News Staff

Hatch Wins Second Term as Eddy County Assessor with 71% of Vote

News
Republican incumbent Rhonda Hatch won a second four-year term as Eddy County assessor, defeating Democratic challenger Gemma Ferguson with 71% of the vote. Hatch received 11,239 votes to Ferguson’s 4,688. The assessor determines property values used for tax bills. County turnout was nearly 42%, while other local races were uncontested.

Sherry Robinson: Lessons learned from Vasquez-Cunningham race

Opinion
Gabe Vasquez’s decisive reelection victory over Greg Cunningham in New Mexico’s closely watched 2nd Congressional District offers lessons for both parties. The race suggests voters rejected Donald Trump’s unpopular immigration policies, while Cunningham’s close alignment with Trump overshadowed his credentials. Vasquez, now a more moderate voice, faces pressure to represent the district’s conservative and liberal voters.

Lance Jaggers Named Assistant U.S. Attorney in Roswell After Six-Year Gap

News
Former local prosecutor Lance Jaggers has been appointed assistant U.S. attorney in Roswell, restoring a resident federal prosecutor to the city for the first time since 2020. Jaggers will support border security and prosecute violent crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking across southeastern New Mexico, drawing on experience in state prosecution and child welfare law.

Sherry Robinson: Legislators must show balance in hunting license dispute

Opinion
Outdoor recreation has been a stellar success that added $3.6 billion to the state’s economy and supported 31,454 jobs in 2024. That year, according to federal data, the industry added 2,272 new jobs.

Five Charged in Hobbs Drug Ring Allegedly Shipping Meth and Fentanyl

News
Five people have been federally charged in an alleged Hobbs-based drug trafficking operation involving methamphetamine, fentanyl, mailed shipments, interstate travel and electronic payments. Prosecutors say the group moved narcotics from Arizona and California to New Mexico and transferred about $186,851 in drug proceeds. Charges include conspiracy, money laundering and, for one defendant, firearm possession.

Teresa Leger Fernandez Wins Reelection to U.S. House

News
Democratic U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez won reelection to New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District with 62% of the vote, defeating Republican state Rep. Martin Zamora, who received 38%. First elected in 2020, Leger Fernandez highlighted her work expanding RECA compensation for Trinity Test downwinders. Zamora campaigned on property rights, border security and opposing sanctuary policies.

Satellite Data Finds 166 Methane ‘Super Emitters’ in Southeast New Mexico

News
Satellite data identified 166 methane “super emitter” events in Eddy and Lea counties between January 2025 and April 2026, but only 2% matched operator reports. The findings renew calls for expanded monitoring as federal methane safeguards face rollback. New Mexico officials are proposing stricter state rules, including third-party satellite data and a lower emissions threshold.

Haaland wins race for governor

News
Deb Haaland was the apparent winner in the race to become New Mexico’s next governor, according to unofficial results of the Nov. 3 midterm...

Victor Hanson: The Ukrainian Gordian Knot

Opinion
No one knows exactly how many people have been killed in the Ukraine war, which has now lasted four years and eight months--longer than World War II in the Pacific, the American Civil War, or World War I. There is still no end in sight. Estimates of the human toll vary widely, since it is in the interest of both sides to exaggerate the losses of the enemy while under-reporting their own casualties.

Artesia Veterans Continue to Lead and Serve Beyond the Uniform

Lifestyle
As Veterans Day approaches, Artesia honors veterans whose service continues beyond the uniform. Former soldiers, Marines, and airmen now serve as educators, leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, ministers, and public servants. Their sacrifices—and those of their families—include visible and invisible wounds. The community is urged to move beyond words by listening, connecting, and supporting local veterans.

David Grousnick: Are You Ready to Meet Jesus? Lessons from the Ten Virgins

Lifestyle
In this Pastor Column, Pastor David Grousnick uses humorous stories, the Titanic, and Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins to urge readers to examine their lives. Because Christ’s return will be unexpected, earthly valuables and religious appearances cannot prepare us; repentance and readiness matter. Are you ready to meet Jesus with no unfinished business?

Ruidoso Woman Sues Village, Police Over Facebook Blocking and Deleted Posts

News
A Ruidoso woman is suing the village and police department, alleging officials violated her civil rights by deleting critical Facebook comments and blocking her from their pages. Cinthia Smoley’s posts criticized public officials and described her experience reporting two stolen vehicles. She seeks an injunction preventing future censorship, along with compensatory damages and attorney’s fees.

Mark Fischer: Defining a civil society

Opinion
Most people have life goals and an understanding of at least some of the steps required to achieve them. Those steps include countless decisions and hundreds of actions which under the best set of circumstances might propel us to accomplishing our aim. The expectation of predictability in cause and affect is central and nourishing to us as our good efforts bear good fruit.

Ty Houghtaling: God’s Unconditional Love Offers Freedom Through Faith in Jesus

Lifestyle
Pastor Houghtaling argues that the Bible assures God’s unconditional love through Christ, which cannot be earned or lost but accepted or rejected. Choosing faith brings freedom, grace, forgiveness, salvation, and purpose in God’s story. He invites readers to give their lives to Jesus and experience that freedom. Ty Houghtaling pastors First Baptist Church in Artesia.
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