Mass shootings, particularly at schools, have become all too common in America. On Tuesday, nineteen people were killed and more injured in a shooting at a school in Unvalde, TX. Lea County has its own share of gun violence with law enforcement called to incidents in Lovington and Hobbs just this past week. Hobbs Shooting…

Inflation is raging. At a forty year high, Americans are feeling the pinch – in the grocery store, at the gas pump – everywhere. In March of 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, most Americans received a $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government through the CARES Act. Later that year in December, a second stimulus…

Over the past 5 years, the Albuquerque Journal Editorial board has done a thorough job of exposing the failures of bail reform in New Mexico.  Initially, the Journal staff was in complete support of replacing secured bail with the current “catch and release system” being used by Judges around this state.  However, as things began…

Five Republicans are vying for the opportunity to go up against New Mexico’s incumbent Democratic governor, Michelle Lujan Grisham, in the November 8 General Election. Early voting for the June 7 primary is already underway throughout the state. According to a SurveyUSA KOB-TV Eyewitness News poll released on Monday, May 9, Mark Ronchetti leads the…

Euden Avila, 25, of Hobbs is being held on no bond at the Lea County Detention Facility. Avila has been charged in connection to a fatal crash in Hobbs killing a husband and wife on Mother’s Day. May 8. After being arrested and then incarcerated on unrelated charges on Tuesday, May 10, Hobbs Police Department…

Temperatures are high. Winds are strong. Humidity is low. These conditions perfectly set the New Mexico stage for wildfires. “Fire and weather officials [including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham] this week have expressed their concern over the effect high winds, hot temperatures and dry conditions could have on fires in New Mexico,” states an article published…

The Lea County Tribune is endorsing State Representative Randall “Randy” Pettigrew for re-election in the District 61 Republican Primary. There are no Democratic challengers to this seat, and the Republican nominee will be the presumptive winner. While there are many good reasons to re-elect Pettigrew, the most important in the opinion of the Tribune is…

Proper water management is essential everywhere, particularly with drought conditions facing much of the west, and the City of Hobbs is serious about ensuring that residents do not waste water. In 2015, the city adopted as part of its Municipal Code an annual Water Conservation Period (WCP). The WCP is found in Chapter 13.20 (PDF)…

The Career and Technical Education Center of Hobbs (CTECH) celebrated its Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting on Thursday, May 5. Hundreds attended the ceremony. A clear path for Hobbs senior high students who desire to pursue “technical-track” careers has been charted. The almost $50 million new facility has a capacity for 600 – 700 students…

Women’s rights advocates and those who oppose them are all abuzz with the news that the United States Supreme Court plans to strike down Roe vs Wade, the 1973 decision that federally guarantees a woman’s constitutional right to have an abortion. Politico leaked on Monday, May 2 the “initial draft” of the Supreme Court’s majority…