US Attorney Gonzales Resigns, To Take Judge Oath - Associated Press
U.S. Attorney Ken Gonzales of New Mexico has resigned and is scheduled to take the oath as a federal judge.
Gonzales stepped down Thursday as the 44th U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico. He is slated to take the oath Friday.
Gonzales was appointed to replace retiring U.S. District Judge Bruce Black of Santa Fe. But the seat will be moved to Las Cruces because of high caseloads in southern New Mexico.
He has served as U.S. attorney since 2010. Before that, he spent 11 years working as an assistant U.S. attorney.
Martinez, Mexico Officials To Unveil Border Plan - Associated Press
Gov. Susana Martinez and officials from Mexico are set to announce the creation of a 70,000 acre, master-planned community around the Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo border crossing.
Martinez will join on Friday Chihuahua Gov. Cesar Duarte to outline details of the project. The pair is scheduled to announce plans at press conferences on both sides of the New Mexico-Mexico border.
The region's growth has been a keystone to plans by Martinez for economic expansion in the New Mexico. Last year, Martinez and state Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela attended a distribution center groundbreaking in Santa Teresa for Interceramic Inc., a Mexican company that is one of the largest ceramic tile manufacturers in North America.
Partnership Aims To Protect Cutthroat Trout Waters - Associated Press
Wildlife officials in New Mexico and Colorado have teamed up with the Vermejo Park Ranch near Raton to protect habitat for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout.
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish says federal officials have approved a conservation agreement for the northern New Mexico ranch that is aimed at conserving and restoring the trout along with other native fish in the Costilla watershed.
The agreement gives the ranch flexibility in managing its private lands while working to meet the needs of the fish if it's ever listed under the Endangered Species Act.
The trout are found in about 10 percent of their historic habitat, which encompassed the Rio Grande, Pecos River and Canadian River basins in New Mexico and Colorado.
Threats facing the species include non-native fish, fragmented populations, drought and poor habitat.