WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freshman Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small has broken ranks with her party on two big votes this week, voting against Democratic-led measures that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and impeach President Donald Trump. Torres Small said a $15 federal minimum wage — a prominent plank in the platform of contemporary Democrats — isn’t …

Authorities say all five people killed in a fiery crash in southeastern New Mexico’s oil country were from Texas. New Mexico State Police say the crash happened Thursday morning on a state road east of Jal when the driver of a pickup truck crossed the center line into eastbound traffic and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer rig. Officer Ray Wilson …

In their first mail-in ballot special election, Jal voters have narrowly approved beer and wine sales in restaurants for on-premises consumption only. Election officials in the Lea County Clerk’s Office on Tuesday counted 152 “yes” votes and 139 “no” votes. The tally is considered unofficial until the Lea County Commission canvasses the election on July 18. The election with 52% …

A Hobbs man and woman believed to have been murdered were found dead in their home Monday night. Police said they are investigating the double homicide and have persons of interest in mind, although no arrests had been made as of presstime Tuesday. “We have some persons of interest that we are looking into,” said Brian Dunlap, acting Hobbs chief …

JAL — The New Mexico Department of Public Safety and the Jal Police Department are looking for a Jal woman missing since May 13 and asking the public for help. Jal police detective Mary Montez said Angel Dawn McManes, 43, was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and pink sweatpants. McManes is described as a white female, 4 feet 11 …

ROSWELL — Renewable energy generation and a $140 million transmission line between Hobbs and Carlsbad to meet the high-voltage demands of the oilfields may come at a cost for Xcel Energy customers as the utility on Monday officially requested hiking residential base rates an average of 7.5 percent. Xcel filed a rate review Monday with the New Mexico Public Regulation …

JAL — Record oil production in the world’s largest oilfield strains the resources of small towns like Jal, even if swarms of workers boost gross receipts revenue. In recent meetings, the Jal City Council, concerned about the town’s already out-of-compliance wastewater treatment plant, began considering a temporary moratorium on additional RV parks, possibly for one year. With an estimated 5,000-6,000 …

The public safety director of Laguna Pueblo, a captain for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and a deputy chief/major with the Tulsa (Oklahoma) Public Schools Police Department with ties to Hobbs are the three finalists for Hobbs police chief. Jesus “Jesse” Francisco Orozco, public safety director for the Laguna Pueblo; John Joseph Ortolano, a captain for the Arizona Department …

Air travelers may soon have a choice to fly to either Denver or Houston from the Lea County Regional Airport, instead of just Houston. Economic Development Corporation of Lea County board of directors chairman Finn Smith presented a proposal at Monday’s Hobbs City Commission meeting to add Denver to the United Airlines contract. “We’re in the process of negotiating an …

Hobbs High School’s Rotary Interact Club held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony of their Traveling Pages free library stand at Hobbs City Park on Wednesday, June 19. This free library stand is the result of a refurbished newspaper stand, donated by the Hobbs News-Sun, and filled with free books and reading materials from numerous donors. Over the last year, …