Hobbs Woman sets fires Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun Nicolette Dobbins allegedly set fire to her trailer house and then went to her mother’s apartment and set another fire inside the kitchen while her son was in the apartment. Dobbins was arrested July 13 and charged with abuse of a child, a third-degree felony, and arson, a fourth-degree felony. At around 3:48 a.m., …

Hobbs Woman sets fires Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun Nicolette Dobbins allegedly set fire to her trailer house and then went to her mother’s apartment and set another fire inside the kitchen while her son was in the apartment. Dobbins was arrested July 13 and charged with abuse of a child, a third-degree felony, and arson, a fourth-degree felony. At around 3:48 a.m., …

Local bug carries the “kiss of death” Levi Hill/News-Sun Texas-sized mosquitoes, Arkansas razor-backed chiggers and the very worst no-tell motel bed bugs have nothing on the potentially deadly cone-nosed “kissing bugs” that infest Lea County. The bug, which can grow up to an inch in size, is a bloodsucker classified as a Triatomine bug and can be carriers of the …

Are federal and state income supports in New Mexico too generous? Approximately 50 percent of the residents of New Mexico are on some form of public assistance. The programs are numerous including TANF, Medicaid, SNAP, unemployment insurance, and subsidized housing and childcare. A report prepared in October, 2021 by the Legislative Finance Committee outlined the benefits available for families with …

Lea creates DNA testing fund to fight crime Curtis C. Wynne/News-Sun LOVINGTON — By voting to create a special fund for DNA testing, Lea County Commissioners on Thursday addressed “crimes involving sexual assaults, including children as victims.” County Attorney John Caldwell and Undersheriff Michael Walker introduced a resolution intended to local law enforcement to use private testing labs versus relying …

Radioactive device lost near Jal located Levi Hill/News-Sun A pipeline inspection instrument containing radioactive elements that was lost near Jal on Friday has been located. A $5,000 reward was offered for the return of the misplaced device, which New Mexico state police were searching for after it was lost near mile marker 35 on Highway 128 near Jal. David Morgan, …

Hobbs team earns silver at SkillsUSA nationals Andy Brosig/News-Sun A group of SkillsUSA students from Hobbs captured silver medals recently at the organization’s national convention and competition. CTECH students Arick Serrano, Ray Stover and Leo Jaquez finished second in the Career Pathway Showcase Business, Management and Technology competition during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 19-23, in Atlanta, …

Hobbs team earns silver at SkillsUSA nationals Andy Brosig/News-Sun A group of SkillsUSA students from Hobbs captured silver medals recently at the organization’s national convention and competition. CTECH students Arick Serrano, Ray Stover and Leo Jaquez finished second in the Career Pathway Showcase Business, Management and Technology competition during the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, June 19-23, in Atlanta, …

Info about Hobbs’ Independence Day fireworks display and safe zones For the News-Sun The City of Hobbs will host its annual Independence Day fireworks display July 1 at the Hobbs Industrial Air Park, located at 5425 Jack Gomez Blvd. Contests, games, vendors and more viewing areas will be available at Harry McAdams Park with gates opening for parking at 7 …

Heinrich pushing bill to ban bump stocks Levi Hill/News-Sun U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., has joined a bi-partisan group of lawmakers in submitting a new bill aimed at banning the ownership of bump stocks for firearms. The new bill, which follows both House and Senate bills filed earlier this year to ban assault weapons, aims to ban the ownership of …