A 6-year-old quarter horse had to be euthanized by its owner after the mare became ill in mid-August with what is believed to be West Nile Virus.

The chance of disaster striking may not seem imminent in our neck of the woods, but the possibility is always there.

Socorro High School senior Michelle Mora was among a select group of students chosen to participate in the 2010 Congressional Academy held in Washington, D.C., from June 27 to July 9. She was one of approximately 100 students given the opportunity to attend. More than 750 high school juniors from around the nation applied.

New Mexico's unemployment rate, which was at 8.2 percent in June, will likely be as high as 6.3 percent as late as 2015.

Only two other states (out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia) had an employment picture worse than New Mexico's in June, the most recent month for which employment numbers are available.