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.

“Fracking” rules adopted in NM — sorry, Lamb Chop

The lady with the hand-puppet left disappointed.

During a break in the hearing of the Oil Conservation Commission on Thursday (Nov. 17), an environmental activist approached the members of the commission who were about to vote on adopting rules requiring oil and natural gas producers in New Mexico to disclose what fluids they use during hydraulic fracturing operations.