Blake Ovard/News-Sun The same day newly elected Lovington City Commissioner Howard “Robbie” Roberts was sworn in, he was also elected as Lovington’s mayor by the other commissioners. But that move was not without the ruffling of feathers of some of the other commissioners. After the swearing in of Roberts in District 3, and Lizabeth White in District 5, along with …

Curtis Wynne/New-Sun Hailing from districts in Lea County, two representatives and one state senator voted against the bill that will provide payments totaling $500 for individual New Mexican adults or $1,000 per New Mexican households. In a decisive 35-1 Senate vote, with Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, the sole dissenter, the Democratic-sponsored bill went to to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, …

Andy Brosig/News-Sun Former Hobbsan Ryan Miller spent most of the last month as part of a long line of volunteers pushing shopping carts filled with relief supplies across the border between Poland and Ukraine. That wasn’t all he did as one of thousands of private citizens from around the world who flocked to the area to do what they could …

Curtis Wynne/News-Sun Burkes Outlet will soon open in two Lea County locations. The apparel and accessories retail store plans ribbon cuttings at the Lovington Square on May 5 and at the Broadmoor Mall in Hobbs on June 2. Grand openings at 9 a.m. will immediately follow the 8:45 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremonies each day at each location. Lovington Mayor David Trujillo …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun Interviews are underway for the next police chief for the City of Hobbs. Out of nine applicants, the city is down to the final four. The pool includes a professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, the current interim chief of police for the Hobbs Police Department, the director of safety and security at ASM Global, …

GABRIELLE ARSIAGA/NEWS-SUN A Hobbs man was arrested on March 11 after officials said he was caught with more than $113,000 worth of stolen equipment and trailers. Alberto Trevizo, 42, of Hobbs, was arrested on March 11 on warrants for receiving stolen property, over $20,000 a second-degree felony; receiving stolen property, over $2,500, under $20,000, a third-degree felony; and receiving stolen …

GABRIELLE ARSIAGA/NEWS-SUN A Hobbs man was arrested on March 11 after officials said he was caught with more than $113,000 worth of stolen equipment and trailers. Alberto Trevizo, 42, of Hobbs, was arrested on March 11 on warrants for receiving stolen property, over $20,000 a second-degree felony; receiving stolen property, over $2,500, under $20,000, a third-degree felony; and receiving stolen …

Jason Farmer/News-Sun Back in 2019, the Hobbs cheer squad won its first NMAA state championship. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and wiped out sports, canceling the 2020 championships and a chance to repeat. Schools slowly re-opened for the 2020-21 year and all sports were condensed into four months. Because of that, Hobbs elected not to participate in competitive cheer. “We …

GABRIELLE ARSIAGA /NEWS-SUN Gretchen Koether, Becky Kesner, and Blanca Perez have empowered, advocated for, and been a shield for hundreds of women in Lea County who have been victims of abuse, sexual assault, and human trafficking. The trio’s organization, Phoenix House, has become an integral part of the Lea County court system by being a sexual assault and domestic violence …

Gabrielle Arsiaga/News-Sun According to NTSB Vice Chairman Bruce Landsberg, a 13-year-old boy was behind the wheel of the 2007 Dodge 2500 pickup when it crashed head-on into the 2017 Ford Transit van, towing a 2019 Salvation 8-foot box trailer, being driven by University of the Southwest Mustang golf team coach, Tyler James. Noting that if the driver of the pickup …