Bingaman seeks federal and state transportation funds Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., is pushing for federal and state funding of two key highway projects in Curry County. Bingaman has asked the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation for federal funding for improvements to U.S. Highway 70 in order to provide access to the Southwest Cheese plant south of Clovis and money to construct an overpass on New Mexico Highway 467. The estimated cost of the U.S. 70 improvements is about $2.4 million, while the cost of the N.M. Highway 467 overpass is estimated to be $3.1 million, according to a news release from Bingaman’s office. Senate debate on federal funding for transportation projects will begin next year. Bingaman also has sent a letter to state Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught urging her to consider providing state funding for the projects. Clovis’ Sears to offer KB Toys for Christmas shoppers The Sears store in Clovis will be among 600 Sears stores to offer toys from KB Toys under a nationwide arrangement as part of Sears’ Christmas Shop. KB Toys offers name brand toys such as Barbie, Leggos and Matchbox cars, said Clovis Sears store manager Paula Baca. In Clovis, the Christmas Store will begin operation Oct. 30, Baca said. Bingaman calls for Energy Conference report Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., said he has serious reservations about the process for finalizing an energy package, saying Democrats were not allowed to participate in negotiations. Debate on the energy bill begins this week. Bingaman said in a news release that he and other Democrats on the Senate Energy Commission have seen only parts of the measure, yet the Republican leadership says it wants to bring the bill up for a final vote as soon as this week. Domenici bemoans setback of bipartisan forest bill Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., said Monday objections raised by Democratic senators to a unanimous consent agreement are keeping a healthy forest bill from coming to the Senate floor. The bipartisan bill gives the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service more leeway to plan and conduct hazardous fuels reductions projects in order to improve the protection of communities, watersheds and other at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire, Domenici said. Business Digest is compiled by CNJ staff writer Jack King. He may be contacted at 763-6991, or by e-mail: jack_king@link.freedom.com