11-year-old Conner Davis win swine contest his first time out LOVINGTON — Conner Davis will have a hard time besting himself next year. Conner, the 11-year old High Lonesome 4-H Club member, brought home the grand champion banner Tuesday with his 244-pound pig, Chubbs. It was Conner’s first year of showing in the Market Swine competition at the 85th Annual …

LOVINGTON — Is it déjà vu all over again? With about 10 times as many lesser prairie chickens in New Mexico today than seven years ago, Lea County officials believe federally approved public and private conservation efforts are working well enough. Yet, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which in 2014 applauded local efforts to protect the grouse, recently proposed …

President Joe Biden has issued an executive order to increase federal land holdings by 30 percent by the year 2030 and Lea County Commissioners Dean Jackson and Pat Sims are hosting an information session Thursday evening in Lovington to let people know how they can protect their property from seizure. “They (the Biden administration) want another 30 percent of land …

President Joe Biden has issued an executive order to increase federal land holdings by 30 percent by the year 2030 and Lea County Commissioners Dean Jackson and Pat Sims are hosting an information session Thursday evening in Lovington to let people know how they can protect their property from seizure. “They (the Biden administration) want another 30 percent of land …

Lest there be a doubt, Lea County Sheriff Corey Helton plans to run for re-election next year. After posting his plans on social media, Helton explained he had heard of a rumor to the contrary. “I thought I would quash that rumor,” Helton told the News-Sun, recognizing his office won’t be on the ballot until next June for the primary …

EUNICE — The Eunice City Council forged ahead last week with a major housing project, but not without conflict. With a unanimous vote to re-plat a subdivision for more than 40 residential lots, the council declared completion of phase one of the planned Oaks at Coyote Crossing gated community. City officials had placed the project on hold in April due …

New Mexico became No. 2 in the nation for oil production this year. In March, the state’s oil production tally spiked at 35.8 million barrels, topping North Dakota’s 31.8 million barrels. For reference, Texas logged 147.1 million barrels in March, a number no other state expects to approach. For those who think of Texas as a “whole ‘nother country,” that …

Lea County set another oil and gas record, this time in actual dollars to the coffers. “In oil and gas production, we’re 260 percent of the budget because, when you go back to July, we were under $1 million, now we’re just under $6 million,” county finance director Chip Low told county commissioners on Thursday. “(Oil and gas revenue in) …

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health on Wednesday announced the updated statewide COVID-19 map for the two-week period beginning April 7, with 20 New Mexico counties at the Turquoise Level and three at the Green Level, at which there are fewer restrictions on commercial and day-to-day activities amid decreased virus risk. The majority of the state’s counties …

Lea County went from Green Level to Turquoise Level on Wednesday, allowing the county to open up more businesses and activities based on the governor’s COVID-19 restrictions, according to the N.M. Department of Health’s website map that color codes the counties. At the Turquoise Level, indoor dining can happen at 75% of max capacity as well as most businesses can …