Brevin McCool not only is a fierce competitor in baseball, but for most of his educational career he has also been in competition for the  Hobbs High salutatorian or valedictorian spot with classmate Shelly Driskill. Even though competition plays a big part in his day-to-day life, service to others also takes center stage often, though he humbly doesn’t like to …

After a year’s forced hiatus due to restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, municipal pools and splash pads in Hobbs, Lovington, Jal and Eunice are gearing up to reopen to help residents beat the heat this summer. Crews are out and about at the three municipal pools in Hobbs, power washing away a year’s accumulation of dirt in preparation for opening …

JAL — Residents in Jal must now water their lawns under similar restrictions imposed on Hobbs citizens. City councilors on Monday approved a new ordinance amending “Drought Response Level Criteria & Water Use Restrictions,” calling for water conservation during the warmer months of the year. City Manager Matt White explained the provisions of the new rules. “What it does is, …

Five individuals with “family ties” have been arrested on various fraud charges after filing fraudulent purchase orders with three businesses. According to the Hobbs Police Department’s arrest reports, Esteban Cantu, James Cobarrubio, Edmundo Ramos, Michelle Sosa and Yanquil Alonzo were all arrested on various felonies and misdemeanors on separate dates spanning from March through May for filing fraudulent purchase orders. …

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas on Monday joined the growing number of states that will stop paying the federally funded $300 in extra pandemic-related weekly unemployment aid as businesses that scaled back or shuttered during the pandemic are reopening. The extra benefits in Texas will end June 26, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said in a letter to the Biden administration. …

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas on Monday joined the growing number of states that will stop paying the federally funded $300 in extra pandemic-related weekly unemployment aid as businesses that scaled back or shuttered during the pandemic are reopening. The extra benefits in Texas will end June 26, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott said in a letter to the Biden administration. …

Debra Hicks was surprised when she received a letter from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Services last month, asking her to confirm an application for unemployment insurance in her own name. About a mile away, Beckey Waldrop has been inundated with letters from the department. She said she’s received probably 20 letters since mid April, requesting information to verify …

LOVINGTON — Lea County officials want New Mexico, the nation’s third highest oil production state, to join other states fighting President Joe Biden’s moratorium on federal oil leases. Lea County is the nation’s No. 1 oil producer among counties, with more than 50 percent of oil production coming from federal lands. At a recent meeting of the board, county commission …

LOVINGTON — Lea County officials want New Mexico, the nation’s third highest oil production state, to join other states fighting President Joe Biden’s moratorium on federal oil leases. Lea County is the nation’s No. 1 oil producer among counties, with more than 50 percent of oil production coming from federal lands. At a recent meeting of the board, county commission …

The City of Hobbs’ annual water conservation period, which include domestic and commercial water usage for garden, lawn, or other exterior watering or sprinkling applications, starts Saturday and runs through Sept. 15. Residents living at even numbered street addresses may use outdoor water only on even calendar days. Residents living at odd numbered addresses may use outdoor water only on …