The Permian Basin is the most productive oil and gas play in the United States, making New Mexico polka-dotted with abandoned, unplugged oil and gas wells. These shut-down wells – nicknamed in the industry “zombie wells” – are potentially environmentally devastating, not to mention costly to plug, seal and reclaim, with an estimated cost of…

Rodeo is part of the fabric of Lea County. Young and old love to attend, participate and support everything having to do with rodeo. Unfortunately because of COVID-19, rodeo has not graced our area for more than a year. All of this, however, is about to change. From Friday – Sunday, May 28th – 30th,…

Thirty-two of New Mexico’s 33 counties are now listed at the Turquoise COVID-19 risk level. One county, Chavez, is at the Green Level. All of this is good news. Almost 30% of Lea County Residents Vaccinated The rate of corona virus infections in Lea County is 4.2 per 100,000, as of May 23, 2021. Right…

The City of Hobbs has announced the dates of its annual Water Conservation Period (WCP) for 2021. This year’s WCP is from Saturday, the 15th of May through Wednesday, the 15th of September. During the WCP special restrictions will be placed on all users, commercial and residential, regarding exterior watering or sprinkling of gardens, lawns…

The United Way of Lea County is committed to mental health – so committed that the organization is producing a series of mental health programs. Aired on Facebook, about 20 videos have been produced. In the public service series moderators talk with real people, both those you know and some you don’t know, regarding how…

Houston-based start-up Piñon Midstream LLC is only a few months old, but already the company is making its mark in Lea County. In a recent news release Piñon Midstream announced that construction is already underway on a “sour gas treating and carbon capture facility” in Lea County. The facility includes an associated pipeline infrastructure. The…

The City of Hobbs is a recipient of this inaugural year’s Centennial Roots program. Centennial Roots is an annual tree donation program sponsored by the independent oil and gas company Centennial Resource Development. The Texas communities of Pecos and Midland are also beneficiaries of this year’s inaugural program. All three communities are located within the…

After closing to comply with COVID-19 restrictions, the Hobbs Teen Center has reopened to serve Hobbs’ teenagers. All current 6th grade through 12th grade students are welcome. Teen Center membership is free. However, a parent or guardian must sign a permission form before students are allowed to attend the center and participate in the activities…

Even though Easter has already been celebrated and Spring is here, it’s not too late in the year for a freeze. Parts of Lea County may be in for one on Wednesday morning. The National Weather Service has issued a “Freeze Watch” for Northern and Central Lea County. The watch is effective Wednesday morning, April…

After two previous continuances, the murder trial of Bishop Henderson, 20, has been set back once again. Henderson is the only person charged in the August 2019 backyard shooting in Hobbs. Three people died and four were injured. Dead at the scene were Khalil Carter, 18, and Kristal Avena, 24, both of Hobbs. Lamar Lee…