Lea County is leading New Mexico’s oil patch in historic proportions. Wednesday the New Mexico State Land Office announced its July oil and gas lease sales surpassed $30 million, a record high. Lea County led that sale with two 320-acres leases selling for $7.36 million and $6 million respectively. “The July lease sale revenues far exceeded our expectations and our …

LOVINGTON — For the first time in five years, patrons of the Lea County Fair and Rodeo will buy cotton candy and carnival rides with cash. The tokens are gone, having served their purpose. County officials plan to schedule a buyback method for any tokens still out. “We discussed a one-time buyback program which would be during the week of …

Hobbs residents will not be able to bring their pets to certain city facilities and city-sponsored events. During Monday’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Sam Cobb and commissioners unanimously approved two new ordinances that will prohibit animals within properly posted City of Hobbs facilities and prohibit animals within areas of certain city sponsored special events. Signage will be placed at least every 200 …

Before Madison Coe died in an accidental electrocution in a bathtub, one of the last text messages she sent was to a friend of a photo of an extension cord with a message that said, “When you use (an) extension cord so you can plug in while you’re in the bath.” Lovington Police Department officials said the photo is believed …

  United Way of Lea County is hosting its annual Stuff-A-Bus event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Walgreens on Turner. The goal is to fill 2,000 backpacks that will be distributed to school children throughout Lea County.

Federal safety regulators are investigating the death of Madison Coe, the Lubbock teen who died in Lovington early Sunday morning in a bathtub after it’s believed her plugged-in cellphone slipped into the tub and electrocuted her. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission told the News-Sun Wednesday it is investigating the incident to find out if any products played a role in …

A 14-year-old Lubbock girl died in an accident Saturday in Lovington after her cellphone slipped into the bathtub she was bathing in, electrocuted her and drowned. Madison Coe is the daughter of Lovington Firefighter Logan Coe and step-daughter of Felisha Owen. Carl Christensen, Lovington EMS coordinator, and his wife Crystal started a gofundme account to help the Coe family with …

Hobbs Fire Department Deputy Chief Barry Young is celebrating 15 years of service with the City of Hobbs, where he has worked with HFD for 14 years and two months. Young was recently awared a 15 Years of Service coin and certificate by the City of Hobbs. Young started working in the water lab for the Hobbs Wastewater Plant on …