Planning combined effort to combat virus

As COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, spreads throughout the United States, people have begun taking drastic measures, stocking up on cleaning and wellness supplies and going into quarantine from work or school.

McKinley County Fire Chief Jesus Morales attended the Gallup City Council’s March 10 meeting to discuss plans to prepare for the virus reaching McKinley County.

Morales had attended an emergency planning meeting earlier between numerous local medical office personnel and employers. This meeting was closed off to the media, so the Sun was not allowed entry.

“There was a lot of discussion,” Morales said. “There were several...

Runoff mayoral election set for March 31

The Gallup City Council heard the results of the Regular Municipal Election canvass during their March 10 meeting.

The canvass took place earlier March 10 before the McKinley County Board of Commissioners, who acted as the Canvassing Board in accordance with the State Election Code.

City Clerk Alfred Abeita said the results were in line with what was reported as the unofficial results on March 3.

This also means since mayoral frontrunner Sammy Chioda did not receive 40 percent of the vote, there will be a runoff election held between the two qualified candidates who received the highest number of votes cast for the office, in accordance...

Low-cost spay/neuter services, shelter funds

SANTA FE - Help in keeping spay and neuter costs down has arrived in the form of Senate Bill 57, signed into law March 6 by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.

SB 57, sponsored by Sen. Jacob Candelaria, D-Albuquerque, and Rep. Joanne Ferrary, D-Las Cruces, will cover the costs of spay and neuter services for low-income families and deliver funds to struggling animal shelters around the state.

To fund the programs, pet food manufacturers with an annual gross revenue of $3 million or more will pay a $100 fee per year for dog food, cat food, and pet treat brands sold in New Mexico after a 3-year phase-in. This fee is on par with what these...

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been busy signing bills from the 2020 legislative session into law.

Among those bills is Senate Bill 99 which authorizes public schools to grant diplomas to Viet Nam veterans who were honorably discharged and whose entry into the service prevented them from graduating from a N. M. high school. Signed into law on March 6, the diploma can be awarded whether the veteran holds a high school equivalency credential or is deceased.  SB 99, sponsored by Sen. George Muñoz, D-Cibola, McKinley and San Juan, will allow local school boards to start processing and authenticating high school diploma requests from Viet Nam veterans July 1.

On March 6, the...