoning laws, the state Constitution, and the First and 14th Amendments.

Residents, clergy, and other religious advocates spoke for hours during the commission meeting in opposition of the proposed strip club.

Wootton told commissioners at that meeting that moral objections to the strip club were not relevant to a zoning issue.

Las Cruces strip club rejection appealed

Catwalk National Recreation Area reopens after fire

After four months of a temporary closure due to this past summer’s Whitewater-Baldy Fire Complex and subsequent flood potential, the Catwalk National Recreation Area will be open effective this Saturday starting at 8:00 a.m.

 District Ranger Pat Morrison says only a part of the facility will be open initially. 

 Starting Saturday, the picnic area and the old trail as far as the first segment of suspended trail will be open. 

Crews will continue to work on restoring the remaining trail with phased in reopening of facilities as work is completed and safe for public use. 

Catwalk National Recreation Area reopens after fire

Former Santa Ana Pueblo Gov. pleads not guilty to embezzlement charges

Bruce Sanchez

The former governor of the Santa Ana Pueblo and a real estate developer from Pecos have pleaded not guilty to charges they embezzled at least $3.6 million from a group formed by the state's 19 pueblos to develop the old Albuquerque Indian School property. 

Federal agents Tuesday arrested 58-year-old Bruce Sanchez and 59-year-old developer Thomas Keesing on a 15-count indictment that charges both men with one count of conspiracy and 10 counts of embezzlement. 

Additionally, Sanchez was charged with four counts of tax evasion.

Former Santa Ana Pueblo Gov. pleads not guilty to embezzlement charges

NM Health Dept. launches website for SIDS awareness

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month, and the New Mexico Department of Health has a new online-based information campaign for parents. 

The department has launched a new webpage to educate parents about ways to reduce the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleep-related causes of infant deaths. 

The webpage contains information about The Safe to Sleep campaign, which has replaced the Back-to -Sleep campaign. SIDS is the leading cause of death among infants aged 1–12 months, and the third leading cause of overall infant mortality in the United States. 

In New Mexico, 60 baby deaths were categorized as Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths between 2009 and 2011. 

NM Health Dept. launches website for SIDS awareness