Newsbreak New Mexico 12 p.m. Webcast 2/4/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 12 p.m. Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

                                     Listen here:

Legislature considers vote on min. wage
Hanna Skandera overrules PEC and approves charter school
Bill would reduce good time credits 

Newsbreak New Mexico 12 p.m. Webcast 2/4/13

NM Tourism Dept. wants their budget doubled

The New Mexico Tourism Department wants the Legislature to increase its advertising budget from $2.5 million to $5 million. 

Department Secretary Monique Jacobson says that doubling the ad budget would let the agency to carry its "New Mexico True" marketing campaign to Chicago and California and launch a more robust promotion of the state's fall and winter attractions. 

Gov. Susana Martinez is recommending the full increase, while the Legislative Finance Committee budget wants to hold the increase to $1.5 million. 

A study by a research firm found that the "New Mexico True" campaign has brought taxpayers $3 for every dollar spent. The campaign's aim was to create a brand that would help the state compete with tourism destinations like Colorado and Arizona.

NM Tourism Dept. wants their budget doubled

NM lottery sees and increase

Officials with the New Mexico Lottery say the last half of 2012 saw an increase in net sales of $7 million. 

 Lottery figures released this week show sales between July 1 and Dec. 31 totaled nearly $70 million. That's an 11 percent increase from the same period the year before.

 Officials say players also won more during the period. Winnings increased from $28.4 million in the first half of the previous fiscal year to more than $31 million.Mid-year profits for the Legislative Lottery Scholarship program also increased to just over $21 million.

NM lottery sees and increase

Newsbreak New Mexico 8 a.m. Webcast 2/4/13

Newsbreak New Mexico 8 a.m. Newscast with Vanessa Dabovich

                                     Listen here:

NM lottery sees and increase
Reese family gets re-trial
GMO bill dead in legislature

Newsbreak New Mexico 8 a.m. Webcast 2/4/13