University of the Southwest students eligible for assistance under the terms of the CARES Act began to receive checks from the university last week. “Checks being sent out (from the university) will put a minimum of $575 into each eligible undergraduate student’s hands to provide emergency funding to help defray the costs of the impact of the pandemic on their …

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Sunday announced 97 additional positive tests for COVID-19. Per the state Department of Health, the most recent cases are: 17 new cases in Bernalillo County 1 new case in Cibola County 1 new case in Curry County 12 new cases in Doña Ana County 1 new case in Lea County 24 …

New health orders issued by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday means churches may now operate at 25% occupancy beginning this week. Prior health orders by Lujan Grisham had set the threshold at 10% after closing churches earlier due to the coronavirus pandemic. “They have to maintain COVID-safe practices,” Lujan Grisham said, which includes wearing masks. All retailers and office spaces can now …

In a move surprised some, was welcomed by others, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham seems to have acquiesced in her total lock down of mom-and-pop shops in New Mexico, by allowing all retail stores to open at 25% capacity. But, at the same, the governor instituted more restrictions against personal liberties, with a mandate requiring everyone in the state to wear …

It was different. It was scary. “It was fun,” said Mark Veteto, co-founder of the Veteto Foundation, which since 2007 has annually celebrated the work of five Hobbs schools educators with its Excellence in Teaching Award. Normally, foundation members would make school visits in April and hold an in-class presentation for each recipient. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark …

It is now with virtual certainty that a special legislative session will be called to order sometime next month. This session is necessary because of the dramatic reduction in State revenues as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the dramatic decline in prices and activity in the oil and gas industry. Estimates range from a shortfall of some …

University of the Southwest is planning a 21st century graduation, i.e. a graduation that is entirely virtual and therefore in keeping with the university’s goal to be and to become, the University of the Future. The virtual graduation is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on May 16. University provost Ryan Tipton described the planned ceremony by saying, “The only …

Most governmental entities in southeastern New Mexico drafted resolutions and plans to reopen their respective communities after doing what Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham ordered to “flatten the curve,” and seeing no plans from the state level to get New Mexico moving again. So far, those resolutions and plans have received nothing but the sound of crickets from the governor’s office. …

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 153 additional positive tests for COVID-19 including two new cases in Lea County. One of those cases is a female in her 20’s residing in Hobbs that was identified through one of Nor-Lea’s testing locations. NMDOH has started their contact tracing investigations. Per the state Department of Health, the …

SANTA FE – New Mexico state health officials on Wednesday announced 153 additional positive tests for COVID-19 including two new cases in Lea County. One of those cases is a female in her 20’s residing in Hobbs that was identified through one of Nor-Lea’s testing locations. NMDOH has started their contact tracing investigations. Per the state Department of Health, the …