Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

(KRQE NEWS 13) - The State Fair will be open fewer days this years in hopes of boosting its bottom line, but some fair vendors are upset saying they still must pay full fare.

As of 5:55 p.m. - Military bases across the U.S. have banned the sale of a new video game that lets a player pretend to be a Taliban fighter and "shoot" U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

As of 5:41 p.m. - A night of partying turned violent early Wednesday after one man made a comment about another man’s mother , Farmington police reported.

As of 5 p.m. - When Román Abeyta quit his $128,000-a-year job as the Santa Fe County manager, the county commission voted to give him a severance package worth more than $30,000 .  And that's upset some of the county employees who have borne the brunt of budget cuts.

As of 4:40 p.m. - A missing Idaho girl believed to have been abducted by her mother, who does not have legal custody, is reported to be safe after the mother surrendered to her probation officer in Farmington.

As of 4:25 p.m. - The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office tried to get around state law over seized cash by using more lenient federal forfeiture procedures, which made it easier for the department to keep millions of dollars in seized assets, a judge has ruled.

As of 4:08 p.m. - President Barack Obama strongly defended his opposition to extending Bush-era tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans on Wednesday and delivered a searing attack on Republicans and their House leader for advocating " the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place."

As of 4:04 p.m. - A reward is being offered for information on the thieves who stole three video cameras from a drive-in restaurant but only after their pictures had been recorded .

As of 2:45 p.m. - The Taliban's shadowy leader told Afghans on Wednesday that the insurgents are winning the war and warned Americans that they are wasting lives and billions in tax dollars by continuing in the conflict.

As if 2:42 p.m. - A burglary suspect has been named the Fugitive of the Week by Albuquerque Metropolitan Crimes Stoppers.

As of 2:18 p.m. - Consumer borrowing fell again in July as households cut back on their credit card use for a 23rd consecutive month, adding more drag on an economy struggling to mount a sustained rebound.

As of 2:13 p.m. - Even in the harsh region of central Asia, necessity is the mother of invention. There the needs of farmers in the rugged, impoverished area inspired a New Mexico State University professor to develop an easily transportable, easy-to-apply fertilizer that could lead to long-term gains for growers the world over.

As of 1:48 p.m. - Bridge Boulevard SW is open again after a Qwest crew removed a telephone pole that toppled into the street when it was hit by a truck.

As of 1:27 p.m. - A missing Idaho girl believed to have been abducted by her mother, who does not have legal custody, has been spotted in Farmington , according to police.

As of 1:18 p.m. - Nine years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the new World Trade Center is rising from Ground Zero. Two skyscrapers, a memorial, a museum and transit hub are under construction.

As of 12:52 p.m. - European Union nations and the continent's biggest human rights organization slammed Iran on Wednesday for its plans to stone a woman convicted of adultery , increasing the global pressure on Tehran.

As of 11:46 a.m. - A fallen telephone pole is blocking Bridge Blvd . SW, a major South Valley street, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.

As of 11:27 a.m. - Tropical Storm Igor has formed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa near the Cape Verde Islands and has top sustained winds of near 40 mph (65 kph).

As of 11:01 a.m. - Fire officials said 30 seconds after the crew exited the burning home Wednesday morning, the roof partially collapsed. Police are still investigating how the fire started.

As of 10:42 a.m. - Superintendent Winston Brooks announced Wednesday morning that Linda Sink, the district's chief academic officer, will take over as interim principal at Rio Grande High School .

As of 10:41 a.m. -  Job openings rose in July after two months of declines, a positive sign that companies could step up hiring in the coming months.

As of 10:07 a.m. - In an internal report released Wednesday, BP blames itself, other companies' workers and a complex series of failures for the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the drilling rig explosion that preceded it.

As of 9:38 a.m. - The leader of a Florida church that espouses anti-Islam philosophy said Wednesday he was determined to go through with his plan to burn copies of the Quran on Sept. 11.

As of 9:22 a.m. - Authorities in Idaho have issued an Amber Alert for a missing 2-year-old girl and she may be heading to New Mexico.

As of 7:58 a.m. - Some drivers on the Westside will have a smoother commute Wednesday morning.

As of 7:49 a.m. - Albuquerque police continue to piece together evidence after a body was found in a park.