For the News-Sun The University of the Southwest hosted its 2023 Gala to “recognize and celebrate the unsung heroes of the community who have shown an unwavering commitment to free enterprise and servant leadership.” The Gala, held on March 30 at the Hobbs Country Club, was an opportunity for the University leadership “to honor those who have worked tirelessly to …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun With school enrollment in Hobbs projected to reach as much as almost 11,000 students by the 2027-28 school year, Hobbs Municipal Schools is continuing its plans to increase capacity at the district’s three middle school campuses while adding a fourth campus, probably on the north side of town. The district Facility Assessment Community Team met at the district …

Dorothy N. Fowler/News-Sun New Mexico Junior College will be the site of a new medical clinic next year with a three-year contract of about $1.643 million. Joe Mike Gomez, NMJC purchasing agent, said beginning next fall, the mid-level clinic will see students and employees — without cost to either students or employees. Complicated medical conditions will be referred elsewhere, Gomez …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun JAL — Imagine the scenario: Resources on Earth — from air to water to energy — are dwindling.  A group of researchers are tasked with finding solutions with the help of robots. That’s the challenge facing a group of fifth- and sixth-graders at Jal Elementary School as they gear up for the state Lego League finals Feb. 11 …

Virginia Cunningham News-Sun LOVINGTON — Innovative, secure and state-of-the-art is the type of school Hillcrest Christian Academy will start building in the first quarter of 2023. Tony Mabe, owner and contractor with Artisans Guild Construction said the building will cost approximately $7 million dollars, and will be located on the corner of Avenue I and 2nd Street in Lovington. “There …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun Several years in the making, the Hobbs Municipal Schools Board of Education gave the go-ahead Tuesday to proceed with a project to address the district’s aging middle school campuses. The board voted unanimously to accept a recommendation from the district’s Facilities Assessment Community Team (FACT) committee to pursue the project to build a fourth middle school in Hobbs.  …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun Hobbs Municipal schools are currently dealing with an epidemic that involves children vaping and using marijuana in unprecedented amounts, HMS Superintendent Gene Strickland said. Hobbs High School Principal Alfredo Turrubiates said the high school is finding “large amounts” of cannabis and non-cannabis related products in student’s possession and he attributed this increase to the legalization of marijuana. “We …

For the News-Sun The B5 Foundation recently awarded $50,818 to the University of the Southwest. Based in Andrews, Texas, the B5 Foundation was founded by the family of Brittney DaLayne Granger after she was killed in an accident shortly after graduating from Texas Tech. “The foundation was established to carry on Brittney’s legacy and love for the game of golf …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun A possible threat to staff and and students at Houston Middle School in Hobbs last week prompted Superintendent of Schools Gene Strickland to address the district Board of Education during a portion of its regular meeting Tuesday typically reserved for comment from the public. The potential threat, which turned out to be completely unfounded, emerged via Face-book, intimating …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun Reducing the amount of required data New Mexico schools have to file with the state is at the center of a recently-completed overhaul at the New Mexico Public Education Department. While school administrators in Lea County hope the lightening of the requirements will help, many are still waiting for specifics of the plan. “I don’t think we’ll realize …