Drawing on Matthew 23, Pastor David Grousnick examines hypocrisy in Washington and among religious leaders who impose standards they avoid themselves. Contrasting political gotcha games with Jesus’ call to humility, honest leadership, and service, he shares stories of Albert Schweitzer and a humbled seminarian to emphasize living righteously without becoming self-righteous.
Cal Thomas argues that, despite President Trump’s personality and controversies, Republicans should be leading ahead of the 2026 elections based on claimed gains in household income, poverty, border enforcement, crime reduction, tax policy, deregulation, and domestic manufacturing. He contends Democrats would hinder that progress, while urging Trump to campaign less around himself and more around these results.
Southeast New Mexico’s Eddy and Lea counties produce nearly 80% of oil extracted from U.S. public lands, making Carlsbad the Bureau of Land Management’s busiest oil and gas office. At a local energy summit, officials highlighted record drilling activity, faster permit approvals, reduced royalties and regulations, and billions in revenue supporting state and local services.
Southeast New Mexico College’s Alpha Rho Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa will host “Conserve, Preserve, and Restore: Water, the Key to Life” on November 5, 2026. The symposium will explore water quality, conservation, sustainability, and the future of Pecos River and Permian Basin resources through expert presentations, student research, and community discussion.
Artesia welcomes new businesses and organizations to the Chamber of Commerce. The Shop on 14th, located at 107 S. 14th Street, brings local vendors and entrepreneurs together under one roof, with room for services, events, and community gatherings. Central Valley and Penasco Soil & Water Conservation Districts support sustainable land stewardship through education, technical assistance, and conservation programs.
Eddy County commissioners are considering setting aside $15 million for water infrastructure projects, with municipalities, water cooperatives and other resource managers eligible to apply. Proposed work includes waterline replacements, fire hydrants and storage tanks. A potential priority is a $10 million La Huerta project replacing 5.1 miles of lines and 55 hydrants before road repairs.
Many New Mexico voters may know little about judges seeking retention in 2026, who run without opponents or campaign ads. The nonpartisan Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission surveys courtroom participants, reviews court data and interviews judges before issuing recommendations. This year, JPEC recommends retaining all 41 evaluated judges, including six serving the 5th Judicial District.