Is there a war on oil? As one Capitol news crew writes, recent days in the state Senate briefly resemble “Groundhog Day,” the movie about a befuddled weatherman who relives the same day in the same small town. Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, stands in the N.M. Senate and praises some aspect of the oil and gas industry, typically discussing how …

LOVINGTON — David Rodriguez had a confused look on his face. Sitting with Lovington City Manager James Williams at Thursday’s Lovington Chamber of Commerce annual banquet, Rodriguez, the Lovington Police chief, leans over to ask Williams a question. “What’s my sister doing here?” he asked. Williams quickly came up with an excuse but Chamber of Commerce President Kim Osborne blew …

Parking chaos? Residents upset about student on-street parking near Hobbs High School   Reports of “hoodlum” teenagers parking in driveways, sitting on porches and acting up aren’t as dire as they may sound, say some students and residents parking near Hobbs High School. On-street parking near the high school became an issue at Monday’s Hobbs City Commission meeting, with some …

Social psychologist, award-winning teacher and best-selling author Amy Cuddy is coming to Hobbs as part of the Jack Maddox Distinguished Lecture Series. Hosted by the JF Maddox Foundation and University of the Southwest, Cuddy will speak about “Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges” at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at R.N. Tydings Auditorium in Hobbs. …

Oil and gas companies face a 1,400 percent increase in the penalty cap for violations of state oil conservation rules if Senate Bill 186 becomes law. Sponsored by Sen. Richard C. Martinez, D-Espanola, and Rep. Matthew McQueen, D-Santa Fe, the bill calls for increasing a maximum of $1,000 per day to a maximum of $15,000 per day for violation of …

With Democrats in control of both houses of the Legislature and a new Democratic governor, the fear is that they’ll go on a “spending spree.” This is the favorite phrase of Republicans, who regard themselves as a check on Democratic excesses. So let me assure you: There will be no spending spree because Democrats have the same fear. Last week …

A burglar ransacked Pizza Mill on Bender Boulevard at 2 a.m. Tuesday, cutting wires to security cameras to steal $500 in quarters and a bag of potato chips. The burglar left a trail of potato chips leading away from the scene as well as his burglary tools. Police found a DVR box and printer abandoned in the restaurant parking lot …

LOVINGTON — Better stop misbehaving on school buses Loving-ton students — there’s a good chance you’re going to get caught. Lovington Municipal Schools Transport Manager Dwayne Thornhill gave a report to the Lovington School Board Tuesday that five cameras were installed in each of the 19 yellow school route buses and two cameras were installed in each of the six …

Earlier in his career with the Hobbs Police Department Chris McCall was in charge of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. He had the unfortunate responsibility of working a tough case, but had the good fortune of doing so with Hobbs Fire Chief Manny Gomez. The experience is something Gomez always remembers when he thinks of McCall. “I remember just how …

It may be the most convenient way to vote, but it sure does cause a lot of headaches. Residents within the Loving-ton and Eunice hospital school districts and the Lovington and Tatum school districts can expect envelopes for four respective mill levy elections that conclude Feb. 5. While the Lovington Hospital District has a 2.5 mill levy election, the Eunice …