The shockwave of a Hobbs teen mom throwing her newborn into a dumpster a few weeks ago is vividly coupled by the reality that some people in Lea County are food insecure. Why else would three souls on that cold winter day have been dumpster diving looking for “anything of value” when they unsuspectingly found…

The Hobbs Police Department has released the video of its first interview with Alexis Avila – the 18-year-old mother who tossed her newborn into a dumpster located behind Rig Outfitters and Home Store in Hobbs on January 7.  The video was aired on ABC Big 2 News on January 28. Avila Confesses  During the interview…

Shoplifting is a chronic problem for retailers throughout America and is proving especially painful for businesses in Lea County.  One of the main reasons shoplifting is hitting the county’s merchants so badly is because of the area’s lower volume market that provides local retailers with thinner profit margins than they might have in larger, more…

The issue seems to be bipartisan. It is one of those things that would have been pushed aside in light of other issues — taxes, crime, minimum wage — had the worst of the worst not happened right here in Lea County, specifically in Hobbs – a newborn was thrown in a dumpster.  Who knows…

A week ago New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced a new program to help the state’s schools and child care facilities stay open in the wake of staffing shortages caused by the current flood of COVID-19 cases, especially those of the more recent Omicron variant.  The initiative is called Supporting Teachers and Families (STAF),…

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…