ABQ approves new water conservation plan

A new plan predicts that Albuquerque's water use will rise 21 percent by 2024, as population growth outstrips conservation efforts. 

The Albuquerque Journal reports that the new long-range plan was approved Wednesday by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility board. The new conservation strategy is aimed at reducing per-capita consumption to 135 gallons per person per day by 2024, a 9 percent reduction from the current 148 gallons. 

But Katherine Yuhas, the water utility's conservation officer, says because population in the utility's service area projected to grow from the current 640,000 to 810,000 by 2024, overall water use is expected to rise.

ABQ approves new water conservation plan

Udall and Heinrich want extended port of entry hours

U.S. Senators Martin Heinrich  and Tom Udall  have introduced an amendment to S.744, the senate immigration reform bill, that will help increase bilateral trade and improve ports of entry along the Southwest United States border. 

The amendment would extend the commercial and private hours of operation for vehicles at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry from 12 hours to 24, help facilitate trade, and enhance national security along the port of entry.

Extending the hours would also enable traffic that currently crosses in El Paso, Texas, to travel through New Mexico, reducing the heavy congestion in El Paso and the strain on Customs and Border Protection in the region.

Udall and Heinrich want extended port of entry hours

Fire evacuation lifted for Kingston

An evacuation order for a historical mining town near a raging fire in southern New Mexico's Gila National Forest has been lifted. 

Incident Commander Matt Reidy said Thursday that Kingston residents with special entry permits will be allowed to return to the town. Residents were evacuated last week after the lightning-caused fire moved closer to the town. 

Officials say the inferno have grown by Thursday to 57 square miles just as firefighters finish setting up protections around a nearby historic mining town. The fire's growth was blamed on persistent hot and dry weather which caused it to expand another 10 square miles overnight. 

The wildfire is expected to burn more acreage throughout the week, spilling smoke into nearby towns.

Fire evacuation lifted for Kingston