Eunice, the second smallest city in Lea County, may have struck clear liquid gold in its attempt to solve the increasing water crisis of the region, a crisis that exists throughout the entire of New Mexico but is unique in Lea County. The Eunice City Council is moving forward with a plan to investigate the…

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham late on Friday, December 17 signed into law the new redistricting plan for the State of New Mexico which changes the shape of the state’s previous congressional districts (pictured above). Although the dust has hardly settled and the ink is barely dry, her signature has split Lea County into two districts….

The official grand opening of the Lea County Judicial Complex is happening this Friday, December 17, at 10:00 am. The entire community is invited to attend this special ribbon cutting/open house event. A welcoming reception will immediately follow the ceremony.  The location of the new 93,000 square foot judicial complex is 100 North Love Street…

John Ortolano submitted his resignation as the City of Hobbs Police Chief to the Hobbs City Manager Manny Gomez on Wednesday, December 8. Chief Ortolano’s resignation is effective January 8, 2022. The chief has served the City of Hobbs for a little more than two (2) years.  To ensure and solidify a smooth transition for…

UPDATE – DEC. 13, 2021 3:50 PM MST: A few hours after publication of this article, the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reported the first confirmed case of the Omicron variant in the state. A woman from Bernalillo County tested positive and is recovering at home. She had previously visited a state where the…

The Lea County Museum, in Lovington, inducted three high-achievers into its Sports Hall of Fame earlier this month. Guy Allen, renowned rodeo champion — Bob Jackson, revered track athlete and coach — Adrianne Ross, outstanding basketball player — are the 2021 inductees into the Lea County Museum Sports Hall of Fame. The three were honored…

Shoplifting is becoming a scourge for many local businesses. Official complaints are on the rise, and business owners and employees are taking to social media to make their concerns known as well. While businesses and retail outlets are the obvious victims of shoplifting, more indirectly, the damage affects consumers as well. The cost of this…

Cold weather is here, and area folks often find their residences and workplaces uncomfortable because of the low temperatures. The Hobbs Fire Department (HFD) takes this fact seriously and reminds all that being uncomfortable is not an excuse for failing to adhere to responsible safety measures when it comes to preventing fires. The HFD is…

A nationwide search is underway for a new CEO for Covenant Health Hobbs. Dan E. Springer, the hospital’s current CEO, is leaving his post with the hospital effective the first week of January 2022. According to Covenant Health Regional Chief Executive Texas/New Mexico Walter L. Cathey, the Covenant organization will conduct an exhaustive search for…

On Friday night, Lovington held its annual electric light parade. Local businesses and organizations entered several vehicles and floats into the parade decked out in holiday spirit as residents lined the road to watch. Fortunately, the weather was a very comfortable 60 degrees out. Below, see photos of the parade taken by the Lea County…