House Dems block expansion of three-strikes law on violent crime By Andrew Oxford The New Mexican The rift over how to stem New Mexico’s rising crime rates burst into the open Thursday, with Democrats blocking a proposal to expand the state’s three-strikes law. The bill would have allowed prosecutors to seek life sentences for criminals convicted of three violent felonies. …

  The first proposed hours of operation and admission fees for the Center of Recreational Excellence were discussed Monday night during a Hobbs Community Affairs Board meeting. CORE officials presented their proposals to the board to receive input and feedback before moving forward in presenting the fees to be considered by the Hobbs City Commission. “We want to start down …

New Mexico delegates renew push to limit drilling ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Democratic members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation are renewing their pleas for federal land managers to limit oil and natural gas drilling in the northwestern corner of the state over concerns about archaeological and cultural sites that dot the region. U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and …

A Sunday night shots fired call led to one Hobbs man’s arrest after he allegedly threatened to shoot one officer and struck another officer on the head using a rock. Jimmy Hogan, 25, of Hobbs, was charged with aggravated battery upon peace officer and aggravated assault on peace officer, both fourth-degree felonies; and resisting, evading or obstructing an officer, a …

EUNICE — Fifth-graders can make a loud noise with their joyful singing and jingling of bells, but they brought in healthy contributions for the Salvation Army at the Lowe’s Market in Eunice. The Fifth-grade Ambassadors spent a full day Tuesday singing yuletide jingles and ringing bells to encourage contributions be dropped in the kettle. Speaking over the din, sponsor Laura …

Consuelo Salcido was playing with her godson on the Mills Elementary School playground when she heard someone calling for help. Her response to that call may have saved Sandra Newell’s life. Salcido, who lives in Roswell, was in Hobbs Feb. 17 visiting her sister. Part of that visit was a trip to the Mills playground, a place where she and …

The Eunice football team won its first state championship since 2000 Saturday with a 34-13 victory over Capitan, giving the Cardinals revenge for last year’s loss in the same game. Here are photos from the game and postgame celebrations.

Charles Cunningham said joining the Hobbs Police Department turned out to be the “best decision” he ever made, as he reflected on his law enforcement career this week, ahead of his last day working for the department. Cunningham, a department captain, finished his Hobbs police career Thursday after a crowded retirement reception the day before where droves of uniformed officers, …

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A proposed eastern New Mexico wind energy project that will be the subject of a public hearing next week has a large group of backers but also faces a substantial number of opponents, including staff at the state’s utility regulation commission. Hundreds of wind turbines would be erected near the town of Portales close to …

EUNICE — Traffic safety will likely improve in Eunice soon, thanks to the observation and subsequent work of the Eunice Youth Advisory Council. The Youth Advisory Council consists of high school students appointed each year to advise the city council from a youth perspective. Concerned about both pedestrian and vehicular safety, the Youth Advisory Council sent a letter to the …