News-Sun Staff Report The COVID-19 variant of 0micron has arrived in Lea County, hospital leaders said on Monday. With that, they expect the county’s case to rapidly increase over the coming weeks, and predicting a peak happening somewhere around Jan. 24. If the variant follows its pattern like it has in other places, hospital leaders expect the numbers to rapidly …

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Health officials in New Mexico have fined two churches in Albuquerque for violating the state’s public health orders aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19 after both venues held large gatherings for Christmas. The state Department of Health fined Legacy Church and Calvary Church $5,000 each on Monday after photos and video showed both churches violated …