Front Page News

Jessy Hawkins

February 16, 2026 I Sixth Judicial District Attorney Norman R. Wheeler announced today that Jessy Hawkins, 23, has been sentenced for the shooting death of Kenneth Boudreaux Jr.   Hawkins pleaded guilty to Count 1: Second-Degree Murder, with a habitual offender enhancement of one year and a firearm enhancement due to a prior felony conviction. He was sentenced to 24 years in the New Mexico Department of Corrections by District Court Judge Jennifer DeLaney. The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy District Attorney Cashmala Fazal. 

On August 28, 2024, Luna County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a deceased male found on the front stairway of his home, with the front door left open. The victim, Boudreaux, was discovered with gunshot wounds to the back of his head, his upper right arm, and his back. His Nissan Rogue and cell phone were missing from the scene.

The investigation revealed that Hawkins and Boudreaux were acquaintances and had been seen together on Walmart surveillance footage just hours before the homicide. On August 29, officers located Hawkins at his mobile home. He attempted to flee but quickly surrendered after law enforcement surrounded the residence. The Nissan Rogue was later found on a rural property on San Acacia Road, where Hawkins admitted to hiding it. The handgun used in the shooting was recovered at a later date during an unrelated drug bust conducted by the Deming Police Department.

On Wednesday February 19, 2026 in the early afternoon hours, Gila Regional Medical Center EMS personnel responded to the Mimbres area in regard to a medical complaint on a 35 year old male later identified as Kel J. Avena. Mr. Avena was evaluated at his residence but required more thorough care and was to be transported to the hospital. While in route to Gila Regional Medical Center, Mr. Avena entered into a physical fight with the EMT providing care in the rear of the moving ambulance. During this fight, the EMT was stabbed in the neck, suffering a severe and life-threatening injury. The injured EMT called out for help to his partner who was driving the ambulance. The driver immediately pulled over the ambulance and began to assist his injured partner.

To download a PDF of the release, please visit the following link: FCX Announces Agreement for Life of Resource Extension of Operating Rights in Grasberg Minerals District

FCX Announces Agreement for Life of Resource Extension of Operating Rights in Grasberg Minerals District

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Freeport (NYSE: FCX) announced today that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Indonesia government for a life of resource extension of operating rights for PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) in the Grasberg minerals district.

Under the terms of the MOU, the parties agreed to the following:

SILVER CITY, NM — Western New Mexico University (WNMU) has reached a significant milestone in its national search for the institution's 16th president. The WNMU Presidential Search Committee has identified five distinguished finalists who will visit the Silver City campus for extensive interviews and community engagement in late February and early March.

In accordance with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, the WNMU Board of Regents will convene on March 17, 2026, to announce the university's next leader.

Interim President Chris Maples, Ph.D., said, "Identifying the next leader of Western New Mexico University is one of the most important tasks that can be undertaken by the university community. These five finalists rose to the top of a field of highly qualified candidates with outstanding leadership and innovation credentials. Each candidate brings a unique perspective that aligns with our mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and our commitment to the applied liberal arts."

What:

Based on the recommendations of the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) Presidential Search Committee, five finalists will visit the Silver City campus for extensive interviews and community engagement in late February and early March.

In accordance with the New Mexico Open Meetings Act, the WNMU Board of Regents will meet Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to announce the university's 16th president in open forum. 

More information about the candidates and the presidential search is at wnmu.edu. 

Who:

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note:  The photos are not in order of how they were on the program and the photographer failed to take several.  Some venues were  crowded so the photographer did not try to get names of anyone, so apologies all around.]

Chocolate Fantasia 2026  sold 400 tickets, for the three-day event. The chocolates were served on  Saturday, Feb. 14,  at 23 different places. From Broadway to College Avenue and with Yankie and Market Streets in between,  ticket holders got their exercise.

Organizer Simon Sotelo told the Beat that he and the team have plans for an even larger event next year.  The event is an annual fundraiser for other events put on by the Mimbres Region Arts Council.

[Editor's Note: This story part 3 of the Jan. 6, 2026 Grant County Commission work session. It will continue the county reports.]

By Mary Alice Murphy

To continue the county reports at the first Grant County Commission work session of the year, the report from Emergency Manager Scot Fuller was not given as Fuller could not be at the meeting. His report in the packet listed the various grants that he had applied for and for which was awaiting approval. A new grant application was for 11 generators for the VFD (volunteer fire department)stations and four portable solar generators. The report stated that BLM(Bureau of Land Management) had agreed to fund public outreach and education in 2026. Two communication sites—Signal Peak and Glenwood Brushy—are planned to be completed by February, although they are awaiting equipment to be delivered and installed. The county also was awarded the Southline Transmission Grant through the Gila Community Foundation to purchase a cache of Starlink Performance Kits for deployment during an emergency incident.

PHOENIX, AZ, February 11, 2026 – Freeport-McMoRan is pleased to announce its foundation awarded $3 million to 68 projects across its 12 U.S. operating communities in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, New Mexico and Texas through its Community and Social Investment Funds in 2025.

"The success of our community investments depends on strong partnerships with local communities," said Tracy Bame, President of the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation. "By working together to identify opportunities and address potential risks to resilience and well-being, we can support projects and programs that deliver meaningful social impact. These collaborations are essential to building long-term community strength, especially in preparing for a post-mining future."

The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation works with a range of committed partners throughout the investment process. These include True Impact, an impact measurement platform helping organizations analyze the impact of projects, and Better City, an economic advisory firm that helps host communities create Resilience Action Plans.