In the race for New Mexico’s sixth racetrack and casino, the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County is rooting for Tucumcari. The New Mexico Racing Commission is weighing benefits of five applications for another “racinco” — one for Lordsburg, one for Tucumcari and three for Clovis. EDCLC president and CEO Steve Vierck said, “After much review, EDC’s position is that …

LOVINGTON — If the county commission agrees, as expected, gate admission fees and times for the 2019 Lea County Fair and Rodeo will stay the same, including free Wednesday entry. Fair and Rodeo Board Chairman Larry Wheeler pointed out at Tuesday’s board meeting the county changed the time for this year’s fair to start charging a gate fee from 1 …

Healthy start in Lovington with Wellness Center Lovington celebrated the opening of a new wellness center Saturday with a ribbon-cutting, and the center is already off to a healthy start with over 500 registered members. The $16 million project, that created over 100 construction jobs, was funded by the hospital district, which began the planning phase two and half years …

A mobile photo gallery showing the diversity of New Mexico makes its stop in Lea County and its artists are looking for participants. In 2012, the Axle artist-collaborators, Jerry Wellman and Matthew Chase-Daniel, began a photographic portrait project, E Pluribus Unum. This ongoing biennial project enlivens and documents communities throughout the state, with a mobile photographic portrait studio built inside …

Eunice to revive rodeo board EUNICE — With the discussion centering on flies, cow patties and kids, the Eunice City Council took action Tuesday night to start resolving a boiling dispute about livestock housed near residents. Placed on the agenda at the request of the Eunice Junior Rodeo Association after multiple resident complaints of odor and flies, the topic drew …

At the beginning of 2018, the National Cancer Institute estimated as many as 10,590 children between the ages of birth and 15 years would be diagnosed with some form of cancer. Most of the cancers would fall into the categories encompassed by leukemias, brain and other central nervous system tumors and lymphoma. Because the disease is rare in children, many …

Gold Day Out brings awareness to childhood cancer It’s almost time to get golden Hobbs. An effort to bring awareness to childhood cancer has resulted in Friday being called Gold Out Day, where participating Hobbs residents are encouraged wear a Gold Out Day shirt. The fundraising effort that started with a bake sale by the Houston Middle School National Junior …

Hobbs celebrates City Park reopening About 15 minutes before the official re-opening of the Hobbs City Park, Bentley Hicks was already smiling. The 4-year old from Hobbs had his shirt and shoes off as he danced around the new water features of Hobbs’ latest splash pad. A half an hour later, a group of kids from Hobbs Head Start found …

Thanks mostly to oil and gas, legislators will have $1.2 billion or more in new money to divvy up in the next session. After the bruising budget cutting of just a couple of years ago, it’s enough to make legislative finance people giddy. But they’re not giddy. They and we have gotten a lot more realistic about the cycles of …

Property taxes going down for many in Lea County LOVINGTON — With a 35 percent increase in Lea County’s assessed valuation for the 2018 tax year over 2017, most Hobbs residents will pay less in property taxes. The Lea County Commission certified tax rates set by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department in a special meeting Friday, issuing a …