SANTA FE, N.M.—New Mexico calls itself the Land of Enchantment. But the spell isn't working all that well.

Overnight tourist trips in New Mexico have dropped by nearly 10% in the past three years, and spending on everything from souvenir magnets to turquoise jewelry fell by hundreds of millions of dollars.

When state tourism officials convened focus groups in Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles to ask prospective travelers about their perceptions of New Mexico, the same depressing descriptions kept cropping up: "Arid." "Barren." "Dull."

Also: "Close to Arizona."

Are you on vacation and searching for a unique experience? In this class you will learn how to throw on a potter’s wheel and participate in a Japanese Raku firing. Recently featured in the an Issue of “Sunset” magazine, this soup to nuts class offers someone with no prior experience in clay, the opportunity to take part in all facets of the ceramic process.

A Guide to the Architecture of Taos and Northern New Mexico

Welcome! This is the first stage in a much larger project which will document the historic structures in Taos, NM. These first entries provide a basic history of the architecture of Northern Mew Mexico . More photos and buildings will be added! Please come back and visit again!

Seeking wilderness status for 46,000 acres near Taos

Published November 18, 2011 in News.

By Matthew van Buren, Taos News

11/17/11

A coalition of citizens and organizations is calling for the Columbine-Hondo Wilderness Study Area to receive official wilderness designation.

POSTED: 4:56 pm MST November 23, 2011

UPDATED: 5:19 pm MST November 23, 2011

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- There's nothing like a holiday weekend to get in those first runs at local ski resorts.

Red River is open. The base is around two feet deep and two of the mountain's 56 trails are open.

Santa Fe putting the boot on parking scofflaws

Posted at: 11/20/2011 2:35 PM

By: The Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Parking scofflaws in Santa Fe can expect to have their car disabled by a device called a boot, and might even find themselves hauled into court if they continue to ignore unpaid parking tickets.

Slideshow: Martinez administration pledges support for film industry

New Mexico Business Weekly by Megan Kamerick, NMBW Senior Reporter

Date: Friday, November 18, 2011, 11:16am MST

View photo gallery (12 photos)

Megan Kamerick

The event was set up in one of ABQ Studios' sound stages.

Senior members of Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration gave the film industry and businesses associated with it something they’ve been waiting to hear for a long time: A public affirmation that the governor supports the industry, wants to see it thrive and has no intention of pushing any changes in the state’s film incentive program.

New Analyses Show Oil and Gas Industry Is Inflating the Job-Creating Potential of Shale Gas Development

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The following study was provided by Food and Water Watch.

Will the oil and gas industry create 1 million new jobs for Americans, as its latest advertisement claims? The American Petroleum Institute and major oil and gas corporations are spending millions to convince Americans that with unrestricted access to natural resources, they can lift us from our economic slump in part by fracking our nation’s shale gas reserves.

Hotline Ranks New Mexico Senate Race

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The Hotline's Senate Seat Rankings include New Mexico's hotly contested Senate seat which is being vacated by Senator Bingaman.

Businesses and Organizations Invited to Join Network

Seth Roffman

The Northern New Mexico Green Business Cluster is a new program of the Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI), a long-term economic development strategy for north-central New Mexico implemented by the Regional Development Corporation in Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos counties.

Tourism Dept. hopes to ‘rebrand’ N.M.

04.11.2011 | ?????: admin

ALBUQUERQUE — Snooze. Close to Arizona. Arid and barren. Dull. Artsy. Dreamcatchers. Not a lot of activity.

Those were among responses from focus group members in Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles who were asked what comes to mind when New Mexico is mentioned.

State Tourism Secretary Monique Jacobson played a video of the responses during a conference Thursday to help make her point that New Mexico suffers from an image problem and that potential visitors don’t know much about what the state offers.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A community is without heat and medical care because of a rickety old bridge that officials said can no longer support passing delivery trucks and ambulances.

Residents in parts of Pilar, located south of Taos County, said there's only one way in and out of their community that they feel like prisoners in their own homes.

TAOS, N.M.- Taos County resident Ernestina R. Cruz will run for District Judge in the Eighth Judicial District. She is seeking the Division II position currently held by Judge Sarah Backus, who was appointed to the bench by Governor Susana Martinez in June of this year.

In support of her candidacy Ms. Cruz stated: “Today I am proud to announce that I am running for District Court Judge.

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A Texas boy scout came home after a long camping trip near Taos in August and showed his father what he thought was a souvenir. The boy’s father, who's a doctor, realized it was actually an arm bone. He sent it to the office of the Medical Investigator in Albuquerque.

Just wrapped up what I call a perfect Taos weekend.  It actually started on Thursday with a morning trip to Ojo Caliente Hot Springs, less than an hour from our house and wrapped up Sunday with an outdoor blues jam and potluck!

Cottonwood on Tejon, 8 S. Tejon, is pleased to announce that Irene Braun will be the featured artist for November. An Artist’s Reception in her honor will be held during 2nd Friday Artwalk on November 11th from 5pm to 8pm.

TAOS, N.M. — Activists are planning "Occupy Taos" and "Occupy Santa Fe" protests adding to a number of related rallies around New Mexico.

Suspect arrested in shooting death of Taos man

TAOS, N.M. (AP) — A suspect is in custody in the shooting death of a Taos man while each was in a separate hunting party in the Carson National Forest near Embudo.