
Let’s start with the good news: New Mexico is number one on an important ranking. We have the nation’s lowest property taxes, and they’ve been the lowest for a long time.
'This is huge for me. This is huge for this team. I'm so glad I was able to get a win with Brian (Wilson) as my crew chief in the Cup Series. You never know when it's going to happen again. Just drove my butt off, hope for the best.'

ARTESIA -- Chuck Baldwin’s long and storied journey had a flight path through Artesia. Baldwin moved to the community with his family as a child, graduating from Artesia High School.

I’m a big fan of vacations on the cheap, which is good, since I’ve seldom been able to afford anything first-class. Besides, top-dollar travel often overlooks the best stuff to see. Several years ago, when my family was younger and we were fairly new to the Land of Enchantment, we decided to take a New Mexico-centric vacation. My wife and I, along with our two daughters, got into our four-door sedan early one summer morning and left our northern New Mexico home in search of wonderment, which we found at just about every stop.

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Artesia Police Department officers work to load cases of water following the Cpl. D. Robert Harvey Thirst Responders Drive, held at Hermosa Elementary School. In total, the Superkids collected more than 600 cases of water for local first responders. 'We appreciate all the Superkids, local sponsors, APS staff and the Harvey Family for this event,' the APD said in a Facebook post. 'We also appreciate serving such a generous city and local community that supports their first responders!' Below, first responders speak to the students during the presentation assembly.
RUIDOSO -- The U.S. Forest Service reported Saturday afternoon that the Blue 2 Fire burning near Ruidoso was at 14% containment.

RUIDOSO DOWNS -- Trainer JJ Gonzales III qualified the top four quarter horses for the New Mexico-bred Mountain Top Derby for 3-year-olds Saturday at Ruidoso Downs. The fastest time of the day belonged to Copy of Jess and jockey Eduardo Nicasio, winner of the third race in a time of 17.407 seconds for 350 yards.
A celebration of life is scheduled from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the home of Jeff and Staci Sanders for Fred Lee Sanders of Granbury, Texas.
MESCALERO -- The Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) and the Mescalero Apache Tribe will host a veterans' benefits event this week in Mescalero. VA and Tribal Veterans' Service Officers, along with other knowledgeable advocates, will be on hand to assist veterans with the completion of VA claims paperwork from 9 a.m.