Associated Press

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico State University researchers have launched a study to examine obesity among NMSU students and employees.

Researchers recently developed an online survey aimed at finding out more on obesity and lifestyle factors of students and employees, especially in southern New Mexico. So far, the survey has found that 47 percent of NMSU and employee respondents self-reported as overweight or obese.

A mentally disabled man who was shot by an Albuquerque police officer has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (http://bit.ly/TqRR3H ) that the lawsuit filed last week by Russell Tenorio alleges excessive force by police and seeks unspecified damages.

It marked second lawsuit against Albuquerque police to come out of the November 2010 shooting.

Police were called to Tenorio's home after getting a call that he had been drinking and was threatening to harm himself with a knife.

Tenorio was shot by Officer Brian Pitzer.

A nonprofit group in Santa Fe that aims to rehabilitate wild birds of prey that have been injured by flying into barbed wire fences, being shot or by other causes is facing a funding crisis.

The Santa Fe New Mexican quotes Santa Fe Raptor Center co-founder Lori Paras as saying her group is projected to be out of funds by the end of January.

The center is facing the challenge of feeding more birds than usual this year.

It now has about 21 birds, more than double its usual capacity.

One of the school children killed in a mass shooting in Connecticut attended school in Rio Rancho last year before her family moved.

Rio Rancho Public School District officials confirmed that Emilie Parker went to Maggie Cordova Elementary last year.

Her father Robbie Parker was one of the first parents to speak out about the shooting the day after Friday's massacre that left 20 school children and six adults dead at a school. He says he's blessed to be Emilie's dad.

Drivers across much of New Mexico are facing tough road conditions as a wintry storm that led to the brief closure of a stretch Interstate 40 leaves the state.

The state Transportation Department closed a stretch of I-40 about 70 miles east of Albuquerque in the Cline's Corner area early Sunday and reopened it at about 5 a.m. Mountain roads across are icy and crews are spreading cinders and plowing snow where needed.

Environmentalists pushing for the release of more Mexican gray wolves in Arizona and New Mexico say they're worried federal regulators are allowing Arizona to control the process and severely limit releases.

The Phoenix-based director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon chapter says the Fish and Wildlife Service has made it clear it wants state wildlife agencies to take the lead. Sandy Bahr tells the Albuquerque Journal (http://bit.ly/SzuFne ) that's led to no releases at all in the past four years.

Heavy snows and icy roads have left parts of New Mexico with forced delays, dangerous driving conditions and at least one person dead.

New Mexico State Police say at least one person was killed Sunday in a weather related car crash near Waldo, forcing the temporarily closure of Interstate 25 just south of Santa Fe.

The winter storm on Sunday, which struck northern and central areas of the state, also forced the temporary closure of Interstate 40 in Clines Corners where two semi-trucks were jack knifed.

State Senate Democrats have nominated Sen. Pete Campos of Las Vegas, N.M., for the top position in the body.

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports (http://bit.ly/UwPY56 ) that the action came Sunday at a closed-door caucus meeting in Belen.

Campos defeated three others in the contest to replace Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, who recently lost his re-election bid.

Campos says he's honored by the nomination and plans to reach out "to every member of the Senate."

New Mexico Attorney General Gary King has ruled that a probe into whether a troubled New Mexico border city violated a state sunshine law in appointing the mayor earlier this year is inconclusive.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/U9Z6eZ) that the office issued its opinion last week about Sunland Park after interviewing five city councilors.

The office said investigators were unable to find witnesses or documentary evidence that councilors tried to reach consensus outside of a public meeting.

The state Corrections Department's new system of bouncing all inmate release documents to a central office for approval often has resulted late releases for parolees.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (http://bit.ly/TM40io) that officials say parolees have been walking out of prison about two weeks past their expected release dates ever since the system changed in early September.

Those delays have prompted as many as 100 calls a day from inmates' upset relatives.

Deming Border Patrol officials say agents saw a jump in arrests of undocumented immigrants along its patrol area of the New Mexico-Mexico border.

The Deming Headlight reports (http://bit.ly/QRJW10) that an official from the Deming Border Patrol station said last week that in the second half of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, there was a 28 percent increase in arrests of undocumented immigrants in the area. He said 253 more people were arrested from June to December in 2012 than in 2011.

The state Canvassing Board is putting the final touches on New Mexico's general election.

The board meets Monday to certify results of a recount in a race for an Albuquerque-area seat in the state House of Representatives between Republican Paul Pacheco and Democrat Marci Blaze.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (http://bit.ly/VtBKkz) that unofficial returns show Pacheco, a retired Albuquerque policeman, winning by 79 votes — up from a 66-vote margin before the recount. The district covers parts of Sandoval and Bernalillo counties.

A new study has found that New Mexico may have to pay as much as $120 million for an estimated 101 new medical malpractice claims that could be part of a potential class action lawsuit.

The Albuquerque Journal reports that state General Services Department Secretary Ed Burckle says that's in addition to about $45 million in settlements the state has paid to 118 families since 1998.

New Mexico State University may use a search firm to hire the next school president.

The board of regents chairman Mike Cheney told the Las Cruces Sun-News that the board has put out a request and received proposals from firms interested in taking on the search but may not use them.

The board aims to make a decision on whether to use a firm by Jan. 1.

Cheney says the interview process would likely run through the first half of the semester, in hopes of announcing a president by spring graduation.

State officials say the influenza season is off to an early start and are warning that it may be more severe than in recent years.

The New Mexico Department of Health says flu is circulating throughout the state. Health officials say anyone six months of age and older, particularly pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions, should get vaccinated.

The department says many of the influenza cases seen so far are a more severe type that has led to higher number of hospitalizations and deaths in previous flu seasons than other types.

A labor board has ruled against the Aztec teachers' union negotiating with the school district on a collective bargaining agreement.

The Farmington Daily Times (bit.ly/QMOkOJ) says the Labor Management Relations Board found that the union violated negotiating practices and failed to follow rules agreed upon by the two parties. The board said the union also had submitted proposals that conflicting with state statutes and the state constitution.

New Mexico's largest school district plans to spend millions of dollars to adopt new testing standards and move to computer-based testing.

Albuquerque Public Schools administrators say the district estimates it will spend $39 million in capital money to upgrade 17,000 computers and computer equipment, and another $15 million annually to maintain the system.

State officials are trying to wrap up the final results of the November general election.

The state Canvassing Board meets Friday and a top official in the secretary of state's office says winners are expected to be certified in all but one race.

There's a pending recount in a state House of Representatives race between Republican Paul Pacheco of Albuquerque and Democrat Marci Blaze of Corrales. Before the recount, Pacheco was leading by 66 votes.

The latest campaign finance reports show that two outside political groups spent nearly $4 million to influence legislative races, which ended up with Democrats retaining control of the House and Senate.

A political committee with ties to Republican Gov. Susana Martinez reported on Thursday spending $2.4 million. It was involved in 31 House and Senate races, including several Democratic primary contests.

A group of New Mexico inmates are helping clear up a patch of Bosque in Pena Blanca, an area devastated by the Los Conchas fire last year.

KQRE-TV reports (http://bit.ly/RwAhhp) that winter inmate crews are working to clear out that fuel as fast as possible and helping the state save money.

Inmate crews cost $300 a day, a fraction of what a private company would charge.

A dry winter and severe drought conditions are making forests vulnerable for future wildfires.

The Legislature and Gov. Susana Martinez will have slightly more than $280 million to cover budget increases and tax cuts next year under a new revenue forecast outlined to lawmakers.

The revenue estimates released Monday will serve as the financial backdrop for lawmakers when they convene next month for a 60-day legislative session.

Students at the University of New Mexico may soon be required to take at least one class on diversity.

The Albuquerque Journal reports (http://bit.ly/TEM9tO) that a draft proposal by the Provost's Diversity Council calls for a three-credit-hour diversity requirement that could go into effect in fall 2014. The class will be required for all students before graduation.

The Los Alamos National Laboratory is expected to conclude its probe into former employees who allowed visitors to operate weapons at the lab's shooting range.

The Los Alamos Monitor reports (http://bit.ly/SpVbMh) that the law says four unauthorized visitors were given access the range and were allowed to "operate a variety of firearms." The lab says participants also took photos of their time on the range and posted them on Facebook. Those photos have since been taken down.

The U.S. Department of Education says New Mexico has one of the worst four-year high school graduation rates in the nation.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/SpzOdY) that new federal numbers from2010-2011 preliminary data showed that New Mexico also falls at the bottom of the pack when analyzing rates across nearly every demographic.

Nevada had the lowest graduation rate, with 62 percent graduation, just ahead of New Mexico's 63 percent rate.

Iowa had the nation's highest with about 88 percent of students graduating.

Governor Susana Martinez is in Mexico to attend a meeting with officials from New Mexico and the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

The two day meeting of the New Mexico-Chihuahua Commission concludes on Friday.

The governor's office said Chihuahua Governor Cesar Duarte attended meetings that started Thursday.

The commission is to talk about border crossings, trade, tourism, water as well as education and public safety.

New Mexico State University is set to host more than 50 Ecuadorean teachers who are seeking to learn English.

NMSU announced Thursday that the Ecuadorean teachers are scheduled to take part is a two-semester English language program funded by the Ecuadorean government. The "Go Teacher" program is aimed at improving English education in that country's schools.

School officials say the first group of teachers will study at NMSU between Jan. 15 and Aug. 15, and will likely to be followed by additional groups in later semesters.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding New Mexico nearly $1 million to reduce deaths and injuries on the state's highways.

The annual grant funding was made available through the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act.

U.S. Sen. Tom Udall says states can use the money for initiatives to increase seatbelt use, for anti-drunken driving campaigns and other programs aimed at making the roads safer.

Officials at Western New Mexico University say the school's nursing program has earned accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education for 10 years.

The commission found that the program met all accreditation standards. The commission's review included a visit to the Silver City campus and interviews with university officials, program faculty, students and others.

The nursing program began in the fall of 2005. It was developed so that licensed nurses could earn a bachelor of science degree in nursing.

New Mexico is launching a public awareness campaign to curb the growing number of whooping cough cases in the state.

The Health Department says more than 700 cases have been reported so far this year. That's up from 277 the year before.

Two children — a 2-month-old girl from San Miguel County and a 4-year-old boy from Bernalillo County — have died this year as a result of whooping cough.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial illness that attacks the respiratory system.

A former top official of the New Mexico Finance Authority has pleaded guilty to forgery and securities fraud charges for falsifying an agency financial audit that was distributed to bond investors earlier this year.

Under an agreement with prosecutors, ex-controller Greg Campbell had faced up to six years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to two counts of forgery and one count of securities fraud.

State District Judge Stephen Pfeffer placed Campbell on probation for five years.