Student athletes and coaches in Gallup and throughout McKinley County have not played any sports this academic year due to coronavirus, but that’s about to change now that in-person instruction can begin again Feb. 8.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham made the announcement in her virtual State of the State address on Jan. 26.

That was the same day, the N.M. Activities Association, the nonprofit responsible for regulation of all state athletics, said in a news release that it learned from the Public Education Department that interscholastic athletics/activities can resume Feb. 22. A two-week monitoring period will be required to prove that expansion is not leading to significant...

Seth Damon was re-elected to a second term as Speaker of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, according to a statement released by tribe leadership.

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer were on hand to congratulate him during the opening day of the Winter Council Session. They both watched Chief Justice JoAnn B. Jayne administer the oath of office to Damon outside of the Council Chamber Jan. 25.

“The Nez-Lizer Administration looks forward to continue working with Speaker Damon and the 24th Navajo Nation Council! Ahe’hee,’” the statement said.

HB 7 Passes House Health Committee 8-3

Forward Together Action community leaders from around the state on Wednesday testified before the House Health and Human Services Committee in support of HB 7, a bill, which passed the committee 8-3, to repeal an outdated abortion ban still on the books in New Mexico.

“In my culture we believe that our women are capable of making decisions for themselves, their family and their community,” Krystal Curley, a Navajo leader from Chichiltah in McKinley County, said.  “Since colonization, our indigenous women have been targeted by patriarchal policies that have taken away our autonomy. To this day, my community experiences many barriers...

Health coalition makes its case to prescription prices

ALBUQUERQUE — Citing data that big drug companies have taken advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to raise prices on hundreds of medications, AARP New Mexico, Health Action New Mexico and a statewide coalition of health experts, patient advocates and consumers lauded the introduction of the Prescription Drug Affordability Act (House Bill 154) on Jan. 27 and called on legislators to act quickly to ensure all New Mexicans have access to affordable drugs.

“New Mexicans continue to struggle to afford the medications they need,” Barbara Webber, Executive Director of Health Action New Mexico, said. “The Prescription Drug...