LOVINGTON — Lovington City Commission meetings have been animated lately, and the specially called meeting Thursday night was no exception. Commissioners, several of whom had been in various meetings most of the day at city hall prior to the scheduled meeting, greeted a standing-room-only gallery of people in commission chambers. Only commissioner Bernard Butcher, District 3, was not in attendance …

LOVINGTON — For about 25 minutes the Lovington City Commission debated the pros and cons to letting the county take over the responsibility, and cost, of the city’s trash collection facility. The discussion-only item to transfer the seven acres of the convenience station to Lea County, where in turn the county would build a new transfer facility and waste station …

Fiscal spending keeps cash reserves around 48 percent Predicting a volatile local economy, as well state legislation that has potential to cause a decrease in the city’s annual funding, the Hobbs City Commission unanimously approved the final budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The general fund of the 2021-22 budget begins with a restricted/unrestricted amount of $79.6 million and ends …

New Mexico governor OKs spending boost on police, teachers By MORGAN LEE and RUSSELL CONTRERAS, Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez on Wednesday signed a $6.3 billion spending plan that boosts funding for law enforcement and public education, while reluctantly embracing a bipartisan package of public safety reforms that she described as flawed. Martinez said …

New Mexico governor OKs spending boost on police, teachers By MORGAN LEE and RUSSELL CONTRERAS, Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez on Wednesday signed a $6.3 billion spending plan that boosts funding for law enforcement and public education, while reluctantly embracing a bipartisan package of public safety reforms that she described as flawed. Martinez said …