JAL — While the N.M. Department of Transportation engineers improvements to NM 128 traversing through the City of Jal, a second project to develop a relief route continues after almost three years of discussion and study. Although the NMDOT is involved in both highway projects, neither has yet received funding for construction and both remain in the study and design …

At about 6:36 a.m., on Sept. 7, New Mexico State Police investigated a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on NM Highway 128 near milepost 21, west of Jal. Jesse Godfrey, 39, of Odessa, Texas, and Aaron Moreno, 24, of Midland, Texas — a passenger in Godfrey’s pickup — both sustained fatal injuries in the crash. Godfrey and Moreno were pronounced …