From reporter Scott Daniels: This car is destroyed in a field next to the house where police say there was a shooting last night. http://bit.ly/wlojJi

—–

When you see it happening, send us an e-mail, photo or video: ReportIt@krqe.com or E-mail

Democratic consultant and CNN commentator Donna Brazile came to the University of New Mexico to kick off the school’s Black History Month.

The former campaign manager for former Vice President Al Gore spoke at the university’s annual Black History Month Kick-off Brunch on Jan. 28.

Brazile is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, a syndicated newspaper columnist for United Media, a columnist for Ms. Magazine and O, The Oprah Magazine.

She is currently the vice chair of voter registration and participation and former chair of the voting rights institute at the Democratic National Committee. She is also the author of “Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics.”

Photos courtesy of Ron Wallace, editor of The Perspective II

Starting Monday, you might want to plan a different route if you usually take the interstate to get downtown.

The northbound Lead, Coal exit at I-25 will be closed Monday and Tuesday night for construction.

Crews will be installing storm drainage pipelines between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The Avenida Cesar Chavez exit and the Lomas, Menaul, Candelaria exits will stay open.

A sunny Sunday is on tap for all of New Mexico.

Temps will also rise in many locations as we end the weekend.

Breezy conditions will be found in areas east of the central mountain chain Sunday and into Monday.

Aside from some minor disturbances that will shave a few degrees of temps, the start and middle of the week will be calm.

We are keeping an eye on a storm that could impact NM late Thursday into Friday.

This system looks to aim at the northern mountains, central and eastern parts of the state.

Cold air will accompany this low pressure system, so snow looks to be a good bet if the storm stays on track.

We are still a ways out and forecast models are not in complete agreement quite yet.

Until then have a great weekend and stayed tuned!

The city of Las Vegas is hosting three workshops next week for the public and candidates in the March 6 municipal election.

All will be held in the City Council chambers, 1700 North Grand Ave., and are schedule for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Monday, Feb. 6.

Nine Las Vegas residents are running for mayor, two for Ward 2 councilor and six for Ward 3 councilor.

Online:  City of Las Vegas election information.

—–

Coverage of the 2012 New Mexico Legislature and political news from around the country in KRQE.com OnPolitix.

The earth moved again near Raton Wednesday with the latest in a string of earthquakes to hit the area.

The latest temblor at 8:30 p.m. registered only magnitude 2.5, the low end of the scale where people may feel its effects.

The epicenter was about 25 miles west of Raton and 29 miles southwest of Trinidad, Colo., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

On Oct. 17 a magnitude 5.3 quake hit closer to Trinidad causing damage to some homes.  It was the strongest earthquake recorded in Colorado in 40 years and was followed by two smaller aftershocks.

—–

When you see it happening, send us an e-mail, photo or video: ReportIt@krqe.com or E-mail

Anyone who is not yet registered to vote in March 6 municipal elections around the state has about 1o days left to do so.

The deadline is the close of business on Tuesday, Feb. 7.

Cities, towns and villages holding elections will be filling local offices and in some cases approving bond isues to allow their governments to borrow money and pay it back from taxpayer revenues.

Santa Fe, Farmington and Rio Rancho are among the larger cities holding elections on March 6.

Home-rule cities Las Cruces and Albuquerque will hold their next elections respectively in October and November 2013.

U.S. citizens 18 and older are eligible to vote.

—–

Coverage of the 2012 New Mexico Legislature and political news from around the country in KRQE.com OnPolitix.

After a series of deadly crashes on U.S. Highway 550 mostly involving alcohol, state, local and tribal police have come up with high-visibility enforcement plan.

The joint effort kicked in Friday and will continue through May 28 on U.S. 550 between Cuba in Sandoval County and Bloomfield in San Juan County.

During those 18 weeks officers from the New Mexico State Police, Navajo Nation police, San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and the state Department of Public Safety Special Investigations Division will be on the lookout for speeders, aggressive and drunken drivers and liquor sales to minors and already intoxicated patrons.

Special funding of about $39,000 will place three marked State Police units on extra patrols from 4 p.m. to midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, according to a statement released by the NMDPS.

—–

When you see it happening, send us an e-mail, photo or video: ReportIt@krqe.com or E-mail

Three judges and a pastor will host the Second Annual Valentine’s Day Wedding Extravaganza on Feb. 14 in Roswell.

Couples that have not planned ahead and gotten a marriage license can obtain one at the Chaves County Clerk’s office from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

The ceremonies will take place in the rotunda of the Chaves County Administrative Center from 10 a.m-noon and 1-5 p.m.

Officiating will be Magistrate Judges Eugene De Los Santos and John Halvorson, Municipal Judge Larry Loy and Pastor Randy Elfman.

There is no charge for the weddings, punch and celebratory cupcakes, but donations will be accepted and passed on to charitable organizations.

Wedding licenses, however, cost $25 cash or credit card, and require the couple to be present and be at least 18 with photo IDs.

Additional information is available from the Chaves County Clerk at (575) 624-6614.

—–
When you see it happening, send us an e-mail, photo or video: ReportIt@krqe.com or E-mail

The exit ramp from northbound Interstate 25 to Coal, Lead and Central avenues will be closed for two nights as pipe for storm drains is installed.

The closures are planned to be in place at 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and continue to 5 a.m. the following mornings.

The exits on either side of the work–Avenida Cesar Chavez on the south and Lomas/Menaul/Candelaria on the north–will remain open and provide alternate access to Coal, Lead and Central.

—–

When you see it happening, send us an e-mail, photo or video: ReportIt@krqe.com or E-mail