Fifty years ago, men walked on the moon. Today, plans are being laid to slingshot to Mars from the moon while livestreaming. But for any taxpayer wishing to know the proportion of inmates at the Lea County Detention Center who are in the United States illegally, or the citizenship status of any particular inmate, it’s anyone’s guess. That’s because the …

Don’t be the scammer’s next victim. Xcel Energy’s media relations representative Wes Reeves warned the scammers are still out there, pretending to be Xcel employees and demanding money — or else. A Hobbs News-Sun reader reported Wednesday she just avoided being a victim. Identifying herself only as Veronica, the Hobbs resident said it all sounded professional and legitimate at first. …

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Bail reform is working and New Mexico needs to keep moving toward a stronger justice system, a top official with the state’s court system said Monday. Artie Pepin, director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, testified before a panel of state lawmakers as critics contend the voter-approved reforms have allowed for the release of violent and …

A convicted burglar wanted on new burglary charges was arrested Monday by Hobbs police. Poetry L. Royal IV, 27, of Hobbs, was arrested Monday in connection to a Nov. 6 burglary northwest of Hobbs. He is charged with aggravated battery, a second-degree felony, and charges of conspiracy and possession of a firearm by a felon, both fourth-degree felonies. On Nov. …

Hobbsans are making it too easy for crimes to take place. Hobbs Police Department administrators are shaking their heads in disappointment over the number of vehicle burglaries and thefts taking place. Not because of the amount of crimes, which stands at 12 auto burglaries and 15 auto thefts since Nov. 1 through Nov. 15, but because of how easy the …

CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) — Democrat front-runners for the party’s presidential nomination have promised to ban oil and gas leasing on federal lands if elected. That has caused some concerns in New Mexico, where the industry is the largest contributor to the state’s economy — whether on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management or state trust land. The …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico coach Bob Davie says he’s leaving the Lobos without anything to apologize for. “I put every ounce into this,” Davie said Tuesday. “My family has put every ounce into this.” Davie and athletic director Eddie Nuñez announced a day earlier that the former Notre Dame coach will step down after Saturday’s game against Utah …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will be investing more money in state-based businesses and startup companies as it attempts to spur development and diversify the economy. The State Investment Council voted Tuesday to adopt recommendations that will target more financial commitments from the state’s private equity program to New Mexico and nationally based venture capital firms that are actively …

LOVINGTON — Lea County officials asked state representatives for a total of $16.56 million in capital outlay funding. With the second session of the New Mexico’s 54th Legislature set to begin in two months, two state senators and four state representatives elected from Lea and Eddy counties met last week with officials of local governmental entities to hear their presentations. …

If you have used the diesel pumps at the Shamrock on North Main Street in Lovington, the Lovington Police Department is warning watch your credit card bill. Lovington Police report company personnel found two credit card skimmer devices that had been illegally installed inside the pumps at the Shamrock/Lea County Oil & Gas service station on North Main. They warn …