Oil and gas activity continued to drop last quarter, although at a slower rate, according to a survey of executives in the oil and gas industry. Dallas Federal Reserve analysts last week released the Dallas Fed Energy Survey for the third quarter of 2020 after receiving responses from 166 oil and gas industry executives, both in the production and exploration …

With early and absentee voting deadlines approaching for the 2020 General Election, both major political parties have taken to encouraging registered voters to use the mail with an absentee ballot request. According to a report from the New Mexico Office of the Secretary of State, more Democrats than Republicans in Lea County have requested absentee ballot applications even though Republicans …

Lea County had two additional deaths attributed to COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health. The department reported the death on Wednesday was a female in her 60’s from Lea County. The individual was hospitalized and had underlying conditions. On Thursday, the department reported a male in his 70’s from Lea County had died. The individual had been hospitalized. As of Wednesday, …

An inmate at the Lea County Detention Center was found guilty of kidnapping and beating a prison officer to escape from jail. On Friday, Gabriel Rodriguez, 29, of Hobbs, was convicted of kidnapping, a first-degree felony; assault with intent to commit a violent crime on a peace officer, a second-degree felony; and attempt to escape from jail and conspiracy to …

Last fall Covenant Health announced plans to build a hospital in Hobbs. Covenant Health is proud to announce that we have signed an agreement to acquire the existing facilities at Lea Regional Medical Center and is pleased to extend a warm welcome to many of the caregivers who currently serve their patients and community. It is anticipated the acquisition will …

Lea County has had its tenth death related to COVID-19, according to the N.M. Department of Health. On Thursday, the Health Department announced a Lea County man in his 50’s died. The man was hospitalized. Prior to Thursday ay Lea County has had nine deaths attributed to COVID-19: a male in his 20’s with underlying conditions, a man in his 50’s, …

Lea County cumulative total added six positive tests for COVID-19 on Sunday and six on Saturday or 12 cases for the weekend. The county now has 106 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the state began tracking test results. Of those 106 cases, the state says 25 have been designated as totally recovered. In Lea County as of …

Lea County cumulative total added eight positive tests for COVID-19 on Monday and one positive test on Sunday. The county now has 75 residents who have tested positive for COVID-19 since the state began tracking test results. Of those 75 cases, the state says 21 have been designated as totally recovered. In Lea County as of Monday, there has been tests …

After allegedly beating a woman and stealing her purse, Ricardo Utajara was arrested and charged with robbery. Utajara, 30, of Lovington, was arrested on Tuesday after the victim was sent to Nor Lea Hospital in Lovington for injuries she sustained during the assault. A Lea County Sheriff’s criminal complaint states the victim was driving home early in the morning on …

LOVINGTON — Completion of the $30-35 million Lea County Judicial Complex may yet happen, hopefully in about six months. That timing would be about four years after construction began and about two-and-a-half years after it was contracted to be completed. It’s been eight months of legal wrangling since the county terminated its contract with Albuquerque-based HB Construction, the initial contractor …