LOVINGTON — In a bid for local control of pandemic restrictions, Lea County Commissioners unanimously supported the authority of elected school boards Thursday. Recent New Mexico Public Education Department (PED) mandates threaten punitive actions for local officials’ failure to comply with state rules, such as those involving masking, vaccinating, social distancing and closures due to COVID-19 cases. Commissioner Gary Eidson, …

Parents of children enrolled in the Lovington and Hobbs school districts may have been surprised to learn their children will receive either a new Electronic Benefits Transfer card or, if they are already using an EBT card, will have money deposited on to it. Since breakfast and lunch is provided for every student at both school districts, every student is …