Local

Tia Duerrmeyer September 20, 2021

Lea County has a special treat for area residents and guests on Wednesday evening, September 22.  Award winning country singer/songwriter and recording artist Martina McBride is giving a FREE concert at the Lea County Fairgrounds. The event is hosted by Our Lea County and starts at 8:00 pm.  The Lea County Fairgrounds is located in…

Editor September 17, 2021

Local health organizations have begun distributing COVID-19 booster shots. However, they are currently being limited to the immunocompromised. COVID-19 vaccinations have demonstrated a high degree of effectiveness in protecting people, but the level of immunity may wane over time. Early data points to higher infection rates in people who were vaccinated in January compared to…

Tia Duerrmeyer September 16, 2021

COVID-19 is still a big problem in New Mexico, and Lea County is no exception.  Thursday, September 16 findings from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that the “community risk level” of becoming infected with COVID-19 in Lea County is “high”. In light of this “high” risk factor, the CDC recommends for everyone to…

Tia Duerrmeyer September 15, 2021

Tickets are now on sale for the United Way of Lea County’s 3rd Annual “Project You” Concert. The event is the kickoff for United Way of Lea County’s Campaign 2022.  The outdoor “Project You” concert extravaganza is slated for Saturday, October 16 at the Hobbs Industrial Air Park. The park is located at 5654-5698 West…

Aldo Ponce September 13, 2021

Following the 2020 elections, Democrats have a 27-15 majority in the state senate and a 44-25 majority in the house. Democrats also control the governorship, creating what’s referred to as a government trifecta. The 2021 New Mexico legislative session ran from January 19 to March 20, 2021. The following is a summary of some notable bills passed. Assisted Suicide:…

Tia Duerrmeyer September 12, 2021

New Mexico’s Holloman Air Force Base, near Alamogordo in Otero County, and Fort Bliss Training Center Doña Ana Range Complex in Chaparral are busy places these days. These two military installations, along with six others throughout the nation, are being used by the Biden administration to provide temporary housing for evacuated, at-risk Afghan refugees. In…

Joseph Duerrmeyer September 12, 2021

August Nites did not happen in August this year. The two-day festival was postponed because of COVID-19 and is now scheduled for Friday, October 22, from 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm and Saturday, October 23, from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. The event will take place at the Lea County Events Center, 5150 North Lovington…

Tia Duerrmeyer September 8, 2021

In the early days of the pandemic, the world faced news stories of the US President recommending untested hydroxychloroquine and injecting bleach to ward off COVID-19. Medical experts, including those within his administration, rolled their eyes and warned the public not to follow through on President Trump’s unfounded and unscientific suggestions. Fast forward to today…

Tia Duerrmeyer September 4, 2021

When it comes to COVID-19 in Lea County, things are still not good. The risk of becoming infected, especially for those who are unvaccinated, is extremely high. Hospitals and ICU units are full, and medical staff are being stretched to their limits.  With Lea County emergency rooms full to capacity, most often with coronavirus patients,…

Editor September 3, 2021

The state of Texas recently implemented one of the strictest abortion laws in the country. The new law bans abortions once a fetus’s heartbeat can be detected. This usually occurs around six-weeks. Many pregnant people may not even find out they are pregnant until after this point. Because of the strict Texas law, nearby states,…