Shannon Brown knows the struggles of homelessness and addiction. She’s been there. A recovering methamphetamine addict, Brown spent time living on the streets. “I’ve been homeless before and been on the streets in Paige, Ariz.,” she told the News-Sun recently. “It was snowing. It was horrible.” That’s one of the reasons the new corps officer for the Hobbs Salvation Army …

Editor’s Note: The daily reports from Santa Fe of the number of positive COVID-19 cases and deaths can sometimes be overwhelming and seemingly have no connection to everyday life and what we are experiencing in southeastern New Mexico. So, we found five families who have all dealt with COVID-19 first hand and who would share their stories with our readers. …

A new park to honor Lea County’s veterans has been on the drawing table for more than two years. Following last Tuesday’s Hobbs City Commission meeting, construction of the park is going to have to wait a little longer. Citing possible economic woes due to the poor local economy, the commission voted down, by a 4-3 count, to award construction …

To solve its economic woes, the City of Lovington may have to make additional cuts after cutting staff and salaries. Lovington’s Finance Director Gary Chapman announced in Monday night’s city commission meeting the city may need to make up additional funds. The city already passed a resolution to lay off employees, cut salaries, and cut operational expenses this month. The …

Admit it, you watched it. Last spring and summer, when national sports were on hiatus during the early months of COVID-19, you turned on ESPN, maybe just due to force of habit, in the hopes of finding some live sports. Something, anything, even an ant race. And when you turned on ESPN, you saw masked adults tossing beanbags into holes, …

The Hobbs City Commission on Tuesday moved one step forward in the process of adopting a proposed ordinance to update city fireworks code during a virtual meeting, moved from Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Originally discussed in November, Commissioners voted unanimously to send the rewritten proposal for publication, the next step in the process. According to New …

The Hobbs City Commission on Tuesday moved one step forward in the process of adopting a proposed ordinance to update city fireworks code during a virtual meeting, moved from Monday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Originally discussed in November, Commissioners voted unanimously to send the rewritten proposal for publication, the next step in the process. According to New …

In the ongoing battle against COVID-19, Hobbs Municipal Schools has added another layer in its armor with 2,261 MERV 13 air filters. The filters will replace the current air filters in each H-VAC system in each HMS school building. “Those filters are more dense so they trap the particles of the COVID-19 virus,” HMS Superintendent TJ Parks told the News-Sun. …

No constituents roaming the hall looking for their senators. No lobbyists hanging around the representative’s office. No crowded committee rooms. It won’t look like any previous normal session of the New Mexico Legislature this year. That’s because the 60-day session that starts at noon Tuesday won’t be anywhere near normal — for two reasons, not one. Both the COVID-19 pandemic …

JAL — Due to COVID-19, the Jal City Hall closed Tuesday afternoon. City Manager Matt White said employees who work in the building were sent for testing after an employee who initially thought she was having normal sinus troubles became very ill and tested positive. “The problem is I’ve got seven people in three little offices. They’re just crammed up …