Oil and gas output in Lea County with an estimated 75,000 residents is expanding faster than in any county in the United States. Eddy County’s output is not far behind. According to an article posted at ttnews.com, data collected by the oil and gas research firm Enverus shows that in 2023 Lea County became “……

A Friday July 5 Hobbs Fire Department (HFD) press release confirms that one person was killed in a fireworks explosion in Hobbs on July 4. According to the press release, HPD responded to an “…emergency call for service regarding a traumatic injury in the 1300 block of West Sanger.” When HFD officers arrived at the…

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, July 4 – 6, The City of Hobbs will host its annual Fireworks Safe Zone. The three-day event will take place at the Hobbs Industrial Air Park (HIAP) located at 5425 Jack Gomez Blvd. A City of Hobbs press release (PDF) states, “The Safe Zone is an opportunity for citizens…

Nineteen-year-old Eddie Martinez is now charged with First Degree Murder in the shooting death of 18-year-old James Lara-Salazar of Hobbs. Lara-Salazar was seriously injured by several gunshot wounds early on the morning of Saturday, May 25. In addition to his First Degree Murder charge, Martinez is charged with the Fourth Degree Felony – Tampering with…

A second miracle has happened in Hobbs. A healthy baby boy was placed in the Safe Haven Baby Box located at Fire Station 1 in Hobbs the week of May 20. A Friday, May 31 City of Hobbs press release (PDF) states that for “the second time” the Safe Haven Baby Box has “served its…

On Sunday, May 12, at approximately 10:30 pm, officers of the Hobbs Police Department (HPD) responded to an incident at the intersection of East Broadway and South Turner. Forty-three-year-old pedestrian Leroy Gonzales, a Hobbs resident, had been struck by a vehicle. “Through investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Gonzales was in the roadway when a…

New Mexico’s Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard announced earlier this month the “indefinite withholding” of lease sales for oil and natural gas exploration on “premium tracks” of State Trust land located in the Permian Basin. Numerous of these tracks are located in Lea and Eddy counties. The primary reason for the halt in leasing is…

House Bill 129 (HB 129) – the seven-day waiting period for gun purchase bill – was signed into law by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday, March 4. In a Tuesday, February 13 press release the governor stated, “HB 129 is an important piece of public safety legislation that will undoubtedly save lives. This legislation…

Abandoned and inactive oil wells that threaten the environment are scattered throughout Lea and neighboring counties. These wells have run dry, and the job of capping and plugging them costs millions. Unfortunately, oil and gas operators often walk away without properly plugging these wells and cleaning up well sites. They are sometimes referred to as…

With a new year, the community is seeing some new faces in positions of local leadership. In Hobbs and in Lovington, an important role for each municipality has been filled. The City of Lovington has named a new chief of police, and the City of Hobbs appointed a new city attorney. On Tuesday, January 2,…