Artesia’s City Council approved new laws regulating golf carts and off-highway vehicles on city streets, following residents’ requests to legalize their use. The ordinances establish detailed operating requirements and take effect Jan. 1, 2027. The off-highway vehicle measure passed 5-1, while the golf cart ordinance received unanimous approval.

New Mexico’s New World screwworm outbreak has reached Eddy County, with the first case reported near Hope. The parasite can be fatal to livestock if untreated, prompting an infested zone and stricter inspections for animals entering or leaving the area. The state reported 39 cases statewide as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham declared an emergency and allocated $750,000 for the response.

Alamogordo declared a flood emergency for Bonito Lake and its watershed to pursue state and federal funding for sediment and debris removal, repairs, and watershed stabilization. Repeated storms over wildfire burn scars are rapidly filling sedimentation ponds and threatening the city’s major water source. Commissioners also received updates on the $12 million Aquatic Center and BASE youth center.

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.

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.

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.

Bulldogs football face a familiar foe.

The U.S. Forest Service has begun post-fire recovery in the South Fork and Blue 2 burn scars, removing dead and hazardous trees across 5,300 acres near Ruidoso. The $38 million project will reduce wildfire risk, erosion and soil damage while preparing sites for replanting, with work continuing through 2030 and seedlings expected in Block 2 in 2029.

Artesia boys' and girls cross-country teams do well at state.

Artesia’s 2028-2032 Infrastructure Capital Improvement Plan prioritizes a $1 million roadway project at the Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Facility to support future Roselawn Elementary traffic and $250,000 for planning an expanded animal shelter. Additional requests include parks equipment, a special-needs playground and youth baseball fields, with projects seeking state capital outlay funding.

A $16.7 million U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant will fund the first phase of Carlsbad’s federally recognized veterans cemetery. Planned for a 10-acre site on Fiesta Drive, the project will include 1,500 burial sites, a memorial wall, administration building and committal shelter, expanding access for veterans and families across southeastern New Mexico.

Rain canceled Saturday morning’s hot air balloon launch at Artesia’s Eagle Draw Park during Balloons and Tunes, but the event continued later with live music, food trucks, the Oil Patch Market and tethered balloon rides. The evening concluded with a balloon glow and fire concert featuring balloon burners, the Artesia High School band and cheerleaders.