NMJC to remodel Mansur Hall Levi Hill/News-Sun New Mexico Junior College is committing $6.99 million to renovate Mansur Hall for modernized classroom space. The NMJC Board of Directors unanimously approved the spend for the project in a short meeting Thursday via Zoom. The 15,499-square-foot building was on the school’s list of projects in January with an estimated price tag of …

City works to rebuild HPD Christina Holt/News-Sun As the Hobbs Police Department works through months of leadership upheaval, the City of Hobbs’ immediate focus is to restore stability and leadership within the department. City Manager Manny Gomez said his appointment of interim chief Jimmie Jones this week is intended to place both the community and the department on a positive …

Gas production climbs faster than oil in Permian Levi Hill/News-Sun WASHINGTON, D.C. — Natural gas production in the Permian Basin is growing faster than oil production and it is creating a bottleneck. Solutions are coming, but too slowly. According to a recent report by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, marketed natural gas production in the Permian Basin grew by 60 …

Air Force vet turned airline pilot enjoys soaring for relaxation PETER STEIN/NEWS-SUN As an Air Force Academy graduate and a seasoned commercial airline pilot, Brad Peterson knows about being grounded. So when it happened on Thursday during the Standard Class Nationals soaring competition at the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, and Peterson wasn’t able to take his JS1 glider up for …

NextEra commissions new electric transmission line Christina Holt/News-Sun LOVINGTON — Dozens of guests stood in the middle of rural Lea County Wednesday morning surrounded by grazing cattle, pump jacks and wind turbines, as NextEra Energy Transmission Southwest marked the commissioning of its Crossroads-Hobbs-Roadrunner electric transmission line. The location reflected the project’s role in connecting the diverse energy resources in Roosevelt …

Eunice ‘ground zero’ for N.M. screwworm response Levi Hill/News-Sun EUNICE – Eunice is ground zero for New Mexico’s first active response to the resurgence of the New World screwworm after it was officially eradicated from the country nearly 60 years ago. A dog was found to be infected with the flesh-eating parasite on June 8, prompting New Mexico Livestock Board, …

Former teacher, coach named to lead new middle school in Hobbs Andy Brosig/News-Sun Building something new comes with a whole host of challenges. What’s it going to look like? What’s the interior design going to be? What about furniture? And staffing? If building a business from the ground up is hard, think about building a new school. In addition to …

Hobbs chamber honors community leaders Christina Holt/News-Sun The annual Hobbs Chamber of Commerce banquet blended inspiration with celebration as a message on accountability was delivered and community members were honored. Salem S. Thyne, guest speaker and author of “Nobody Cares (Until You Do),” spoke to an audience of about 100 people on how accountability means owning the outcomes in life …

Energy Challenge could bring millions in investments to Lea Levi Hill/News-Sun Looking to bring energy-related companies to Lea County and even those involved in the budding space industry could bring millions to Lea County. That was the message at a recent public information workshop in Hobbs where New Horizons Foundation Executive Director Dennis Holmberg highlighted what Q Station’s energy challenge …

Tatum council eyes ordinance to legalize side-by-sides in town limits   Denise Marquez/News-Sun TATUM — Some off-highway vehicles could soon be legal on streets in the Town of Tatum under an ordinance under consideration by the town council. During last week’s town council special meeting, Tatum Police Chief Scott Conner and town councilors discussed allowing off-highway motor vehicles in the …