Today's News

“When you’re a bald woman, you’ve broken the code. You’re different. You’re a rebel, and you always command the attention of the room. Some of them might be staring for the wrong reasons… But hey, at least they’re looking. And let’s be honest: They wish they were as cool as you. It’s fine. Not all of us can be superheroes.”

By Kathi Bearden
Board President, New Mexico Foundation for Open Government
Former Publisher, the Hobbs-News

March 16-22 is Sunshine Week nationwide. Take a moment to celebrate. Sunshine Week focuses on the importance of open government. No open government, no democracy. No transparency, no government accountability.

When it comes to the state’s budget, the past six years can be summed up in four words: Do more with less.
There hasn’t been much choice, given that spending has been cut by $1.6 billion since 2008, and the state workforce is the smallest it has been since the 1970s.  Some agencies have seen spending reduced by more than a third, while classroom funding for elementary and secondary education has been held steady for far too long.

Firefighters from Lebanon, Loretto and Raywick spent two hours Monday evening combating a house fire at 3756 St. Mary’s Road in Lebanon.
Lebanon Fire Chief Ricky Mattingly said the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen near the stove.
“We saved a lot of stuff in it, but it was ruined, at least half of it was,” Mattingly said.
No injuries were reported because of the fire.
The Lebanon Police Dispatch received a call reporting the fire at 8:46 p.m. Monday. Firefighters were on the scene until 12:50 a.m. Tuesday.