The Hobbs Municipal Court is temporarily closed effective Tuesday, January 18. The reason for the temporary closure is “staff shortages caused by COVID exposures,” according to a Monday, January 17 City of Hobbs press release (PDF). The hope is that the court will reopen on Monday, January 27. The Hobbs Municipal Court is located at…

Voters get ready. It’s time for your voices to again be heard. Tuesday, March 1 is the day that the New Mexico Secretary of State (NMSOS) has set aside for Municipal Officer elections. Both the cities of Lovington and Hobbs will elect new city commissioners and municipal judges on this day. According to NMSOS Maggie…

Because of the recent surge in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Hobbs and its surrounding area, the City of Hobbs is postponing or canceling numerous upcoming city events.  Meghan Mooney, City of Hobbs Director of Communications, made the announcement via a Friday, January 7, press release (PDF). “Our desire is to keep the…

The City of Hobbs, the Hobbs Police Department (HPD) and the Hobbs Fire Department (HFD) held a joint press conference on Monday, January 10 to update the public about the abandoned child found in a dumpster in Hobbs on Friday, January 7.  In a prepared statement Acting/Interim HPD Chief August Fons provided many details of…

Officers of the Hobbs Police Department (HPD) were called to the 1400 block of North Thorp Street around 8:00 pm, on Friday, January 7, after a newborn was found in a dumpster.   “Upon arrival [at the location behind Rig Outfitters and Home Store] officers rendered aid to the newborn child and the baby was transported…

On January 1 New Mexico once again welcomed a rise in the “state minimum wage”. The new rate is $11.50 per hour, up $1.00 an hour from 2021’s base salary of $10.50 All New Mexican workers, other than those who hold one of several limited categories of jobs that are exempted from the pay scale,…

The New Year is here, and the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) has some good advice. “Look out for one another. Protect your family…by getting your COVID-19 vaccine,” states the department on its Twitter page.  This simple but very important message should be taken seriously. Healthcare professionals worldwide advocate getting the two-jab series, after…

Oil and gas production is pumping strong in southeast New Mexico. The outlook for 2022 is positive, with the first quarter bringing a new big scale operator to the area.  Earthstone Energy, Inc., headquartered in Woodland, Texas with offices in Midland, announced in a press release on December 16 that it is acquiring assets of…

“The taxpayer building in the heart of Lea County” is what Chairwoman of the Lea County Board of Commissioners Rebecca Long has labeled the county’s new Judicial Complex. Chairwoman Long, who represents the county’s District 2, was mistress of ceremonies at the facility’s grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, on Saturday, December 18. The complex…

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham late on Friday, December 17 signed into law the new redistricting plan for the State of New Mexico which changes the shape of the state’s previous congressional districts (pictured above). Although the dust has hardly settled and the ink is barely dry, her signature has split Lea County into two districts….