Jal declares itself gun rights sanctuary city CURTIS C. WYNNENEWS-SUN JAL — The City of Jal became a 2nd Amendment Sanctuary City during the city council’s regular meeting Monday. City Councilor Mike Orr introduced the resolution saying, “The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution means a lot to a lot of folks. It was put there for a purpose. I think …

NMOGA: NM oil production soars 46 percent FOR THE NEWS-SUN SANTA FE — New Mexico’s oil boom continues to reach new heights as recently published data shows oil production hitting a record high of 250 million barrels of oil in 2018. The United States Energy Information Administration reported that oil production in the state climbed an impressive 46 percent from …

For the past month the issue of on-street student parking around the high school has been talked about on social media, at office water coolers and in the grocery store check-out line. Well, get ready for some more talking. The City of Hobbs is hosting a town hall meeting on Monday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hobbs High …

Thousands of Lea County residents enrolled in Medicaid may soon not be able to access Lea Regional Medical Group and its physicians for non-emergencies. LRMC alerted local Medicaid patients through a mailing it may not be able to use the hospital for non-emergencies after this month due to an impasse in contract negotiations with health insurers. LRMC, the only hospital …

JAL — City Manager Matt White said he’s expecting a noncompliance letter from state regulators regarding Jal’s sewage treatment plant. With an estimated 5,000-6,000 people crowded onto an infrastructure initially supporting just over 2,000 residents, the town of Jal both rejoices and bemoans the current oil and gas boom. Test wells surrounding the city’s sewage treatment plant and lagoons have …

Kelli McCall has several “honey-dos” ready. And her husband now has the time to do them. Chris McCall officially retired from the Hobbs Police Department on Thursday, ending a 20-plus year career, with the past 6 1/2 years as police chief. He was the 24th police chief in HPD’s 90-year history. The third-floor conference room of the City Hall Annex …

A month ago, the 2019 legislative session in Santa Fe began on an ominous note for gun rights advocates when sheriffs were barred from taking their service weapons into the House chamber to listen to the new governor’s State of the State speech. The Legislative Council voted to ban weapons of all kinds from the gallery of the New Mexico …

Jimmy Armitiage was known as a hard-working man who loved his family. His uncle, Melvin Armitiage, said Jimmy Armitiage’s health began failing within in the past six months. He had trouble walking and remembering things. He was scheduled for an MRI later this week. Unfortunately, Jimmy Armitiage, age 57, died in a small trailer fire early Friday morning. The 20-foot …

Is there a war on oil? As one Capitol news crew writes, recent days in the state Senate briefly resemble “Groundhog Day,” the movie about a befuddled weatherman who relives the same day in the same small town. Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, stands in the N.M. Senate and praises some aspect of the oil and gas industry, typically discussing how …