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 …

A murder suspect with a face full of tattoos apparently found it difficult blending into the crowd while on the lam last weekend. Police said Steven A. Salazar hid out in his cousin’s apartment complex southeast of Hobbs High School after allegedly shooting and killing a man in cold blood Thursday morning. After receiving numerous tips, Hobbs police and later …

The City of Lovington recently constructed new entry signs into its community. The Entry Sign Advisory Committee involved a number of local residents and officials who all participated in the design and look of the signs. “I was so excited to be a part of our Entry Sign Advisory Committee that helped bring this great idea to life,” said Lovington …

DALLAS — Lucid Energy Group has announced it is underway with the development of its next large cryogenic processing plant at its flagship Red Hills Natural Gas Processing Complex in southwestern Lea County. The Red Hills V plant, located about 20 miles west of Jal on N.M Hwy 128, will have the capacity to process 230 million cubic feet of natural gas …

Solaris Water Midstream announced Tuesday the company has started the development of its Bronco facility, a recycling and blending facility in Lea County. The privately-held company, a provider of water-related infrastructure to the oil and gas industry, made the announcement while saying Solaris Water also has launched operations at its expanded Lobo Ranch Produced Water Recycling and Blending Center, a …

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Freshman Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small has broken ranks with her party on two big votes this week, voting against Democratic-led measures that would raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and impeach President Donald Trump. Torres Small said a $15 federal minimum wage — a prominent plank in the platform of contemporary Democrats — isn’t …

Authorities say all five people killed in a fiery crash in southeastern New Mexico’s oil country were from Texas. New Mexico State Police say the crash happened Thursday morning on a state road east of Jal when the driver of a pickup truck crossed the center line into eastbound traffic and collided head-on with a tractor-trailer rig. Officer Ray Wilson …

In their first mail-in ballot special election, Jal voters have narrowly approved beer and wine sales in restaurants for on-premises consumption only. Election officials in the Lea County Clerk’s Office on Tuesday counted 152 “yes” votes and 139 “no” votes. The tally is considered unofficial until the Lea County Commission canvasses the election on July 18. The election with 52% …

A Hobbs man and woman believed to have been murdered were found dead in their home Monday night. Police said they are investigating the double homicide and have persons of interest in mind, although no arrests had been made as of presstime Tuesday. “We have some persons of interest that we are looking into,” said Brian Dunlap, acting Hobbs chief …

JAL — The New Mexico Department of Public Safety and the Jal Police Department are looking for a Jal woman missing since May 13 and asking the public for help. Jal police detective Mary Montez said Angel Dawn McManes, 43, was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt and pink sweatpants. McManes is described as a white female, 4 feet 11 …