News

France’s Alizee Paties captured her first XTERRA World Championship, validating her No. 2 world ranking and claiming her fifth triathlon gold of the year.

K-Bob’s Steakhouse doesn’t get $50,000 catering orders every weekend. But with hundreds of XTERRA athletes in town looking for a hearty meal, general manager Brian...

R2Doso Con returns to the Ruidoso Convention Center Oct. 17-18 for its second year, bringing comics, sci-fi, anime, gaming, cosplay and celebrity guests to the mountain community. Fans can see the Batmobile, Mystery Machine and Back to the Future DeLorean, meet Star Wars talent, enter contests and tournaments, and support an event designed to boost local tourism.

At the National Cleanup Workshop in Washington, D.C., Carlsbad Mayor Pro Tem JJ Chavez moderated a panel on WIPP’s role in supporting safe, permanent disposal and environmental cleanup. The discussion highlighted how dependable disposal solutions, rigorous safety standards, and collaboration among federal, local, and community partners are essential to protecting public health and advancing the nation’s cleanup mission.

Stroll through the trail to see the events and other ways for non-competitors to get the most out of XTERRA week, with parking advice and an event overview.

New Mexico’s State Land Office raised minimum bonding requirements for oil and gas companies operating on State Trust land, increasing financial assurances from $10,000–$25,000 to at least $150,000 per company. The change aims to cover rising costs of plugging abandoned wells, but industry groups say it duplicates state requirements and may face a legal challenge.

Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez campaigned across conservative southeastern New Mexico seeking a third term in Congress, emphasizing stronger safety oversight at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant and more balanced management of public lands beyond oil and gas. He criticized Republican challenger Greg Cunningham as a Trump loyalist, while Cunningham accused Vasquez of undermining public safety and police support.

The U.S. Department of Energy and Salado Isolation Mining Contractors will host a virtual community forum on Nov. 4 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. to discuss operations at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The public can register via the story’s QR code, ask questions and raise concerns about WIPP’s underground disposal of transuranic nuclear waste.

Artesia City Council selected Pete Quinones as the city’s permanent police chief during a special meeting Sept. 29. Quinones had served as interim chief after Kirk Roberts announced his retirement in July. An Artesia native, Quinones joined the department in 2005 and has led patrol, criminal investigations and administrative divisions during his career.

The Bureau of Land Management proposed leasing 4,053 acres across 15 parcels in New Mexico and Oklahoma for oil and gas development, with an auction planned for February 2027. Most acreage is in Eddy and Lea counties. The public can submit comments online through Oct. 30, while federal analysis projects limited impacts from future drilling.

President Donald Trump renewed his call to rename New Mexico “New America” while endorsing Republican Greg Cunningham in the competitive 2nd Congressional District race. The proposal drew criticism from state Democrats, while Cunningham dismissed it as a distraction. Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez accused his opponent of prioritizing Trump, as polling showed Vasquez holding a narrow lead.

Daniel Garcia, 39, of Roswell, was sentenced to 10 years and one month in federal prison for a charge of illegally possessing a firearm during the shootout with police, which led to the chase near downtown Roswell, according to a Sept. 30 news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Mexico.