The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the state’s last horseracing track and casino could be headed to southern New Mexico to be built in Lordsburg. A group of developers plans to seek permission from the state to construct a quarter horse racetrack and casino at the Hidalgo County Fairgrounds, just off Interstate 10, county and city officials said Tuesday. The racino would feature 600 slot machines and pari-mutuel betting.

The investors pitching the plan — Recreational Development and Consulting LLC and Gaming Management Services LLC — have told city officials the casino would generate 300 new jobs, with others likely to be created in peripheral industries. Should the developers submit an application to the state soon, Lordsburg would become one of four New Mexico cities vying for the final horseracing license to be issued in the state over the next three decades.

KOB-TV, Channel 4 reports that the people who patrol the bosque and ditch banks say they want to carry guns. The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District is looking to turn its officers into armed certified police officers.

The officers say encounters with armed criminals are happening all too often. They point to a recent incident where an officer broke up a homeless camp and found several guns.

The officers also complain that they have no power when it comes to enforcing the law. They say that they can’t even write a citation for someone caught illegally dumping trash.

For those reasons, the conservancy district plans to go to the Legislature in January to ask if their officers can become certified police officers.

In Farmington several hotels are being accused of overcharging guests during the National High School Finals Rodeo and may have skirted policies of their franchises, according to the Farmington Times. Some hotel guests were charged hundreds more than what they were told they would pay when making reservations months before the rodeo.

Policies on rates at two hotels people complained about — Days Inn, of Wyndham Hotel Group, and Rodeway Inn, of Choice Hotels International, Inc. — prohibit rate hikes after a reservation has been confirmed, officials for those franchises said. Allegations made by hotel guests against Days Inn are being investigated, said Richard Roberts, vice president of communications for Wyndham Hotel Group.