Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun It’s the time of the year for giving — which is what Bethel Baptist Church in Knowles did by filling 841 shoe boxes with toys, hygiene items and school supplies for needy children around the globe. Operation Christmas Child, a ministry founded by Samaritan’s Purse, has sent more than 198 million boxes to children in more than 170 …

CURTIS C. WYNNE/NEWS-SUN EUNICE — Starting next year, Eunice’s city-owned Coyote Crossing Golf Club will sell alcohol to golfers, but with strict rules. Pro Shop Manager Marsha Robinson on Monday presented ideas for a proposed ordinance to the city council with four regulations she hopes to promulgate. The city recently acquired a liquor license for the golf course in an …

CURTIS C. WYNNE/NEWS-SUN JAL — Facing a tort claim of wrongful death and excessive force, the City of Jal settled for $5 million. The city’s insurance company will pay $1 million of that. Claims brought by the estate of Hector Nava, 45, of San Antonio, Texas, alleged excessive use of tasers while Nava was in police custody, although a coroner’s …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun Hobbs Municipal schools are currently dealing with an epidemic that involves children vaping and using marijuana in unprecedented amounts, HMS Superintendent Gene Strickland said. Hobbs High School Principal Alfredo Turrubiates said the high school is finding “large amounts” of cannabis and non-cannabis related products in student’s possession and he attributed this increase to the legalization of marijuana. “We …

Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun LOVINGTON — Lovington could be the next community to make it difficult for abortion providers to operate after copies of ordinances passed in Hobbs, Lea County and Clovis designating them sanctuary cities for the unborn were given to Commissioners on Monday to review as the city works toward drafting its own ordinance. Lovington City manager Vidal Martinez handed …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun Crystal Taylor won’t have to travel to get her Popeyes fix soon. As the new general manager, Taylor will be able to simply step out of her office. Located in the former Carl’s Jr. location on Joe Harvey Boulevard in Hobbs, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is targeting Monday for the grand opening of its seventh restaurant in New Mexico. …

Curtis Wynne/News-Sun LOVINGTON — The Lea County Commission will hear arguments on both sides of a proposed ordinance governing abortion services in Lea County at a public meeting scheduled for Dec. 8. While the county is restricted in how much it can do legally, according to County Attorney John Caldwell, the proposed ordinance would require compliance with federal abortion laws. …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun Bob Hamilton said his job as reference librarian at the Hobbs Public Library has several things going for it. Topping the list is giving him the opportunity to slake what he described as an “insatiable thirst for knowledge. “Sometimes people will ask me questions,” Hamilton told the News-Sun. “I’ll find their books and see what they’re interested in. …

Virginia Cunningham/News-Sun Austin Tarin’s life was changed when he saw a sponsored ad on social media and didn’t hit the skip button. The Hobbs man is one of the 2022 winners of the Cheetos Deja tu Huella (Leave Your Mark) Fund. “The ad posed the question of how what you are doing leaves a mark on the Hispanic community,” Tarin …

CURTIS C. WYNNE/NEWS-SUN Getting past the political races on next month’s General Election ballot, voters find six important questions to answer. Ballots include three proposed amendments to the New Mexico Constitution and three general obligation bond issues, regardless of the voter’s Lea County address because they are issues for the whole state. Contacted for comment by the News-Sun, State Sen. …