Paul Gessing on Free Childcare, Film Subsidies, and School Choice in New Mexico

Heat Advisory and a Week of Firsts in Eddy County

It's a scorcher out there, Eddy County. A Heat Advisory is in effect through 9 PM tonight, with highs reaching 108°F, so check on elderly neighbors, keep pets and livestock hydrated, and never leave anyone in a parked car. Full details on this week's forecast and fire danger are in the episode. This week's lineup runs from book clubs and toddler splash time to a golf tournament for the Boys & Girls Club, plus the latest on a few stories developing close to home: the New World Screwworm reaching New Mexico, a federal rollback that could affect protections in the Permian Basin, a new WIPP deadline, and an update in the investigation into a fatal hit-and-run on Standpipe Road. And out in the field, SENMC podcasting student Joe Enriquez got his first taste of mobile reporting, grabbing interviews at the library's summer reading launch while Hattie was out on her own first remote broadcast. Aired on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Already a subscriber? A one-time donation goes just as far. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

State Champions: Inside Carlsbad High's Culinary Program

Carlsbad High School didn’t just win a state title this year. They won two — culinary and management, the first time CHS has swept both ProStart categories in the same year. Hattie went straight to the source: the Mountain Lion Studio hit the road to the CHS Culinary Arts Department the day after school let out, sitting down with instructor Amanda Hale and two of the students who helped get them there, Joslyn Frintz and David Balderrama. In this episode: Amanda Hale breaks down what ProStart actually is — Iron Chef rules for the culinary side (a 10-foot kitchen, two butane burners, no running water, no refrigeration), Shark Tank rules for management (pitch a fictional restaurant to judges like real investors) Joslyn talks through the dish that helped put Carlsbad on top, and the steep learning curve from her first year competing to this one David explains his role in keeping the team on time and on track during competition, and what changed in the team’s chemistry this year A conversation about long mornings, a first plane ride, a first trip to Whole Foods, and what it means to give teenagers a real taste of where their skills could take them. Part 2 of this series airs next week. Aired on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Already a subscriber? A one-time donation goes just as far. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

In Memoriam - June 14, 2026 - West Funeral Home, LLC.

This week, the Carlsbad community pauses to reflect on the lives of residents who have recently passed. These abridged records serve as a respectful tribute to those who helped build and shape the local area. While these summaries offer a moment of collective remembrance, the full life stories, service details, and spaces for family condolences are maintained by the funeral homes serving our community. In this episode, the community remembers those served by West Funeral Home — recent tributes and memorial announcements for Carlsbad residents. To read the complete life stories or to leave a message for the families, please visit the official memorial pages: West Funeral Home Obituaries https://www.westfuneralhomellc.com/obits [https://www.westfuneralhomellc.com/obits] Aired on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [https://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

In Memoriam - June 7 and 14, 2026 - Denton-Wood

This week, the Carlsbad community pauses to reflect on the lives of residents who have recently passed. These abridged records serve as a respectful tribute to those who helped build and shape the local area. While these summaries offer a moment of collective remembrance, the full life stories, service details, and spaces for family condolences are maintained by the funeral homes serving our community. In this episode, the community remembers those served by Denton-Wood Funeral Home — recent tributes and memorial announcements for Carlsbad residents. To read the complete life stories or to leave a message for the families, please visit the official memorial pages. Denton-Wood Funeral Home Obituaries https://www.dentonwood.com/obituaries [https://www.dentonwood.com/obituaries] Aired yesterday on KCCC 930 AM Radio and available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and through the Eddy County Dispatch (kccc930am.substack.com) or our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

CavernFest Weekend, a Silver City Getaway, and Everything Happening in Eddy County This Week

It’s hot, it’s busy, and a lot is going on in Eddy County this week. Today’s Mid-Week Matters covers a CavernFest-packed weekend at Lake Carlsbad Beach Park — free admission, live music, a 5K, a volleyball tournament, and a yoga class before the vendors even open. There are also free family events at the library and Cavern Theatre, a Father’s Day dance for the 40-and-up crowd, and a plant swap for the gardeners among us. The Quickies this week touch on federal legislation affecting Permian Basin oil and gas operations, Idaho resuming radioactive waste shipments to WIPP, a New World screwworm detection in neighboring Lee County, and a fatal hit-and-run on Standpipe Road that Carlsbad Police are asking the public to help solve. And for this week’s Weekend Wanderer, Hattie went to Silver City. She has opinions about the Murray Hotel, the sopapillas at Jalisco Cafe, and a pop-up chef who trained at Escoffier and whose food is absolutely that good. There are photos in the gallery. ICYMI, tune in Wednesdays at noon and 11 PM on KCCC 930 AM Radio — or find today’s episode anytime here through the Eddy County Dispatch. Mid-Week Matters is produced in partnership with Southeast New Mexico College Workforce and Community Education. Also available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and our website (www.kccc930am.com [http://www.kccc930am.com]). The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM, is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Already a subscriber? A one-time donation goes just as far. Get full access to The Eddy County Dispatch, presented by KCCC 930 AM at kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe [https://kccc930am.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]