Traffic citations growing by 4,500 a year Charlie Benton News-Sun Hobbs Assistant City Attorney Efren Cortez knew that higher traffic fines were needed after a speeder laughed in Cortez’s face in municipal court, saying he’d rather pay his traffic fine than go through a defensive driving course at New Mexico Junior College to have the ticket expunged. The effects of …

One investor’s perspective Editor’s note: This list was taken from an interview with Bill Munn, director of investments with Mack Energy. 1. It doesn’t comply withthe principles of supply and demand. Oil doesn’t follow the basic rules of supply and demand, says Bill Munn, investor for Mack Energy. As most things go, the less the supply and greater the demand, …

Charlie Benton News-Sun With a wetter than usual winter, area farmers have had a mixed bag of good and bad to deal with, from wetter conditions for some better crop growth, but also increased potential for some crop diseases that ravage harvests. “We got some bad, and we got some good. That’s kind of the way farming is though,” said …

Dorothy N. Fowler News-Sun Once upon a time it was all about nuclear energy as New Mexico Junior College planned courses to meet the needs of URENCO and the WIPP. That’s still important, but no more important than the addition of the energy technology degree to emphasize petroleum technology. Courtney Puryear, director of energy programs at NMJC said as the …

CURTIS C. WYNNE NEWS-SUN Legislation designed to prevent Texas doctors who treat New Mexico patients from being sued in New Mexico’s patient-friendly courts took effect today.

Lea County to get power boost For the News-Sun AMARILLO — Hobbs and Lea County are about to get some more power. Xcel Energy is planning a major addition to the power system as part of its Power for the Plains grid enhancement initiative that will deliver a more reliable and abundant electricity supply to customers in New Mexico and …

Despite regular rainstorms in southeast New Mexico, the water is probably not doing much to recharge the Ogalalla Aquifer.  Charlie Benton NEWS-SUN According to Mike Johnson, hydrology bureau chief with the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, whether or not rain recharges the aquifer is a complicated question due to the fact that the OSE does not measure recharge …

More senior housing could be coming to Hobbs after a vote by the Hobbs Planning Board in its Tuesday morning meeting Charlie Benton News-Sun The board unanimously recommended a sketch plan for a gated community to be located in the Zia Crossing development northwest of Zia Park Casino, Hotel and Racetrack. The proposed development will be open to those aged …

They were all on display Saturday along with the Lea Regional Airport itself Dorothy N. Fowler News-Sun At 8:15 a.m. a steady stream of cars, pickups and a vendor trailer or two traveled the Carlsbad Highway out of Hobbs, headed in the direction of the Lea County Regional Airport. If the drivers of the cars expected to see planes fly …

Bunny, an American bulldog with five puppies, was scheduled for certain death at a pound in West Texas … until the Dog is My Copilot program came to the rescue Dorothy N. Fowler NEWS-SUN At 7:15 a.m. tears were flowing freely down the faces of Gina Beard and Shelly Chesser as Philip Rork’s plane, with its Dog is My Copilot …