Early voting for New Mexico’s Nov. 3 General Election begins Oct. 6 in Eddy County. Residents can vote at the Carlsbad Clerk’s Office or Artesia Sub Office, with expanded hours Oct. 17–31. Absentee ballots may be requested through Oct. 20. The guide also lists Election Day polling locations and local, statewide and federal candidates.

Eddy County commissioners approved $5 million toward a $9.1 million replacement terminal at Carlsbad’s Cavern City Air Terminal. The new facility is expected to open in September 2027, enabling Contour Airlines’ larger jets to resume flights to Dallas-Fort Worth. Officials say the project could support additional destinations, attract business and allow future airport expansion.

Deerek Ruiz had a night.

Artesia’s 11th annual Red Dirt Black Gold Festival opened Friday downtown with a break in the weather, live music from Fuzion Nortena, food, and beverages for adults 21 and over. Crowds gathered early to enjoy the festivities, which continue Saturday with country music night.

Alamogordo’s football team faces its toughest challenge of the season when it hosts Artesia at 7 p.m. tonight at Tiger Stadium.

A New Mexico jury found Facebook willfully violated state law and committed more than 43 million unfair and deceptive trade practices involving user data. The verdict follows the state’s 2021 lawsuit after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. A judge will determine damages, with attorneys seeking the maximum $5,000 per violation. Meta disagrees and plans to appeal.

Flash flooding damaged an estimated 25 homes in the Hondo and Lincoln areas, prompting widespread emergency response from local fire departments, the sheriff’s office and road crews. No deaths were reported, but a sinkhole trapped one resident in Salazar Canyon. An evacuation shelter remains open, while Historic Lincoln and roads between the communities sustained flood-related damage.

Artesia received 4.4 inches of rain over three days, bringing 2026 precipitation at the NMSU Agricultural Sciences Center to 11.6 inches. Eddy County remains under a flash flood watch through Saturday night as heavy rain continues across southeastern New Mexico. Despite the weather, the Red Dirt Black Gold Festival is still scheduled downtown Friday and Saturday, with VIP tickets available online.

The Artesia City Council delayed voting on proposed golf cart and recreational off-highway vehicle ordinances after residents questioned safety requirements and age limits, including an 18-year-old minimum for drivers and 12 for passengers. Councilors will continue discussions before a potential November vote. They also approved rezoning three lots near 13th Street and Hermosa Drive for apartments.

The Red Dirt Black Gold Festival returns to downtown Artesia with two days of live music, food trucks, vendors, craft beer and family activities. Friday features New Mexico Heritage Night, while Saturday brings country performers, a kids’ zone, oil field food cook-off and cornhole tournament. Tickets range from free youth admission to $50 VIP access.

As summer transitions to fall, anglers are finding productive conditions across New Mexico. Reports highlight excellent walleye and bass action at Conchas and Abiquiu lakes, strong trout fishing at Red River, Alto Lake and the Rio Grande, and good tiger muskie fishing at Bluewater Lake. Conditions vary elsewhere, with fair catfish, trout and bass activity reported statewide.

Southeast New Mexico College and the Southeast New Mexico Homeschool Hub are bringing Shannonogons Circus Camp to the Cavern City Renaissance Festival. Fourteen young performers will showcase clowning, movement, balance and circus skills at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Bandshell Stage. Visitors can also meet SENMC theater students in the Eddy Players Thespian Lounge.