Hobbs Police Department officers arrested a Hobbs man after he allegedly stole approximately $3,750 worth of microwave ovens from an apartment complex located at the 3500 block of North Fowler. Huriel Oceguera-Salcido, 33, was arrested on two warrants for burglary of a structure and receiving or transferring stolen vehicles, both fourth-degree felonies. On Monday, HPD officers responded to the 3500 …

Human trafficking is one of the most underreported crimes, according to the Human Trafficking Hotline. In 2018, the Hotline reported, there were only 5,147 cases reported in the U.S., awith 21 of those cases from New Mexico. But, the Land of Enchantment is a prime location for human trafficking because of the Big I, the interstate exchange of I-25 and …

It was another night of standing room only at the City of Lovington Commission meeting Monday night. The city may need to expand the seating area for the pubic if residents continue to attend and be as involved in the proceedings as they have been in recent weeks. Seven different community members spoke to commissioners during the public comments portion …

The use of electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes — known colloquially as ‘vaping’ — by young people remains a serious health concern in schools around the county, experts say. Lea County is no exception. After a natural decline with students out of school most of last year due to COVID-19 restrictions and closures, school officials report vaping in the schools is …

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic appears to be cycling down in Lea County — again. That was the word from Nor-Lea Hospital District CEO/Administrator David Shaw during an online update broadcast on social media Friday morning. While the daily case count in Lea County has declined slightly to about 40 per 100,000 residents, positivity rate still remains relatively high at 11 …

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic appears to be cycling down in Lea County — again. That was the word from Nor-Lea Hospital District CEO/Administrator David Shaw during an online update broadcast on social media Friday morning. While the daily case count in Lea County has declined slightly to about 40 per 100,000 residents, positivity rate still remains relatively high at 11 …

Sam Cobb, president of RMS Foods in Hobbs, embarked on an energy-saving and clean energy strategy, implementing several modifications to the Hobbs food production facility, as well as adding 1,369 300-watt solar panels to the roof of the plant. “Everything we do is based on trying to conserve energy,” Cobb said on Wednesday while speaking with the Economic Development Department’s …

Marijuana is now, officially, legal within the Hobbs city limits. During its Monday meeting, the Hobbs CIty Commission unanimously approved two city ordinances that changed language to reenforce that fact. Ordinance 1133 adopts Chapter 5.06 of the Hobbs Municipal Code, which legalizes the possession, cultivation, manufacture and sale of cannabis. Ordinance 1135 amends Chapter 9.28 of the Hobbs Municipal Code …

Nadeem Kassis, president and CEO of Kassis Companies, announced last week the sale of the entire ZK Express franchise to Lubbock-based Mighty Wash LLC. Starting in 1999 with a single ZK Express oil change facility on Bender Boulevard at the age of 22, Kassis and his family branched over the years into multiple enterprises, expanding their holdings and businesses throughout …

LOVINGTON — Lovington City Commission meetings have been animated lately, and the specially called meeting Thursday night was no exception. Commissioners, several of whom had been in various meetings most of the day at city hall prior to the scheduled meeting, greeted a standing-room-only gallery of people in commission chambers. Only commissioner Bernard Butcher, District 3, was not in attendance …