Portales restaurant owners should decide what’s best for their restaurants. Not the mayor. Not the city council. Not a preacher. Not anyone else. That seems pretty basic to freedom lovers: Run your business as you see fit. But the law doesn’t allow for that common-sense interpretation. So Portales is holding an election Tuesday to see […]
Coercion no way to win support
When you decide your house needs a new roof, how do you go about getting it done? Do you either try to use your insurance policy or find a way to pay for it yourself? Or, do you go to your neighbors and demand, at gunpoint, that they pay for all or part of it […]
City must decide on redistricting by mid-November

CNJ staff photo: Kevin Wilson Plan A Every time the year ends with a zero, it’s time for the U.S. to do a Constitutionally-dictated process called the U.S. Census. About a year-and-a-half later, when the year ends in a one, it’s time for state and local governments to use that information and remap its representation. […]
Affordable Housing Plan election Tuesday

CNJ staff photo: Tony Bullocks The Hotel Clovis in downtown Clovis is the center of today’s special election regarding affordable housing. Kevin Wilson Voters head to the polls today to decide the fate of an affordable housing plan for the city. The plan allows an exception to the state’s anti-donation clause for the purpose of […]
Affordable housing plan goes to vote Tuesday

Sharna Johnson When Clovis voters head to the polls Tuesday, they will decide whether to • give the city authority to reduce private developers’ permitting fees; • donate city-owned property to private developers; • give grants and loans to develop city-owned property in the downtown area; • give grants for weatherization and rehabilitation of privately […]
Government doesn’t need to act as parents
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments last week in Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants, which will decide whether California’s blanket ban on people under age 18 being allowed to purchase certain violent video games will stand. The justices seemed sympathetic to the idea that there should be some way to shield minors from violent games in […]
Voters to decide judicial complex needs
Lance Pyle The Curry County Commission voted Aug. 9 to put two critical issues on the November ballot, both related to the safety of Curry County residents. First, voters will decide whether to issue up to $16.5 million in general obligation bonds for the design and construction of a courthouse addition. The second question will […]
Tax increase for courthouse sent to voters

CNJ staff photo: Sharna Johnson Curry County Commissioners voted Monday to let voters decide if taxes will be raised to pay for a new courthouse and renovations to the existing historic courthouse on Main Street. CNJ staff Voters will be asked to decide in November if Curry County will raise taxes to get a new […]
Commission to decide on detention officers
CNJ staff At today’s meeting Curry County Commissioners are expected to vote on adding 10 more detention officers to the ranks at the jail. The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Grady Senior Citizen’s Center. Recommended by the jail committee and supported by Sheriff Matt Murray, the plan to add the additional officers […]
DA considering run for attorney general
By Sharna Johnson: CNJ staff writer District Attorney Matt Chandler says he plans to decide this week if he will be a candidate for New Mexico Attorney General. Chandler, 34, a Republican in his second term as the 9th Judicial District Attorney, said he is going over the decision with his family. “Over the past […]
City commission to decide on Hotel Clovis bid
CNJ staff The Clovis City Commission is looking at a $13 million bid to redevelop Hotel Clovis during today’s city commission meeting. The bid comes from Taos-based Tierra Realty Trust, according to City Commissioner Bobby Sandoval. Sandoval said the redevelopment project proposes renovating the 78-year-old hotel and turning it into a residential property with shops […]
Water utility asks city to withdraw water rights protest
CNJ Staff The New Mexico American Water company is asking the Clovis City Commission to withdraw a protest against a request the water utility made to combine its water rights in Curry and Roosevelt counties. The commission will decide during today’s meeting whether to comply with that request. City commissioner and Mayor Pro tem Randy […]
Voters to decide on alcohol sales in Bailey County
By Gabriel Monte: CNJ staff writer Bailey County voters will decide Tuesday on a proposal that proponents say will generate revenue for the county but opponents say could lead to increased alcohol-related arrests and promote underage drinking. A proposal to allow packaged sale of liquor, beer and wine will be listed in the general election […]
Committee will recommend city salary adjustments
The Employee Compensation Review Committee will recommend today to let the City Commission decide how to adjust city employee compensation. According to the committee’s recommendation, the state of the economy and limited city funds contributed to the decision. The committee was formed in December and have met every month since January comparing city employees’ salaries […]
Jury will decide on death penalty
By Kevin Wilson: Freedom Newspapers ALBUQUERQUE — The same jury that on Thursday convicted Stanley Bedford of kidnapping and killing an elderly Portales couple will decide in a second, separate trial whether he should be executed as punishment. After the verdict was read, Judge Stephen Quinn immediately sentenced Bedford, 43, of Portales to 120 years […]
Government incapable of controlling gas prices
By Steve Chapman: Syndicated Columnist Socialism failed because the governments that embraced it couldn’t solve the basic problem of economics: what to produce and how much. In the old Soviet bloc, warehouses filled up with things people wouldn’t buy, while consumers stood in long lines in the hope of getting what they wanted. Thanks to […]
Time to bid fond farewell to summer
By Helena Rodriguez: Local columnist We know it’s coming every year, Old Man Winter, and yet here on the High Plains, where our wardrobe mostly consists of flip-flops, tank tops and shorts, we’re shocked when we feel that first chill. The official first day of autumn isn’t until Sept. 23, still a few weeks away, […]