Lea County schools top state graduation rate According to the New Mexico Public Education Department, each of Lea County’s school districts dramatically has a higher graduation rate than the state average. In Hobbs, the graduation rate is 86 percent. In Lovington, it’s 85.6 percent. In Eunice, it’s 84 percent. The two smallest school districts show a larger grad rate, Jal …

Former Clovis store worker from Hobbs faces 149 counts of embezzlement CLOVIS, N.M. (AP) — A 58-year-old former employee of a Clovis grocery store faces 149 misdemeanor and felony criminal counts accusing her of embezzling over $12,000 from the business over a two-year period, reportedly to help pay for medications for her father. Rosa Davis of Hobbs was arrested Wednesday …

Hwy. 128 has 2nd fatal wreck within a week NEWS-SUN STAFF REPORT A southern Arkansas man died Monday morning after a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 128 in Lea County. It is the second fatal crash within a week on the state highway which travels east/westbound from the New Mexico-Texas state border, through Jal to N.M. 31 near Loving. At …

Albertsons Souper Bowl of Caring fills Isaiah’s Kitchen’s pantry Seven privately owned pickups were lined up by their owners in front of Albertsons grocery store in Hobbs at 10 a.m. Saturday. The pickups were there to be loaded with groceries collected by Albertsons during its most recent Souper Bowl of Caring, a food drive held during the two-month run-up before the …

ICYMI: Lady Eagles advance to state quarters It may have been first round of the Class 6A state girls basketball tournament, but for six Hobbs Lady Eagles it was the final home game of their high school careers. What a way to go out. The six seniors, Amaya Lewis, Desiree Martinez, Ciera Mackey, Kenzie Turner, Kiara Knight, and Za’Riah Griffin …

Manna Outreach facing temporary closure Manna Outreach, a Christian ministry which for almost 30 years has been aimed at helping people temporarily down on their luck, now finds itself in a similar situation. Following the announcement that co-directors Javonica and Michael Wallace are leaving their post because Michael started a new job, the non-profit organization may temporarily suspend some functions, …

Early voting closes Friday at 5 p.m. Early voting in the Hobbs municipal election closes at 5 p.m. Friday, with other communities in Lea County shutting down the polls when the city/town halls close for the week, either today or Friday. Hobbs voters wishing to cast ballots before Election Day must do so at the City Clerk’s Office in the …

Hobbs church re-opens following lengthy renovation Have you ever had your dreams come true? For Haley Kinney,  last weekend’s official opening of the new-look Christian Center Church was the conclusion of a three-year labor of love that saw church leaders recognize some needs and then creating a new structure, while keeping in place a lot of the tradition of the …

Hobbsan pleads guilty in drug, weapons case A Hobbs man faces a potential 15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty Wednesday to federal drug and weapons related charges. Louis Garcia, 31, plead guilty at federal court in Las Cruces, to drug trafficking and firearms charges. Garcia entered the guilty plea under a plea agreement that recommends a 15-year prison sentence followed by …

Ten Commandment supporters: Don’t move it A unified group of religious members filled the Hobbs City Commission Chambers for Tuesday’s Hobbs City Commission. Their mission was simple: Don’t remove the Ten Commandments located at the Hobbs City Hall. Of the 236 people who attended the meeting, 16 came before the commission to express their support on keeping the monument in …