In April of 2019, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law House Bill 6 (HB6). This legislation mandated intricate changes to New Mexico tax laws.  Internet Sales A positive component of HB6 is the taxing of Internet sales. Most local officials like the idea, as it helps area retailers compete with big box…

The father of the baby that was thrown by its mother into a dumpster located behind Rig Outfitters and Home Store in Hobbs on January 7 is now coming forward with what he knows.  According to KRQE News 13, Stephen Astorga, age 16, is the baby’s father. Stephen told KQRE News that he had been…

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham spoke to the citizens of “the Land of Enchantment” for about 25 minutes on Tuesday, January 18. The day marked the opening of the 2022 session of the New Mexico legislature, and highlighting this opening was the governor’s presentation of her fourth “State of the State” address.  Delivering her…

Alexis Alvia, the 18-year-old woman, who threw her newborn into a dumpster in Hobbs on January 7 told police investigators that she “panicked, not knowing what to do or who to call”. But what about New Mexico’s “Safe Haven for Infants” law? The law allows a parent to leave a newborn for up to 90…

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,…