ALBUQUERQUE — And then there were two. Albuquerque Business First and Santa Fe New Mexican reported Wednesday that Transform Holdco LLC, the new parent company of the Kmart and Sears, is set to close a Santa Fe Kmart and a Las Cruces Sears. First reported by the Santa Fe New Mexican, after the closure of its Santa Fe store, Kmart …

SANTA FE — New Mexico’s growing oil and natural gas industry is poised to attract as much as $174 billion in new infrastructure investments through 2030, according to a new study prepared by the global consulting firm ICF. The report was commissioned by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association and the American Petroleum Institute and announced Tuesday by NMOGA. …

After many years of buying two tickets in the annual car raffle held to benefit the Hobbs Boys and Girls Club, this year James King bought just one. That one, however, was the winning ticket that allowed King to choose a bright blue Ford Mustang at Saturday’s drawing at the Lea County Event Center. King said he is thrilled with …

Although rumors of her running for Congress kept coming up throughout the New Mexico political playing field for several months, it wasn’t until last month that Claire Chase decided to make the push. Today, Chase announced her intention to run as a Republican for the New Mexico Representative U.S. District 2 position. Democrat Xochitl Torres Small won the district in …

A furry friend has found a forever home surrounded by firefighters. Station One has welcomed a new rookie on the scene after firefighters adopted a puppy found outside the station. One day, a firefighter went outside to find the puppy sitting outside. “He came up to us and was real playful,” said acting Fire Chief Barry Young. Young said they …

The girlfriend of an inmate at the Lea County Correctional Facility reportedly told police she has trafficked thousands of dollars of drugs into prison for her boyfriend, collecting $5,000 from “grandmas” and other people outside prison walls. Brenda Rae Guerrero, of Las Vegas N.M., was arrested by the Hobbs Police Department earlier this month and charged with bringing contraband into …

Occidental Petroleum Corporation Thursday announced the successful completion of its acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation a in a transaction valued at $55 billion, including the assumption of Anadarko’s debt. “With Anadarko’s world-class asset portfolio now officially part of Occidental, we begin our work to integrate our two companies and unlock the significant value of this combination for shareholders,” said Vicki Hollub, President …

United Airlines will have direct flights to-and-from Hobbs to Houston and to Denver beginning Oct. 27. Flights are available for purchase. United Airlines, the Economic Development Corporation of Lea County (EDCLC), Lea County, and, the City of Hobbs have partnered together to enhance flight destinations and travel opportunities through the Lea County Regional Airport (HOB) in Hobbs. “United Airlines has been a great partner to …

Showing steers at the annual Lea County Fair and Rodeo is a Wheeler family tradition. For 57 straight years, a young Wheeler has shown steers at the annual fair, and 12-year-old Tripp Wheeler of the Tatum 4-H club is ready this year with three hairy steers and a heifer. “My papaw showed steers a long, long time ago,” said Tripp, who …

A police captain in Arizona has been chosen as the next police chief of Hobbs. The City of Hobbs announced in a news release Wednesday that John Joseph Ortolano, a 21-year veteran employee of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, has accepted a conditional offer of employment to become the city’s 25th police chief. Acting City Manager Manny Gomez said …