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…

This is a Letter to the Editor sent in by Allison, a resident of Portales. She writes in during Pride Month to explain some simple things to keep in mind about transgender people and issues they may face. Hi everyone, I want to take a moment to share something personal with you. My name is…

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…

It’s no secret that Lea County relies heavily on the Oil & Gas industry for its economic livelihood.  Every industry here depends on the oil field workers who spend their hard-earned wages to keep our economy moving.  So with a contested primary for County Commissioner in District 1, which covers Lovington and Tatum, the choice…

Florida based, privately owned Holtec International’s efforts to construct a Interim Nuclear Storage Facility (HI-STORE CISF) on a 1000-acre site owned by the Eddy-Lea Energy Alliance (ELEA) continues to face legal challenges. The land proposed to store the spent nuclear waste is a former cattle grazing tract dotted with oil rigs located close to the…

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…